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At least 1,585 records · Page 88
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Effects of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide on bacterial growth

While it is generally thought that the bactericidal effects of NO and NO2 derive from their reaction with water to form nitrous and nitric acids (Shank et al., 1962), this appears to be true only at high concentrations. The data presented here suggest that at low NO and NO2 concentrations, acids are not present in high enough concentrations to act as toxic agents. Reference is made to a study by Grant et al. (1979), which found that exposing acid forest soil to 1 ppm of NO2 did not cause the soil pH to drop. The results presented here show that at low concentrations of NO and NO2, the NO is bacteriostatic for some organisms and not for others, whereas NO2 may protect some bacteria from the inhibitory effects of NO. Since it has been shown that bacteria can divide while airborne (Dimmick et al., 1979), the present results suggest that NO at the low concentrations found in the atmosphere can select for resistant bacteria in the air and affect the viable airborne bacterial population.

Mancinelli, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Sulfur dioxide on Io - Spatial distribution and physical state

Observations of the 4-micron SO2 band on Jupiter's satellite Io and laboratory measurements of SO2 frost are presented. The observations confirm the existence of a large longitudinal variation in band strength, but show no evidence of temporal changes. Comparison of the band position and shape in Io's spectrum with those in the laboratory frost's suggests that the bulk of the absorption on Io is due to frost, not adsorbed gas. The derived SO2 coverage is large enough to require that SO2 be present in most terrain types on Io and not just in the white plains unit. To reconcile the infrared observations that indicate large amoutns of SO2 with the ultraviolet observations of Voyager and IUE that show little, the SO2 must be mixed intimately with the sulfur (or other material) so that at each wavelength the darker component dominates the spectrum.

Fanale, F. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Sulfur dioxide and particles in quiescent volcanic plumes from Poas, Arenal, and Colima volcanos, Costa Rica and Mexico

Measurements of SO2 emission rates and concentrations and of particle distribution, size, shape, and composition were made in quiescent volcanic plumes emitted into the troposphere from Poas and Arenal volcanos, Costa Rica, and Colima volcano, Mexico. SO2 emission rates were 700 + or - 180 metric tons per day (t/d) for Poas, 210 + or - 30 t/d for Arenal, and 320 + or - 50 t/d for Colima. The concentrations of SO2 calculated from the COSPEC/lidar data were 5-380 ppb. Concentrations of SO2 measured directly by flame photometry were 10-250 ppb. Particles collected in the plumes with a quartz crystal microbalance impactor were mostly less than 3 microns in diameter and consisted of droplets of dilute sulfur-bearing solutions and minor amounts of layer silicate particles coated with a sulfur-bearing film or crust. Total particle concentrations were 4.7 micrograms per cu.m for Poas and 18.8 micrograms per cu.m for Colima. Comparison of concentrations of SO2 in the plumes with gas samples collected at fumaroles on the ground suggests that the plumes are diluted by the atmosphere by factors of up to 100,000.

Casadevall, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Absolute intensities of spectral lines in carbon dioxide bands near 2050/cm

The absolute intensities of individual lines of eleven relatively weak bands of (C-12)(O-16)2, (C-13)(O-16)2, (O-16)(C-12)(O-18), and (O-16)(C-12)(O-17) near 2050/cm were measured and recorded at room temperature and 0.01/cm resolution with the Fourier transform spectrometer located in the McMath solar telescope complex located at the National Solar Observatory on Kitt Peak. Each spectrum was obtained with an integration time of one hour, the temperature and pressure were monitored during this time, and the signal-to-rms noise in the 5 micron region was approximately 4000 for all scans. The intensities were determined from analysis of 1-2/cm segments of spectra using nonlinear least-squares spectral curve fitting, and analyzed to determine the vibrational band intensity and F-factor coefficients for each of the bands. The results are pertinent to a wide variety of problems in atmospheric physics and for the analysis of remote-sensing data.

Rinsland, C. P.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Detection of volcanic eruptions from space by their sulfur dioxide clouds

The capabilities of the total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) on the Nimbus 7 satellite for tracking volcano plumes are assessed. TOMS was installed on the sun-synchronous polar orbiting satellite to measure spatial variations in the global total ozone field. Radiance absorption coefficients of the atmosphere for four near-UV wavelengths from 312.5-380.0 are measured. Data from the El Chichon eruption in March-April 1982 revealed that SO2 was an absorbing species at 312.5 and 317.5 nm. The near-UV absorption level differences between SO2 and O3 permit discriminating the atmospheric densities of each species. An examination of the data base generated by TOMS since 1978 showed the perceptible tracks of all known major eruptions in the 1978-1982 time period. A constellation of three of the polar orbiting TOMS would be sufficient to provide near-real time alerts of plumes to warn aircraft of the hazards.

