Engineering topics

Baines, Kevin H.

Publications and source records attributed to Baines, Kevin H..

33 records · Page 2

NASA NTRS1994

Spatial organization and time dependence of Jupiter's tropospheric temperatures, 1980-1993

The spatial organization and time dependence of Jupiter's temperature near 250-millibar pressure were measured through a jovian year by imaging thermal emission at 18 micrometers. The temperature field is influenced by seasonal radiative forcing, and its banded organization is closely correlated with the visible cloud field. Evidence was found for a quasi-periodic oscillation of temperatures in the Equatorial Zone, a correlation between tropospheric and stratospheric waves in the North Equatorial Belt, and slowly moving thermal features in the North and South Equatorial Belts. There appears to be no common relation between temporal changes of temperature and changes in the visual albedo of the various axisymmetric bands.

Orton, Glenn S.↗

NASA NTRS1994

(abstract) The Distribution of Carbon in the Outer Solar System: New Constraints on Planetary Formation Mechanisms from Groundbased Spectroscopic Observations of Uranus and Neptune

New limits on the methane mixing ratio within the well-mixed tropospheres of Uranus and Neptune place significant constraints on planetary formation mechanisms within the outer solar system. Our results support the conclusion of other researchers that a nontrivial amount of methane in the outer solar system was incorporated into the planets by dissolution of carbon-bearing planetesimals during the early evolutionary stages of both Uranus and Neptune.

formation outer solar system↗

NASA NTRS1994

Clouds, hazes, and the stratospheric methane abundance in Neptune

Analysis of high-spatial-resolution (approximately 0.8 arcsec) methane band and continuum imagery of Neptune's relatively homogeneous Equatorial Region yields significant constraints on (1) the stratospheric gaseous methane mixing ratio (f(sub CH4, S)), (2) the column abundances and optical properties of stratospheric and tropospheric hydrocarbon hazes, and (3) the wavelength-dependent single-scattering albedo of the 3-bar opaque cloud. From the center-to-limb behavior of the 7270-A and 8900-A CH4 bands, the stratospheric methane mixing ratios is limited to f(sub CH4, S) less than 1.7 x 10(exp -3), with a nominal value of f(sub CH4, S) = 3.5 x 10(exp -4), one to two orders of magnitude less than pre-Voyager estimates, but in agreement with a number of recent ultraviolet and thermal infrared measurements, and largely in agreement with the tropopause mixing ratio implied by Voyager temperature measurements. Upper limits to the stratospheric haze mass column abundance and 6190-A and 8900-A haze opacities are 0.61 micrograms/sq cm and 0.075 and 0.042, respectively, with nominal values of 0.20 micrograms/sq cm and 0.025 and 0.014 for the 0.2 micrometers radius particles preferred by the recent Voyager PPS analysis of Pryor et al. (1992). The tropospheric CH4 haze opacities are comparable to that found in the stratosphere, i.e., upper limits of 0.104 and 0.065 at 6190 A and 8900 A, respectively, with nominal values of 0.085 and 0.058. This indicates a column abundance less than 11.0 micrograms/sq cm, corresponding to the methane gas content within a well-mixed 3% methane tropospheric layer only 0.1 cm thick near the 1.5-bar CH4 condensation level. Conservative scattering is ruled out for the opaque cloud near 3 bars marking the bottom of the visible atmosphere. Specifically, we find cloud single-scattering albedos of 0.915 +/- 0.006 at 6340 A, 0.775 +/- 0.012 at 7490 A, and 0.803 +/- 0.010 at 8260 A. Global models utilizing a complete global spectrum confirm the red-absorbing character of the 3-bar cloud. The global-mean model has approximately 7.7 times greater stratospheric aerosol content than the Equatorial Region. An analysis of stratospheric haze precipitation rates indicates a steady-state haze production rate of 0.185-1.5 x 10(exp -14) g/sq cm/s, in agreement with recent theoretical photochemical estimates. Finally, reanalysis of the Voyager PPS 7500-A phase angle data utilizing the f(sub CH4, S) value derived here confirms the Pryor et al. result of a tropospheric CH4 haze opacity of a few tenths in the 22-30 degs S latitude region, several times that of the Equatorial Region or of the globe. The factor-of-10 reduction in f(sub CH4, S) below that assumed by Pryor et al. implies decreased gas absorption and consequently a decrease in the forward-scattering component of tropospheric aerosols.

