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Murcray, W. B.

Publications and source records attributed to Murcray, W. B..

10 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1978

Variability in the determination of total atmospheric ozone using remote sensing spectroscopic techniques

A spectroscopic method for remote sensing of total ozone has been applied to airborne observations of solar near-UV radiation in the 3100 to 3600 A wavelength region. The method involves detailed spectral matching of the solar observations with synthetic profiles containing various amounts of ozone absorption. For the 3100-3200 A region, measurements above the tropopause agree well with Broadfoot's (1972) extra-terrestrial solar irradiance values. Discrepancies between the observed spectra and the synthetic profiles at other wavelength regions may be due to distorted ozone absorption coefficients or the presence of other UV-absorbing species in the stratosphere.

Sivjee, G. G.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The L = 6.6 Oosik barium plasma injection experiment and magnetic storm of March 7, 1972

A high-explosive shaped charge vaporizing a hollow conical liner of Ba metal and producing a fast field-aligned jet of plasma was detonated at high altitude, during a quiescent phase of a magnetic storm initiated by an ssc 10 hrs prior to the experiment, in an attempt to trace out and observe the dynamics of an auroral field line in the magnetosphere. Observations offer evidence for an upward Birkeland current sheet at the poleward edge of the auroral spiral of 8 x 10 to the minus second power A/m. Unusual features of the substorm leave open the possibility that the plasma injection may have triggered it.

Wescott, E. M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Spectrophotometry of planetary atmosphere from the X-15 rocket airplane

Nike-Apache and Nike-Tomahawk rocket flights using spectrophotometric techniques to investigate auroral activity are reported. The specific objectives were to obtain data relative to typical auroral situations, including quiet pre-breakup auroras, westward traveling surges, breakup auroras, and post-breakup auroras. It was found that excited atoms move considerable distances between excitation and emission owing to the high velocity wind conditions prevailing above 200 km. Based on the results of these observations, recommendations are made for future studies of ionized atmospheric activity at higher altitudes.

Murcray, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Two successful geomagnetic-field-line tracing experiments.

Two field-line tracing experiments were conducted on an L = 1.26 magnetic flux tube over Kauai, Hawaii. Barium vapor was created by the detonation of a highly explosive shaped charge aligned with the geomagnetic field at a 467-km altitude. Barium ions traveled along the field line to the conjugate ionosphere in a tube 3 to 5 km in diameter, producing a visible streak along the entire 6900-km path length. Electric fields perpendicular to the magnetic field caused the ions to drift away from the true conjugate during transit, but extrapolation from subsequent ion drift rates allowed the conjugate to be identified and compared with several field models. Differing ion drift rates and directions at the conjugate points indicated that the electric field is not transferred unattenuated along field lines.

Wescott, E. M.↗