Krueger, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Mechanism of the atmospheric oxidation of sulfur dioxide - Catalysis by hydroxyl radicals

A flash photolysis/resonance fluorescence technique was used to investigate the decay of OH due to the reaction OH + SO2 (+M) to HOSO2 (+M). In the presence of small amounts of NO (10 to the 14th per cu cm), the decays deviated from the normal semilogarithmic linearity due to reformation of OH. On the basis of computer simulations of the decay curves, it is suggested that the reactions HOSO2 + O2 to HO2 + SO3 (k3), and HO2 + HO to OH + NO2 are the likely subsequent steps in SO2 oxidation. The upper limit for the binding energy of HOSO2 relative to OH + SO2 is estimated to be 32 kcal/mol. The atmospheric implications of a catalytic oxidation mechanism are briefly discussed.

Margitan, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Comments on the BLAG model - The carbonate-silicate geochemical cycle and its effect on atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 100 million years

A self-consistent method of determining initial conditions for the model presented by Berner, Lasaga, and Garrels (1983) (henceforth, the BLAG model) is derived, based on the assumption that the CO2 geochemical cycle was in steady state at t = -100 m.y. (million years). This initialization procedure leads to a dissolved magnesium concentration higher than that calculated by Berner, Lasaga, and Garrels and to a low ratio of dissolved calcium to bicarbonate prior to 60 m.y. ago. The latter prediction conflicts with the geologic record of evaporite deposits, which requires that this ratio remain greater than 0.5. The contradiction is probably caused by oversimplifications in the BLAG model, such as the neglect of the cycles of organic carbon and sulfur.

Kasting, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Comparison of band model calculations of upper atmospheric cooling rates for the 15-micrometer carbon dioxide band

Within the atmosphere of the earth, absorption and emission of thermal radiation by the 15-micron CO2 bands are the largest contributors to infrared cooling rates in the stratosphere. Various techniques for calculating cooling rates due to these bands have been described. These techniques can be classified into one of two categories, including 'exact' or line-by-line calculations and other methods. The latter methods are based on broad band emissivity and band absorptance formulations. The present paper has the objective to present comparisons of the considered computational approaches. It was found that the best agreement with the exact line-by-line calculations of Fels and Schwarzkopf (1981) could be obtained by making use of a new Doppler band model which is described in the appendix of the paper.

Boughner, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The non-mass-dependent oxygen isotope effect in the electrodissociation of carbon dioxide - A step toward understanding NoMaD chemistry

A non-mass dependent (NoMaD) oxygen isotope effect is demonstrated in the dissociation of CO2 similar to that observed in the electrosynthesis of ozone. The molecular oxygen produced carries the signature of two separate isotopic fractionation processes; a mass-dependent fractionation probably due to CO2 + O isotopic exchange, and a secondary NoMaD fractionation (delta O-17 = 0.97 + or - 0.09 delta O-18, with the O2 depleted in O-17 and O-18). It is suggested that the effect is due to either the formation or relaxation of ozone in an excited electronic state. This represents the latest advance in the understanding of chemical NoMaD effects which may be essential to the explanation of non-mass-dependent fractionations observed in meteorites.

Heidenreich, J. E., III↗
NASA NTRS1985

Development of a carbon formation reactor for carbon dioxide reduction

Applied research, engineering development, and performance evaluation were conducted on a process for formation of dense carbon by pyrolysis of methane. Experimental research showed that dense (0.7 to 1.6 g/cc bulk density and 1.6 to 2.2 g/cc solid density) carbon can be produced by methane pyrolysis in quartzwool-packed quartz tubes at temperatrues of 1100 to 1300 C. This result supports the condensation theory of pyrolytic carbon formation from gaseous hydrocarbons. A full-scale Breadboard Carbon Formation Reactor (CFR) was designed, fabricated, and tested at 1100 to 1200 C with 380 to 2280 sccm input flows of methane. Single-pass conversion of methane to carbon ranged from 60 to 100 percent, with 89 percent average conversion. Performance was projected for an Advanced Carbon Reactor Subsystem (ACRS) which indicated that the ACRS is a viable option for management of metabolic carbon on long-duration space missions.

Noyes, G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Carbon dioxide evolution rate as a method to monitor and control an aerobic biological waste treatment system

An experimental system was developed to study the microbial growth kinetic of an undefined mixed culture in an erobic biological waste treatment process. The experimental results were used to develop a mathematical model that can predict the performance of a bioreactor. The bioreactor will be used to regeneratively treat waste material which is expected to be generated during a long term manned space mission. Since the presence of insoluble particles in the chemically undefined complex media made estimating biomass very difficult in the real system, a clean system was devised to study the microbial growth from the soluble substrate.

