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At least 1,675 records · Page 93

A computer software system for the generation of global ocean tides including self-gravitation and crustal loading effects

A computer software system is described which computes global numerical solutions of the integro-differential Laplace tidal equations, including dissipation terms and ocean loading and self-gravitation effects, for arbitrary diurnal and semidiurnal tidal constituents. The integration algorithm features a successive approximation scheme for the integro-differential system, with time stepping forward differences in the time variable and central differences in spatial variables. Solutions for M2, S2, N2, K2, K1, O1, P1 tidal constituents neglecting the effects of ocean loading and self-gravitation and a converged M2, solution including ocean loading and self-gravitation effects are presented in the form of cotidal and corange maps.

Estes, R. H.↗

Spectral analysis of a high-velocity meteor

A spectrogram of a fast optical meteor was reduced and analyzed, and 60 features were identified in the spectrum. Air and ionized elements in this meteor radiate throughout the spectrum from 3000 A to 6800 A. A mass of 9 mg and an effective radiation temperature of approximately 5700 K were computed for the meteor. Weight ratios of Ca:Fe, and Mg:Fe, and Na:Fe were computed. A plasma particle velocity distribution for meteors was derived, and the average collision speed obtained from this distribution was compared with the relative collision speed of a Fe-N2 gas mixture at 5700 K.

Harvey, G. A.↗

Disposal of hypergolic propellants, phase 6 task 4. Disposal pond products

Waste monomethyl hydrazine scrubber liquor, consisting of aqueous solutions containing small amounts of CH4, Cl2, CH3Cl, CH2Cl2, and CHCl3 as well as large amounts of CH3OH is scheduled to be dumped in stabilization ponds along with nitrate and nitrite salt solutions obtained as waste liquors from the N2O4 scrubbers. The wastes are investigated as to the hazardous materials generated by such combinations of items as described as well as the finite lifetime of such materials in the stabilization ponds. The gas liquid chromatograph was used in the investigation. A series of experiments designed to convert nitrate and nitrite salts to the environmentally innocuous N2O and N2 using solar energy is reported. Results indicate that this solar conversion is feasible.

Cohenour, B. C.↗

Direct measurements of neutral wave characteristics in the thermosphere

The elliptical and circular phases of the Atmosphere Explorer-C satellite have provided the basis for a study of the neutral wave characteristics in the thermosphere using data collected by the open source mass spectrometer used to measure both reactive (O,N) and nonreactive (O2, N2, He, Ar) constituents. The phase relationships between the constituents are discussed and the results of a wave occurrence and amplitude survey covering 338 despun orbits in which the local time and latitude characteristics of the waves are presented are discussed. Conclusions based on this survey are tested in a study of waves measured at high latitudes during a geomagnetic storm.

Potter, W. E.↗

A two-satellite study of the neutral atmosphere response to a major geomagnetic storm

Simultaneous measurements of neutral composition from both Esro 4 and Aeros-A have provided a complementary set of data for studying the temporal and spatial characteristics of the thermosphere during a major geomagnetic storm. From the correlative studies of Ar and N2 number densities, the magnetic index Aps, and ground-based magnetograms, it is found that the Ap index only reflects the gross features of atmospheric disturbances. Superposed on the global component are localized regions of 'hot spots' which appear correlated with ground-based magnetograms. Because of these localized disturbances, the interpretation of the atmospheric response to geomagnetic storms becomes ambiguous.

Trinks, H.↗

Thermospheric storms and related ionospheric effects

A comparative study of thermospheric storms for equinox and winter conditions is presented based on neutral-composition measurements from the Aeros-A neutral-atmosphere temperature experiment. The main features of the two storms as inferred from changes in N2, Ar, He, and O are described, and their implications for current theories of thermospheric storms are discussed. On the basis of the study of the F-region critical frequency measured from a chain of ground-based ionospheric stations during the two storm periods, the general characteristics of the ionospheric storms and the traveling ionospheric disturbances are described. It is suggested that the positive and negative phases of ionospheric storms are different manifestations of thermospheric storms.

