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Eberstein, I. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Eberstein, I. J..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Measured thermal ion environment of STS-3

The Plasma Diagnostic Package (PDP) on the third Space Shuttle Flight (STS- 3) included a Bennett RF ion mass spectrometer which surveyed the positive ion composition in the vicinity of the vehicle. The ion measurements both within and exterior to the Shuttle cargo bay show the pervasive influence of the Shuttle's own gaseous emissions on its immediate plasma environment. Within the bay the ion spectrometer detected copius quantities of ions when the Shuttle was in daylight and when the gas pressure at the surface of the PDP was enhanced. In general few cases of ion detection occurred when the bay was facing toward the Shuttle wake. The plasma near the Shuttle consisted predominately of O+ (16AMU) ions and ions with atomic masses of 18, 30, 32 and 44 AMU corresponding to H2O+, NO+, O2+, and CO2+. All of these ions with the exception of H2O+ and CO2+ are expected ambient ions at the Shuttle's altitude of 240 km. During some thruster firings the 18 and 30 AMU ion concentrations detected within the bay increase by up to an order of magnitude within the 2.4 second sweep of the instrument. During these latter events the O+ distributions did not show a similar change.

Grebowsky, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Comparison of the Nimbus-4 BUV ozone data with the Ames two-dimensional model

Predictions by the Ames two-dimensional model of altitude, latitude and seasonal variations in ozone distribution are compared with the first two years of Nimbus 4 backscattered ultraviolet (BUV) measurements in a preliminary attempt at model verification. The ozone observations consist of mixing ratios on the 1-, 2-, 5-, and 10-mbar pressure surfaces zonally and time averaged to obtain seasonal means for 1970 and 1971. The model is based on chemical reaction and photolysis rate constants recommended by the NASA Panel for Data Evaluation (1979), diurnally averaged for latitudes from 80 deg N to 80 deg S and altitudes from 0 to 60 km with 5 deg horizontal and 2.5 km vertical grid spacings. The large altitude, latitude and seasonal variations observed in the data are found to agree well with model predictions. Examination of the sensitivity of the model predictions to various assumed parameters indicates that improvements in agreement may be obtained by variations of the odd chlorine mixing ratio, odd-nitrogen level and transport parameters.

Borucki, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Comparison of the Nimbus-4 BUV ozone data with the Ames two-dimensional model

A comparison is made of the first two years of Nimbus 4 backscattered ultraviolet (BUV) ozone measurements with the predictions of the Ames two dimensional model. The ozone observations used consist of the mixing ratio on the 1, 2, 5, and 10 mb pressure surfaces. The data are zone and time averaged to obtain seasonal means for 1970 and 1971 and are found to show strong and repeatable meridional and seasonal dependencies. The model used for comparison with the observations extends from 80 N to 80 S latitude and from altitudes of 0 to 60 km with 5 deg horizontal grid spacing and 2.5 km vertical grid spacing. Chemical reaction and photolysis rates are diurnally averaged and the photodissociation rates are corrected for the effects of scattering. The large altitude, latitude, and seasonal changes in the ozone data agree with the model predictions. Model predictions of the sensitivity of the comparisons to changes in the assumed mixing ratios of water vapor, odd nitrogen, and odd chlorine, as well as to changes in the ambient temperature and transport parameters are also shown.

Borucki, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Vertical temperature and density patterns in the Arctic mesosphere analyzed as gravity waves

Three series of rocket soundings including pitot soundings, grenade soundings, and paired pitot-grenade soundings, were conducted from high latitude sites during winter. Temperature and wind profiles and one density profile were observed independently to obtain the thermodynamic structure, the wind structure, and thus their interdependence in the mesosphere. Temperature profiles from all soundings in each series were averaged, and a smooth curve (or series of smooth curves) drawn through the points. A hydrostatic atmosphere based on the average, measured temperature profile was computed, and deviations from the mean atmosphere were analyzed in terms of gravity wave theory. The vertical wavelengths of the deviations were 10-20 km, and the wave amplitudes slowly increased with height. The experimental data were matched by calculated gravity waves having a period ranging between 15 and 80 minutes and horizontal wavelengths of 60 to 280 km. The interpretation is generally consistent with the results of others who have studied gravity-acoustic waves in the atmosphere. The wind measurements are consistent with the thermodynamic measurements. The results also suggest that gravity waves traveled from east to west with a horizontal phase velocity of approximately 60 m/sec.

