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At least 1,747 records · Page 97

Orbital observations of the lunar highlands on Apollo 16 and their interpretation

From orbital altitudes, the lunar highlands display the same surface characteristics on both the far and near sides. Rugged terra and plains forming materials all appear as if dusted with a uniform mantle. No stratigraphy or evidence of layering are seen in highland craters, with the possible exception of South Ray Crater in the Descartes landing site area. Among the discussed small scale features of the lunar highlands are: fine lineaments, that appear to be real rather than artifacts of lighting, on both horizontal and inclined surfaces; ridge-like scarps that cut across highland topography; and benches that are believed to be high lava marks rather than talus accumulates.

Mattingly, T. K.↗

Application of dielectric constant measurements to radar imagery interpretation

A ground-truth scheme is briefly outlined, specifically, the measurement of the dielectric constant. Two portable instruments were designed specifically for this purpose: a Q-meter for measurement of dielectric constant and loss tangent, and an instrument to measure electrical properties of the two operating frequencies of the imaging radar. Several general cases of radar-earth surfaces interaction are described; also, examples of radar imagery and some data on ice and snow are presented.

Bryan, M. L.↗

Interpretation of far infra-red emission from interstellar grains

Application of the Kramers-Kronig relations to grains in the interstellar medium. It is found that the recent UV, visual, and infrared extinction curves provide marginal evidence against silicates as the major cause of this extinction. In the far infrared, grains contribute little to the extinction, but can be observed in thermal emission. It is shown that the far infrared emission from grains in a given bandwidth sets a lower limit to the grain temperature. From observed intensities from the galactic plane at 100 microns and from Orion at 350 microns, minimum grain temperatures are found which are larger than the observed brightness temperature. The emission and extinction data can be used together to constrain the allowable range of parameters for the grains.

Caroff, L. J.↗

Standard methods for analysis and interpretation of Lidar data for environmental monitoring

Lidar is similar in principle to microwave radar but uses a pulsed laser as the source and an optical telescope as the receiver. Lidar observations of elastic scattering from aerosols and more recently Raman scattering from molecules have been performed in the atmosphere with favorable results. A description of the Lidar technique is provided. Lidar measurements of remote visibility are discussed together with the measurement of remote visibility and the determination of molecular concentrations.

Melfi, S. H.↗

An interpretation of the carbon-oxygen to iron ratio

Data from recent measurements on the composition of primary cosmic rays above 1 GeV/nucleon are critically reviewed for information pertaining to selection of suitable energy-dependent composition models. Areas where crucial experimental information may result in selection of a suitable model are pointed out. In particular, the study of the energy distribution of VVH nuclei, and the derivation of more accurate energy spectra of 10 less than or equal to Z less than or equal to 14, 15 less than or equal to Z less than or equal to 23 and Z greater than 24 would contribute to discriminate between models which rely on interstellar propagation and those that ascribe a different source mechanism for Fe group nuclei.

Balasubrahmanyan, V. K.↗

Interpretation of epsilon Aurigae. III

The light curve expected from the eclipse of a star by a companion possessing a semitransparent disk has been investigated. Two computational procedures for deriving the light curve based on the geometrically thin-disk model are given here. Using these procedures, we have calculated the light curves of epsilon Aur based on different sets of parameters including those given previously by Wilson. We have also studied the light curve of epsilon Aur based on a geometrically thick disk model, and have advanced two proposals in order to understand the change in the shape of the light curve from one eclipse to the next, namely, (1) the rapid evolution that occurs in the disk and (2) the density waves in the disk and/or individual condensations that are revolving around the secondary each in an independent way.

Huang, S.-S.↗

Chaotic terrain of Mars - A tectonic interpretation from Mariner 6 imagery

Sharp et al. (1971) define chaotic terrain as an irregular jumble of topographic forms covering a certain area within Pyrrhae Regio and adjacent regions centered at about 10 deg S., 35 deg W. This area is covered by Mariner 6 television imagery. An analysis of fracture patterns in the Martian surface from high-resolution Mariner 6 imagery suggests that the lineaments observed in both the chaotic terrain and the cratered plateau areas in Pyrrhae Regio are tectonic fractures resulting from stresses within the Martian crust.