Baines, Kevin H.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Quasi-random narrow-band model fits to near-infrared low-temperature laboratory methane spectra and derived exponential-sum absorption coefficients

Near-infrared 10/cm resolution spectra of methane obtained at various temperatures, pressures, and abundances are fit to a quasi-random narrow-band model. Exponential-sum absorption coefficients for three temperatures (112, 188, and 295 K), and 20 pressures from 0.0001 to 5.6 bars, applicable to the cold environments of the major planets, are then derived from the band model for the 230 wavelengths measured from 1.6 to 2.5 microns. RMS deviations between the laboratory and the exponential-sum synthetic transmissions are reported for the best fitting 50 wavelengths. Deviations relevant to broadband, 1-percent spectral resolution observations are also presented. The validity of exponential-sum coefficients derived from broadband (10/cm) transmission data is demonstrated via direct comparison with line-by-line calculations. The complete atlas of coefficients is available from the Planetary Data System-Planetary Atmospheres Discipline Node.

Baines, Kevin H.↗

NASA NTRS1992

VIMS/Cassini mission at Titan: Scientific objectives and observational scenarios

The scientific objectives and observational scenarios of the Cassini/Visual Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) Mission at Titan are addressed. The VIMS represents a powerful and effective means to both investigate, in four dimensions (latitude, longitude, altitude, and time), Titan's atmospheric structure and to map the near infrared spectral character of Titan's surface. Its broad spectral coverage from 0.35 to 5.1 micrometers together with its significant spectral resolution allows it to determine minor constituent distributions and cloud optical/microphysical properties from the surface to several hundred km. A promising means of obtaining high vertical resolution stratospheric profiles of hydrocarbons, oxides, and hazes via stellar occultation observations is discussed.

Baines, Kevin H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Thermal maps of Jupiter - Spatial organization and time dependence of stratospheric temperatures, 1980 to 1990

The spatial organization and time dependence of Jupiter's stratospheric temperatures have been measured by observing thermal emission from the 7.8-micrometer CH4 band. These temperatures, observed through the greater part of a Jovian year, exhibit the influence of seasonal radiative forcing. Distinct bands of high temperature are located at the poles and midlatitudes, while the equator alternates between warm and cold with a period of approximately 4 years. Substantial longitudinal variability is often observed within the warm midlatitude bands, and occasionally elsewhere on the planet. This variability includes small, localized structures, as well as large-scale waves with wavelengths longer than about 30,000 kilometers. The amplitudes of the waves vary on a time scale of about 1 month; structures on a smaller scale may have lifetimes of only days. Waves observed in 1985, 1987, and 1988 propagated with group velocities less than + or - 30 meters/sec.

Orton, Glenn S.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Clouds and aerosols in the Uranian atmosphere

Data accumulated from ground-based instruments, the IUE satellite, and Voyager experiments are used to determine the properties of at least three types of cloud and haze layers in the Uranian atmosphere. Studies of ground-based and IUE spectrophotometry data suggest an optically thin stratospheric haze, and optically thicker but surprisingly thin methane cloud near or above the 2-bar level, and a deeper cloud top of unknown composition near the 3-bar level. A strong increase in the intensity of scattered light from about 147 to 157 deg phase angle, as observed with the imaging experiment, provides definitive evidence for the presence of haze in the stratosphere. A combined radiative-transfer, microphysical, and photochemical model of these data indicates that the haze is located chiefly at pressures in excess of 1 microbar; that it is composed of condensed ethane, acetylene, and diacetylene; that its optical depth is on the order of 0.01 in the stratosphere; that the typical particle size is approximately 0.1; and that the haze is being produced at a rate of about 10 exp -16 g/ cm

West, Robert A.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Absorption coefficients for the 6190-A CH4 band between 290 and 100 K with application to Uranus' atmosphere

A novel laser intracavity photoacoustic spectroscopy method allowing high sample control accuracy due to the small sample volume required has been used to obtain absorption coefficients for the CH4 6190 A band as a function of temperature, from 290 to 100 K. The peak absorption coefficient is found to increase from 0.6 to 1.0/cm, and to be accompanied by significant band shape changes. When used to further constrain the Baines and Bergstrahl (1986) standard model of the Uranus atmosphere, the low-temperature data yield an excellent fit to the bandshape near the 6190 A band's minimum.

Smith, Wm. Hayden↗

NASA NTRS1990

The atmospheric structure and dynamical properties of Neptune derived from ground-based and IUE spectrophotometry

A wide range of recent full-disk spectral observations is used to constrain the atmospheric structure and dynamical properties of Neptune; analytical determinations are made of the abundances of such spectrally active gas species as the deep-atmosphere CH4 molar fraction and the mean ortho/para hydrogen ratio in the visible atmosphere, as well as stratospheric and tropospheric aerosol properties. Compared to Uranus, the greater abundance and shorter lifetimes of Neptunian particulates in the stratospheric region irradiated by the solar UV flux indicate that such radiation is the darkening agent of stratospheric aerosols on both planets.

