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Caldwell, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Caldwell, J..

At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

IR brightness and eclipse cooling of Saturn's rings

Equatorial scans of Saturn at 20 microns wavelength, obtained with the Mayall 4-m telescope in 1978-79, show a continuing decrease in the specific brightness of the A and B rings as the ring plane projection approaches and edge-on apparition. The decreased brightness of the previously dominant B ring reveals more clearly a large difference in brightness between the east and west ansae portions of the C ring, in contrast to a barely discernible difference for the other ring ansae. The amount of eclipse cooling is compatible with a C ring particle size of about 1 cm. It is proposed here that the B ring brightness variation could partially result from a decrease of absorbed insolation by a modest amount of visible scattering.

Nolt, I. G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Observations of the spectrum of Jupiter from 1500 to 2000 A with the IUE

The paper examines the far-UV spectrum of Jupiter recorded by observations with the International Ultraviolet Explorer, noting that only the upper levels of the plant's atmosphere are sampled. It is shown that there are several absorptions caused by C2H2 and indications that NH3 may also be present at these altitudes. In addition, it is suggested that PH3 may also play a role as a continuum absorber, and a new upper limit of 5 x 10 to the -9 on H2S/H2 forbidden line ratio. It is concluded that these results are consistent with existing models for Jovian photochemistry and atmospheric structure.

Owen, T.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Temporal characteristics of the Jovian atmosphere

Drift scans along the central meridian of Jupiter have been obtained at wavelengths of 7.9, 17.8, and 19.7 microns. These observations indicate a significant north-south temperature asymmetry within the Jovian stratosphere but not within its troposphere, results which agree with the recent Voyager 1 observations. Employing a time-dependent stratospheric model, it is found that the observed north-south asymmetry is consistent with seasonal stratospheric variability. In the model, the primary cause for this variability is the time-dependent absorption of sunlight by aerosols.

Caldwell, J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Spatially resolved infrared observations of Saturn. III - 10- and 20-micron disk scans at B prime = -11.8 deg

Disk scans of Saturn at 10 and 20 microns were obtained when the Saturnicentric solar declination B prime was -11.8 deg. The scans show little change from scans obtained when B prime was -16.3 deg. This could result from the long radiative time constant of the Saturnian atmosphere. The observations at 20 microns, in the H2 continuum, show positively that the temperature inversion at the south pole has a higher temperature than at any other point on the disk. In addition, the 12.1- and 20-micron scans indicate that the temperature of the inversion region is higher at the equator compared to the temperate zone. The data also suggest that enhanced 20-micron emission is correlated with the strength of the ultraviolet absorption.

Tokunaga, A. T.↗
NASA NTRS1979

A Saturnian stratospheric seasonal climate model

Motivated by recent observational evidence that seasonal processes occur within Saturn's stratosphere, a seasonal stratospheric climate model has been constructed. This model predicts stratospheric temperatures above the P = 0.1-atm level as a function of time throughout the Saturnian year. Specific results are presented for south-polar and equatorial temperatures. The model predicts that substantial seasonal phase lags exist; maximum stratospheric temperatures at the south pole occur at the southern hemisphere's autumnal equinox. Brightness temperature observations at 17.8 microns, taken during 1977/1978, indicate that stratospheric temperatures are greater at the south pole than at the equator. The model is consistent with these observations, predicting enhanced south polar temperatures, relative to the equator, from 1975 to 1983.

Cess, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Low surface pressure models for Titan's atmosphere

The inversion model for the atmosphere of Titan is reviewed. The basic features of the model are: a cold surface (80 K), a warm stratosphere (160 K) and a low surface pressure (20 mbar). The model is consistent with all existing thermal infrared spectrophotometry, but it cannot preclude the existence of an opaque, cloud, thick atmosphere. The model excludes other gases than methane as bulk constituents. Radio wavelengths observations, including recent data from the very large array, are discussed. These long wavelength observations may be the only direct means of sampling the surface environment before an entry probe or flyby.

Caldwell, J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Spatially resolved infrared observations of Saturn. I - Equatorial limb scans at 20 microns

Infrared drift scans of areas near the equator of Saturn are analyzed which were made through narrow-band filters with central wavelengths of 17.8, 19.7, and 22.7 microns. The results are compared with several different models of the atmosphere of Saturn based on the planet's thermal IR emission spectrum. It is found that the model of Tokunaga and Cess (1977) is the best of the published models as a representation of the equatorial atmosphere of Saturn and that a model developed by Gautier et al. (1977) is also quite acceptable in view of the experimental uncertainties.

Caldwell, J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The vibrational overtone spectrum of liquid methane in the visible and near infrared - Applications to planetary studies

The strengths of 10 bands in the absorption spectrum of liquid methane between 19,400 and 6190 A have been measured. After a small correction for the polarizability of the liquid is applied for the purpose of comparison with similar gas-phase measurements, it is found that there is no temperature dependence of the band strengths between 95 and 295 K. Changes of band shape with temperature cause the 95 K laboratory spectra to resemble Saturn more than room-temperature observations do. Gas-phase absorption clearly dominates the liquid in planetary spectra, so liquid methane cannot be detected in the outer solar system by earth-based observations.