Wilson, R. C.↗

Interpretation of epsilon Aurigae. II - Infrared excess, secondary light variations, and plausible formation of a planetary system

Infrared excess based on the disk model proposed in a previous paper was computed. It was found that the disk alone will emit infrared radiation below the margin of detection. However, if individual condensations are present, the combined result of the disk proper and the condensations yields results of infrared excesses that are consistent with observations. The presence of condensations also makes the secondary light variation understandable. An elementary theory is developed that analyzes such light variations. The result of the analysis yields the size of the orbit of the condensation around the secondary component.

Huang, S.-S.↗

Interpretation of columnar content measurements of the solar-wind turbulence

The temporal spectrum of measurements of the integrated electron columnar content between the earth and a distant source are considered. The relation between this spectrum and the three-dimensional wavenumber spectrum of the solar-wind density is derived under the assumption that the correlation scale is the smallest scale of interest. The specific case of round-trip measurements to a spacecraft is investigated for a power-law solar-wind density spectrum. The resulting spectrum has a power-law envelope one power less steep than the solar-wind density spectrum with several deep minima superposed.

Callahan, P. S.↗

An interpretation of the observed oxygen and nitrogen enhancements in low-energy cosmic rays

The possibility is suggested that the enhancement of cosmic-ray oxygen and nitrogen observed at about 10 MeV per nucleon could result from neutral interstellar particles that are swept into the solar cavity by the motion of the sun through the interstellar medium. These particles are subsequently ionized and accelerated. It is pointed out that this mechanism imposes no severe requirements either on the number of particles that have to be accelerated or on the energy that has to be removed from the solar wind to perform this acceleration.

Fisk, L. A.↗

Interpretation of the polarization of Venus

The linear polarization of sunlight reflected by Venus is analyzed by comparing observations with extensive multiple scattering computations. The analysis establishes that Venus is veiled by a cloud or haze layer of spherical particles. The refractive index of the particles is about 1.44 at 0.55 microns with a normal dispersion, the refractive index decreasing from about 1.46 at 0.365 microns to 1.43 at 0.99 microns. The cloud particles have a narrow size distribution with a mean radius of about 1 micron; specifically, the effective radius of the size distribution is approximately 1.05 microns and the effective variance is about 0.07. The particles exist at a high level in the atmosphere, with the optical thickness unity occurring where the pressure is about 50 mb. The particle properties deduced from the polarization eliminate all but one of the cloud compositions which have been proposed for Venus. A concentrated solution of sulfuric acid provides good agreement with the polarization data.

Hansen, J. E.↗

Venus ionosphere - An interpretation of Mariner 10 observations

The dayside ionosphere of Venus observed by Mariner 10 may be understood in terms of a dynamic interaction with the solar wind which results in a compressed topside above an 'F2 ledge' consisting of O(+) and a dynamically unaffected F1 layer corresponding to a neutral temperature of about 380 K and consisting of O2(+) and CO2(+). The top of the upper ledge appears to be an ionopause caused by solar wind scavenging of He(+), representing a solar-wind obstacle consistent with the bow shock observations.

Bauer, S. J.↗

Near-earth magnetic disturbance in total field at high latitudes. I - Summary of data from Ogo 2, 4, and 6. II - Interpretation of data from Ogo 2, 4, and 6

A complete survey of the near-earth magnetic field magnitude was carried out by the Polar Orbiting Geophysical Observatories (Ogo 2, 4, and 6). The average properties of variations in total magnetic field strength at invariant latitudes greater than 55 deg are given. Data from all degrees of magnetic disturbance are included, the emphasis being on periods when Kp = 2- to 3+. Although individual satellite passes at low altitudes confirm the existence of electrojet currents, neither individual satellite passes nor contours of average delta B are consistent with latitudinally narrow electrojet currents as the principal source of delta B at the satellite. The total field variations at the satellite form a region of positive delta B between about 2200 and 1000 MLT and a region of negative delta B between about 1000 and 2200 MLT. The ratio of delta B magnitudes in these positive and negative regions is variable.

Langel, R. A.↗

Mercury's surface - Preliminary description and interpretation from Mariner 10 pictures

The surface morphology and optical properties of Mercury resemble those of the moon in remarkable detail and record a very similar sequence of events. Chemical and mineralogical similarity of the outer layers of Mercury and the moon is implied; Mercury is probably a differentiated planet with a large iron-rich core. Differentiation is inferred to have occurred very early. No evidence of atmospheric modification of landforms has been found. Large-scale scarps and ridges unlike lunar or Martian features may reflect a unique period of planetary compression near the end of heavy bombardment by small planetesimals.

Murray, B. C.↗