Eberstein, I. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

A vortex model for transport in the polar stratosphere

A semi-empirical model based on a Gaussian vorticity distribution was developed for determining eddy diffusivity and wind transport distributions in the polar stratosphere. The model uses as input data pressure surface heights measured at periods of the year when the stratospheric polar vortex exhibits nearly circular patterns around the pole. The components of the polar wind velocities that result from a Prandtl eddy viscosity distribution are found to be in general agreement with those obtained by other investigators.

Eberstein, I. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Vertical temperature and density patterns in the Arctic mesosphere analyzed as gravity waves

Rocket soundings conducted from high latitude sites in the Arctic mesosphere are described. Temperature and wind profiles and one density profile were observed independently to obtain the thermodynamic structure, the wind structure, and their interdependence in the mesosphere. Temperature profiles from all soundings were averaged, and a smooth curve (or series of smooth curves) drawn through the points. A hydrostatic atmosphere based on the average, measured temperature profile was computed, and deviations from the mean atmosphere were analyzed in terms of gravity wave theory. The vertical wavelengths of the deviations were 10-20 km, and the wave amplitudes slowly increased with height. The experimental data were matched by calculated gravity waves having a period of 15-20 minutes and a horizontal wavelength of 60-80 km. The wind measurements are consistent with the thermodynamic measurements. The results also suggest that gravity waves travel from East to West with a horizontal phase velocity of approximately 60 m sec-1.

Eberstein, I. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Behaviour of nitric oxide trails deposited in the mesosphere and stratosphere

The transient behavior of a nitric oxide trail deposited at approximately 60 km altitude is studied by the solution of the appropriate multidimensional diffusion equation which includes terms representing the effects of wind shear. Similar analysis is then carried out for the situation in the stratosphere. Trail behavior is found to be relatively independent of altitude and background ozone, but strongly dependent on the magnitude of eddy diffusity and the initial nitric oxide concentration. The nitric oxide trail reacts with ambient ozone to form nitrogen dioxide. For a trail 100 m initial radius, an ozone hole will form to a maximum size in 4 to 6 hours and then decay. The overall recovery time of the atmosphere following the creation of the trail is less than 12 hours.

Eberstein, I. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Behavior of nitric oxide formed by the space shuttle in the mesosphere

A numerical model of eddy diffusive transport of emitted gases from the space shuttle wake, including chemical reactions between the emitted constituents and the ambient atmosphere, has been constructed for 75 km altitude. The numerical methods involve explicit solution of the diffusion equation and Runge-Kutta method for the chemical reactions. The time required to reach background levels of nitric oxide concentration of 7 x 10 to the 7th power molecules/cc has been calculated. This relaxation time depends strongly on atmospheric conditions.

Eberstein, I. J.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Joint measurements of wind and temperature structure in the winter mesosphere at high latitudes

An attempt to identify propagating internal gravity waves in the mesosphere was made by sounding the region with three instrumented rockets on January 13-14, 1970, from Churchill, Canada (59 N). The three observations, which were conducted at approximately 90 min. intervals, consisted of a pitot probe bracketed by two acoustic grenade soundings. Thus, two temperature and wind profiles and one density profile were obtained independently, permitting an examination of the thermodynamic structure and the wind structure. The results of the combined thermodynamic and wind observations were found to be quantitatively compatible with a gravity wave interpretation. This interpretation also predicts vertical velocities on the order of 10/msec in the 80 km region.

Eberstein, I. J.↗