Ramaprasad, K. R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The occultation of Epsilon Geminorum by Mars as observed at Princeton

Results are reported for two-color (red and blue) high-speed photometric observations of the April 8, 1976, occultation of Epsilon Gem by Mars. The observing system is briefly described, fits to an isothermal atmospheric model of the event are presented, and the blue data are used to derive temperature profiles of the Martian atmosphere in the manner of Wasserman and Veverka (1973). The results are compared with those of Elliot et al. (1977), which were obtained from the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory.

Groth, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The 22.7 micron brightness of Saturn's rings versus declination of the sun

Equatorial scans of Saturn's rings were obtained with the KPNO 4 m telescope in 1977 March to provide ring-brightness data at 22.7 micrometers for B' = 16 deg.3. A comparison of these new results with an earlier measurement by Rieke shows that a specific intensity decrease of about 30% has occurred for the A and B rings since 1973, when B' was about 26 deg. Our results also confirm the existence of a bright infrared C ring component, which has increased in specific intensity by about 35% over the same period.

Nolt, I. G.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Center to limb scans of the Saturnian equator at 20 microns

Spatially resolved area scans of the equator of Saturn through filters at 17.8, 19.7, and 22.9 microns are used to evaluate proposed model atmospheres from the literature. The present observations demonstrate that the equatorial thermal structure has not changed measurably in the last three years.

Caldwell, J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Ultraviolet observations of Mars and Saturn by the TD1A and OAO-2 satellites

Ultraviolet photometric and spectrophotometric observations of Mars and Saturn, obtained from two earth-orbiting satellites, are discussed. High-resolution data reveal no definite absorption features in the spectra of either planet. In order to reconcile the absence of a prominent absorption in the Mars data near 2150 A with preliminary Viking measurements of NO, this gas must be preferentially concentrated at high Martian altitudes. Broadband photometry from OAO-2 shows that atmospheric dust from the great dust storm of 1971-1972 on Mars reduced the ultraviolet geometric albedo by a factor of 3 at the height of the storm. Atmospheric energy deposition appears to be an important mechanism of the storm dynamics. The combined Saturn data indicate that NH3 is not the absorber that influences the UV spectrum of Saturn. The possibility that H2S is the absorber is investigated.

Caldwell, J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The atmosphere of Saturn - An infrared perspective

A model of the radiative portion of the equatorial atmosphere of Saturn, constrained by the infrared data of various observers, has been constructed using a technique which includes the variation of thermal flux with depth. The model has a high-altitude temperature inversion due to the absorption of ultraviolet sunlight. The inversion causes the observed infrared emission peaks at 8 microns (methane) and 12 microns (ethane). Mixing ratios of these gases to hydrogen are computed from these emission features. The bottom of the modeled region occurs at the radiative convective boundary. At this level, an opaque cloud consisting of solid ammonia condensation particles is postulated. Above the cloud is a thin haze, also composed of ammonia particles. The haze is required to match infrared observations near 9.5 microns and hydrogen quadrupole equivalent widths near 0.64 micron. Predictions of the model are given for further observational tests.

Caldwell, J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Thermal radiation from Titan's atmosphere

The temperature-inversion model of Titan's atmosphere is modified to include the thermal emission from a plausible amount of C2H2. Infrared photometry of Titan from 8 to 14 microns agrees with model calculations for 0.5 cm-atm C2H6 and 1.0 cm-atm C2H2 and an optically thin dust layer in a temperature-inversion region at 160 K. The random band approximation used to calculate C2H6 opacity has been verified by laboratory transmission measurements. Measurements of the C2H2 emission at 13.7 microns may provide an indirect check on the presence of H2 on Titan. Existing observations of Titan appear to be fully consistent with the inversion model if the surface radius equals 2700 km, the atmospheric radius equals 2900 km, and the surface temperature equals 78 K. The energy balance depends sensitively on these three parameters.

Caldwell, J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Experiment to Evaluate the Feasibility of Utilizing Skylab-EREP Remote Sensing Data for Tectonic Analysis Through a Study of the Big Horn Mountain Region, Wyoming, South Dakota and Wyoming

The author has identified the following significant results. S190B imagery was the best single product from which fairly detailed structural and some lithologic mapping could be accomplished in the Big Horn basin, the Owl Creek Mountains, and the northern Big Horn Mountains. The Nye-Bowler lineament could not be extended east of its presently mapped location although a linear (fault or monocline) was noted that may be part of the lineament, but north of postulated extensions. Much more structure was discernible in the Big Horn basin than could be seen on LANDSAT-1 imagery; RB-57 color IR photography, in turn, revealed additional folds and faults. A number of linears, several of which could be identified as faults and one a monocline, cut obliquely the east-west trending Owl Creek uplift. The heavy forest cover of the Black Hills makes direct lithologic delineation impossible. However, drainage and linear overlays revealed differences in pattern between the areas of exposed Precambrian crystalline core and the flanking Paleozoic rocks. S192 data, even precision corrected segments, were not of much use.

Hoppin, R. A.↗