Chandra, S.↗

Double-quantum vibrational energy transfer in the O3-CO and O3-OCS systems

Using the CO2 laser induced fluorescence technique at 298 K for excitation of the P(30) transition in O3 or the P(22) transition in OCS, double-quantum vibrational energy transfer was studied in the O3-CO and O3-OCS binary gas systems. Rapid rates were observed for energy transfer from the CO (nu = 1) to the coupled O3(200), O3(101), and O3(002) levels, as well as for the transfer from the coupled O3(001) and O3(100) levels to the OCS(020) level. Deactivation of OCS by N2, Ar, and OCS was studied and deactivation rate constants were measured. The experimental results are compared with those calculated using the first order perturbation theory of dipole transition-moment interactions (Sharma and Brau, 1969) as modified by Tam (1972). An attempt is made to interpret the obtained results.

Hui, K.-K.↗

Topside optical view of the dayside cleft aurora

Photometers on the ISIS-II spacecraft provide a view of the atomic oxygen 5577-A and 6300-A emissions and the N2(+) 3914-A emission detected as dayside aurora in the magnetospheric cleft region. The 6300-A emission forms a continuous and permanent band across the noon sector, at about 78 deg invariant latitude, with a defined region of maximum intensity that is never less than 2 kR (uncorrected for albedo) and is centered near magnetic noon. There are significant differences in the intensity patterns on either side of noon and their responses to geomagnetic activity. Discrete 3914-A auroral forms appear within this region at preferred locations that cannot be precisely specified but which tend to the poleward edge of the 6300-A emission in the evening and the equatorward edge in the morning, where the difference between the two emissions is greatest. It is concluded that the discrete auroras observed by all-sky cameras in the day sector follow the 6300-A emission through the cleft region, though a definite cleft boundary is not defined.

Shepherd, G. G.↗

Measurement of HCl absorption coefficients with a DF laser

Absorption coefficients in the fundamental P-branch of HCl at several DF laser transitions from 2439.02/cm to 2862.87/cm have been measured experimentally. The 2-1 P(3) DF laser transition has been shown to overlap the P(6) HCl-37 absorption line within the halfwidth of an atmospherically broadened line. The absorption coefficient k was measured to be 5.64 plus or minus 0.28/(atm-cm) for a 0.27% mixture of HCl in N2 at a total pressure of 760 torr. A theoretical and experimental comparison of the pressure dependence of k showed that the 2-1 P(3) DF transition lies 1.32 plus or minus 0.15 GHz from the center of the P(6) HCl absorption line. Applications of these results to differential absorption lidar and to heterodyne detection are discussed.

Bair, C. H.↗

Calibration of electron-energy spectrometers

Relative photoionization cross-sections of strong peaks in the He(I) photoelectron spectra of N2, CO, CO2, and O2 are tabulated. These data have been measured with an electron energy analyzer whose relative luminosity has been calibrated to an accuracy of + or - 5%. Thus, the tables will be useful for calibrating the transmission of other analyzers for electron energies below 9 eV. Correction for angular distribution effects is discussed.

Gardner, J. L.↗

An experimental study of reactive turbulent mixing

An experimental study of the turbulent mixing of two coaxial gas streams, which react very rapidly (pseudo-hypergolic chemical kinetics), was performed to investigate the mixing characteristics of turbulent flow fields. The center stream consisted of a CO-N2 mixture and the outer annular stream consisted of air vitiated by H2 combustion. The streams were at equal velocity (50 m/sec) and temperature (1280 K). Turbulence measurements were obtained using hot film anemometry. A sampling probe was used to obtain time averaged gas compositions. Six different turbulence generators were placed in the annular passage to alter the flow field mixing characteristics. The turbulence generators affected the bulk mixing of the streams and the extent of CO conversion to different degrees. The effects can be related to the average eddy size and the bulk mixing. Higher extents of conversion of CO to CO2 were found by increasing the bulk mixing and decreasing the average eddy size.

Cooper, L. P.↗

Preliminary findings of the Viking gas exchange experiment and a model for Martian surface chemistry

Earlier results reported from the Viking Lander-1 experiment are reexamined and interpreted in terms of a model of the Martian soil surface morphology and chemistry. Major events in the gas exchange experiment (GEX) first cycle are tabulated and data are presented on the sample processing and transport environments experienced by the soil samples. Oxygen and CO2 evolved from humidified Martian soil in GEX and slight changes in N2 present are investigated. A soil model involving iron oxide coating on silicate material is entertained to yield a mechanistic explanation of the experimental findings, and invocation of biotic processes is eschewed.