Baines, Kevin H.↗

NASA NTRS1990

H2 S3(1) and S4(1) transitions in the atmospheres of Neptune and Uranus - Observations and analysis

The present observational results for Neptune's S3(1) and S4(1) H2 lines show the former line's measured equivalent width to be the same as for this feature in Uranus, repeating the equality already established between the two planets for the latter feature. It is also noted that the observed ratio of the H2 S3(0)/S3(1) lines for Neptune's atmosphere is reproduced by models belonging to the family of models created by Baines and Smith (1990); by comparison with the earlier Uranus models of Baines and Bergstrahl (1986), the greater continuum absorption of Neptune is responsible for the increased S3(0)/S3(1) line ratio near 0.82 microns.

Smith, Wm. Hayden↗

NASA NTRS1990

Calibration of the 7- to 14-micron brightness spectra of Uranus and Neptune

An independent measure of the absolute brightness of the disk-averaged spectrum measured by Orton et al. (1987) is attempted via observations of Uranus and Neptune at discrete wavelengths between 8.17 and 13.0 microns. These observations are found to be consistent with the suggested upward recalibrations of the Uranus and Neptune spectra by factors of 1.6 and 1.12, respectively. Both graphic and tabular results are presented.

Orton, Glenn S.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Limits on the diurnal variation of H2 quadrupole features in Neptune

Spectral profiles of the H2 S4(0) and S4(1) lines are presented for Neptune on three consecutive nights; no variation is detected in the equivalent widths of the H2 4-0 features to within an observational uncertainty of about 20 percent. Comparisons with previous H2 quadrupole observations indicate that no secular trends have been detected over about 15 yr. The equivalent-width error limits are interpreted in terms of the maximum variability of Neptunian tropospheric aerosols. Specifically, the error bars for the globally averaged equivalent widths of the two H2 quadrupole absorption features constrain the bottom of the visible atmosphere, as defined by a bright optically infinite isotropically scattering cloud, to be 2.9 + or - 0.6 bars, while the methane haze opacity is constrained to be 0.30 + or - 0.25.

Smith, Wm. Hayden↗

NASA NTRS1989

D/H for Uranus and Neptune

Searches for absorption features of HD near 6050 A are reported for Uranus and Neptune. The existence of blends of the HD features with weak features due to minor species in the atmosphere of Uranus is demonstrated. These blends make the unambiguous identification of the weak HD features exceedingly difficult. The data are analyzed with inhomogeneous scattering models to ascertain a D/H upper limit for Uranus and Neptune of 0.0001, a factor of 2 smaller than the upper limit reported from CH3D measurements.

Smith, Wm. Hayden↗

NASA NTRS1989

The D/H ratio for Jupiter

Observations of Jupiter's spectrum near the R5(0) HD line at 6063.88 A are reported. A feature with an equivalent width of 0.065 + or - 0.021 mA is coincident with the expected line. This feature is compared with HD profiles computed for inhomogeneous scattering models for Jupiter to yield a range for the Jovian D/H ratio of 1.0-2.9 x 10 to the -5th. This D/H ratio is in the lower range of previously reported D/H values for Jupiter and corresponds to an essentially solar D/H ratio for Jupiter. The detection of HD features in the presence of probable blends with spectral features of minor atmospheric hydrocarbon molecules is discussed. Such blends may make unambiguous identification of HD features difficult.

Smith, Wm. Hayden↗

NASA NTRS1988

Infrared observations of planetary atmospheres

The goal of this research in to obtain infrared data on planetary atmospheres which provide information on several aspects of structure and composition. Observations include direct mission real-time support as well as baseline monitoring preceding mission encounters. Besides providing a broader information context for spacecraft experiment data analysis, observations will provide the quantitative data base required for designing optimum remote sensing sequences and evaluating competing science priorities. In the past year, thermal images of Jupiter and Saturn were made near their oppositions in order to monitor long-term changes in their atmospheres. Infrared images of the Jovian polar stratospheric hot spots were made with IUE observations of auroral emissions. An exploratory 5-micrometer spectrum of Uranus was reduced and accepted for publication. An analysis of time-variability of temperature and cloud properties of the Jovian atomsphere was made. Development of geometric reduction programs for imaging data was initiated for the sun workstation. Near-infrared imaging observations of Jupiter were reduced and a preliminary analysis of cloud properties made. The first images of the full disk of Jupiter with a near-infrared array camera were acquired. Narrow-band (10/cm) images of Jupiter and Saturn were obtained with acousto-optical filters.

Orton, Glenn S.↗