Lee, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

System study of the utilization of space for carbon dioxide research

The objectives included: compiling and selecting the Scientific Data Requirements (SDRs) pertinent to the CO2 Research Program that have the potential to be more successfully achieved by utilizing space-based sensor systems; assessment of potential space technology in monitoring those parameters which may be important first indicators of climate change due to increasing atmospheric CO2, including the behavior of the West Antarctic ice sheet; and determine the potential of space technology for monitoring those parameters to improve understanding of the coupling between CO2 and cloud cover.

Glaser, P. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Laboratory studies on the reactions between chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and oxygen - Implications for the Venus stratosphere

Fourier transform IR spectrophotometry is used to monitor the reactants and products in a Venus stratosphere simulation study involving the photolysis of mixtures of Cl2 and SO2, with and without O2 present in an atmosphere of N2. When several speculative reactions inferred from these experiments are incorporated by the Yung and DeMore (1982) model of Venus stratospheric chemistry, it emerges that SO2Cl2 is a key reservoir species for chlorine, and that the reaction between Cl and SO2 furnishes an important cycle for the destruction of O2 and the conversion of SO2 to H2SO4, thereby providing a possible solution to the photochemistry of the Venus stratosphere.

Demore, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Hidden carbon dioxide on Mars

A recent proposal that much of the outgassed CO2 on Mars is tied up in the planet's crust in the form of carbonate mineral is discussed. According to this hypothesis, carbonate formation on Mars continued after open bodies of liquid water became unstable. A consequence of the hypothesis is that, in the absence of a recycling mechanism for CO2, the surface pressure on Mars will monotonically decrease until it reaches the minimum atmospheric overburden pressure required for liquid water to form. The theory explains Mars' low surface pressure, and also implies that the climate of Mars has evolved linearly over geologic time, rather than cyclically.

Haberle, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Performance and endurance testing of a prototype carbon dioxide and humidity control system for Space Shuttle extended mission capability

An advanced flight prototype regenerable CO2 and humidity control system was delivered to NASA-JSC in February 1980. It is pointed out that this system offers substantial weight savings compared with the Shuttle Orbiter expendable lithium hydroxide CO2 removal system for extended duration missions. The present paper provides a brief description of the 4- to 10-man regenerable CO2 and humidity control system. The potential advantages which can be realized for an extended duration Shuttle mission are considered along with the results of extensive testing conducted at JSC. The performance evaluation and endurance tests show that the system is capable of long-term operation (up to 60 days) without maintenance.

Lin, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Seafloor hydrothermal activity and spreading rates - The Eocene carbon dioxide greenhouse revisited

A suggestion has been made that enhanced rates of hydrothermal activity during the Eocene could have caused a global warming by adding calcium to the ocean and pumping CO2 into the atmosphere (Owen and Rea, 1984). This phenomenon was purported to be consistent with the predictions of the CO2 geochemical cycle model of Berner, Lasaga and Garrels (1983) (henceforth BLAG). In fact, however, the BLAG model predicts only a weak connection between hydrothermal activity and atmospheric CO2 levels. By contrast, it predicts a strong correlation between seafloor spreading rates and pCO2, since the release rate of CO2 from carbonate metamorphism is assumed to be proportional to the mean spreading rate. The Eocene warming can be conveniently explained if the BLAG model is extended by assuming that the rate of carbonate metamorphism is also proportional to the total length of the midocean ridges from which the spreading originates.

Kasting, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Short-term variability of nitrogen dioxide in the winter stratosphere

Measurements of limb radiance from the Solar Mesosphere Explorer (SME) satellite are used to infer the NO2 density at the 10- and 16-mbar pressure levels from January 1 to March 31 of 1982. A photochemical-dynamical model is developed using the presently accepted chemistry of the NO(x) family. The dynamical model produces isentropic trajectories which simulate the history of air parcels. From the trajectories the photochemical model calculates NO2 densities, which are compared to those observed by SME. Although the model generally reproduces the spatial and temporal variations rather well, some disagreement was noted for conditions of exceptionally low temperatures. Further analysis indicates that the temperature sensitivity of the N2O5 photolysis cross sections may be overestimated at low temperatures.

Zawodny, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Observations of the diurnal variation of nitrogen dioxide in the stratosphere

Observations of NO2 from the limb infrared monitor of the stratosphere (LIMS) experiment in high-latitude summer are presented. Appropriate selection of latitude and days during the month of May yields NO2 observations obtained during the afternoon and evening at solar zenith angles ranging from about 35-110 deg. These data show that the NO2 abundances in the stratosphere become strongly dependent on the solar zenith angle for angles exceeding about 80 deg. Model calculations and other observations suggest that from about 80-95 deg this dependence probably reflects variations in the propagation of the visible radiation that photodissociates NO2. The data obtained at zenith angles greater than about 95 deg provide clear evidence for the night decay of NO2 to form N2O5, and the observed decay rate is shown to be consistent with present theory.

Solomon, S.↗