Oyama, V. I.↗

High resolution infrared absorptivities for gaseous chlorine nitrate

High resolution infrared absorptivities of chlorine nitrate (ClONO2) are required in order to quantitatively evaluate, by examination of infrared spectra obtained recently from balloon-borne spectrometers, the possible occurrence of this compound in the stratosphere. In the present study, infrared absorptivities for four absorption bands of gaseous ClONO2 have been measured at 0.0625 per cm spectral resolution with a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) system. Spectra were obtained at two pressures (0.05 and 1.05 torr) of pure ClONO2 and with 125 torr of N2 added to a 0.50 torr sample. Absorptivities for a range of spectral resolutions (0.0625, 0.125, 0.25 and 0.50 per cm) have been calculated from the data.

Graham, R. A.↗

The atmosphere of Io

Observations of Io suggest that it may have an atmosphere in which sodium vapor, ammonia, and nitrogen are important constituents. Several atmospheric models consisting of these gases are tested as a function of total content against the Pioneer 10 observations and for stability against escape. The results suggest that the atmosphere is very tenuous and that the interpretation of the ionosphere detected by Pioneer 10 by a static model may be inconsistent with the sodium-cloud observations. It is postulated that ionization may also be escaping and that sodium may be comparable in content in the atmosphere with some molecular constituent such as NH3 or N2. Sodium and this molecular component then dominate the atmosphere. It is also suggested that particle precipitation contributes to heating of the atmosphere and to the production of ionization; the difference between day- and nighttime ionospheres and possible trailing and leading side effects may relate to the nature of the particle energy distributions. These distributions may result from the peculiar interaction of Io with the Jovian magnetosphere.

Gross, S. H.↗

Photochemistry of nitrogen in the Martian atmosphere

Models are developed for the photochemistry of a CO2-H2O-N2 atmosphere on Mars. Estimates are given for the concentrations of N, NO, NO2, NO3, N2O5, HNO2, HNO3, and N2O as a function of altitude. Nitric oxide is the most abundant form of odd nitrogen, present with a mixing ratio relative to CO2 of the order of 1 hundred-millionth. Deposition rates for nitrite and nitrate minerals could be as large as 300,000 N equivalent atoms per sq cm/sec under present conditions and may have been higher in the past.

Yung, Y. L.↗

Photoemission in the second positive system of molecular nitrogen in the earth's dayglow

The results are presented of analyses of 3371-A profiles measured by the visible airglow experiment reported by Hayes et al. (1973). The measured emission rate profiles are presented as functions of the O and N2 densities determined simultaneously by means of an open source mass spectrometer. The experimental methods used are discussed along with the obtained results. The experimental data are compared with theoretical predictions. It is found that the 3371-A emission depends greatly on the O/N2 concentration ratio.

Kopp, J. P.↗

Temperature, density, and composition in the disturbed thermosphere from Esro 4 gas analyzer measurements - A global model

An analysis of density measurements of Ar, N2, O, and He made at 280 km with the gas analyzer aboard the polar-orbiting satellite Esro 4 has yielded a global model of the variations in temperature, density, and composition that occur in the disturbed thermosphere. In the model the increase of temperature over quiet conditions is a nonlinear function of the planetary geomagnetic index, its latitude profile being approximated by a fourth-power sin phi law, where phi is the 'invariant' magnetic latitude. A density wave proceeding from high latitudes is approximated by a fourth power cos phi law. A strong nonlinearity in the relation between the temperature variations and the variations in the height of the homopause explains a previously found behavioral difference in the variation of atomic oxygen during magnetic storms and during periods of sustained geomagnetic activity.

Jacchia, L. G.↗

Laser-induced fluorescence of CN/X2 Sigma +/ produced by photolysis of C2N2 at 160 nm

The paper reports laser-induced fluorescence measurements of the initial product state distributions of CN(X2 Sigma +) produced during the photolysis of C2N2 at a wavelength of 160 nm. The parent molecules were photodissociated by an argon flash lamp, and saturated solutions of BBD in p-dioxane were used as a laser dye to produce radiation that excited CN radicals in the (upsilon-double-prime, N-prime) vibrational-rotational sublevels of the X state to the B-state sublevels. Spectral-line identification is discussed along with the observed rotational, electronic, and vibrational energy partitionings. The effect of added buffer gas (N2 or He) on the observed product state distributions is examined in order to monitor collisional energy transfer from CN(A2 Pi, upsilon = 0) to CN(X2 Sigma +, upsilon-double-prime = 4). It is found that both buffer gases produce population inversion between the upsilon-double-prime = 4 and upsilon-double-prime = 3 levels of the X state.

Cody, R. J.↗