Engineering topics

Thomas, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas, P..

At least 37 records · Page 2

NASA NTRS1986

Phobos, Deimos, and the moon - Size and distribution of crater ejecta blocks

Ejecta block characteristics observed on Phobos, Deimos, and the moon are examined. The analyzed source craters on Deimos are 0.8-2.3 km in diameter, those on Phobos are 1.5-10 km, and the lunar craters are between 0.2-3.5 km in diameter. The size and radial distribution of the ejecta blocks for the three bodies are compared. It is observed that the size distribution of the ejecta blocks surrounding craters on the three objects are basically similar, and the radial distribution of the blocks for Phobos and the moon are the same (within 2 radii of the crater center); however, the ejecta on Deimos are more dispersed (greater than or equal to 2 radii from the crater center).

Lee, S. W.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Red/violet contrast reversal on Mars - Significance for eolian sediments

Viking Orbiter images of Mars are analyzed to define relationships between the observed contrast reversals (CR) and specific surface features. The link between CR phenomena and surface composition was first detected in contrast comparisons between UV and visible wavelength Mariner 9 data. Viking data, taken through red and violet filters, showed that the CRs occurred only with crater splotches and splotch-related streaks and in bright depositional and dark erosional streaks, both being low-albedo markings presumably caused by eolian forces. The splotch phenomena is confined mainly to the Oxia Palus region, although there are other regions where splotches and streaks commingle. Laboratory tests to mimic the CR characteristics showed that CRs are a common phenomena of different size fractions of iron oxides, e.g., goethite, where particles under 5 microns have been removed. The splotches, including dune formations, are therefore believed to indicate the presence of particles in the 100-800 microns diam range. Finer particles ride on the tops of the dust storms, and are continually removed from the surface by saltation.

Thomas, P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The physical characteristics of satellite surfaces

Both exogenic and endogenic effects have been proposed to explain the major observed characteristics of satellite surfaces. The current view is that the basic properties of most surfaces result from the intrinsic composition of a body and its geologic history. Exogenic effects have, however, played a role in modifying the appearance of nearly all surfaces. The most important exogenic effect is impact cratering, one manifestation of which is the production of micrometeoroid gardened regoliths on airless bodies. On large, silicate bodies the micrometeoroid bombardment can produce an optically mature, dark agglutinate-rich soil; the nature of regoliths on predominantly icy satellites remains uncertain. Direct accumulation of infalling material does not appear to play a major role in modifying most surfaces. Solar wind radiation effects have not altered greatly the optical properties of solar system objects; magnetospheric charged particles may have modified the optical properties of some outer planet satellites (e.g., sulfur ion bombardment in the case of some of the satellites of Jupiter). Other effects, such as aeolian and liquid/solid chemical weathering, may be important on satellites with atmospheres like Titan and Triton.

Veverka, J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Small satellites

Satellites smaller than Mimas (r = 195 km) are distinguished by irregular overall shapes and by rough limb topography. Material properties and impact cratering dominate the shaping of these objects. Long fragmentation histories can produce a variety of internal structures, but so far there is no direct evidence that any small satellite is an equilibrium ellipsoid made up of noncohesive gravitationally bound rubble. One many bodies that orbit close to their primary the tidal and rotational components of surface gravity strongly affect the directions of local g and thereby affect the redistribution of regolith by mass wasting. Downslope movement of regolith is extensive on Deimos, and is probably effective on many other small satellites. It is shown that in some cases observed patterns of downslope mass wasting cold produce useful constraints on the satellite's mean density. The diversity of features seen in the few high-resolution images of small satellites currently available suggests that these objects have undergone complex histories of cratering, fragmentation, and regolith evolution.

Thomas, P.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Hyperion - Analysis of Voyager observations

Voyager imges of Hyperion are analyzed with respect to spin state, dimensions and shape, surface features, photometry, and colors. It is suggested that the two most important observations concerning Hyperion are the demonstration of the satellite's unusual spin state and the discovery of the apparent low density of large craters on the satellite's surface. A possible implication of such a reduced density of craters is that the last important fragmentation of Hyperion might have occurred near the end or after the period of initial heavy bombardment.

Thomas, P.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Dust devils on Mars

Viking Orbiter photographic imagery has confirmed the occurrence of dust devils on Mars. The images were of small bright clouds with long, tapered shadows viewed from a nearly-nadir angle. Spectra of the features were consistent with dust and not condensates. A maximum height of 6.8 km and width of 1 km were measured. The dust devils appeared on smooth planes, and had average dimensions of 2 km height and 200 m diam, carrying 3000 kg of dust. The data may be of use in interpreting convective processes on earth.

Thomas, P.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Participation in the Mars data analysis program: Global and regional studies of wind-indicators on the surface of Mars

Global and regional patterns on Mars were inferred from surface aeolian features, such as wind streaks and dune deposits, which were visible in Viking Orbiter images. Precise measurements of the dimensions of topographic obstacles, i.e., craters, hills, ridges, on Mars as well as their associated wind streaks were used to determine the aerodynamic shape of an obstacle affects near surface airflow. A classification of Martian wind streaks was developed on the basis of albedo contrast and the presence or absence of either topographic obstacles or sediment deposits at the point of origin of the wind streaks. It was concluded that local meteorological conditions, such as the stability of the atmospheric boundary layer, play a major role in determining why some Martian craters produce depositional wind streaks while others produce erosional ones.

Veverka, J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

'Dust' streaks on Mars

Global mapping and photometry of selected areas on Mars are used to investigate the nature of bright and dark wind streaks that extend from topographic obstacles. Occurrence of both bright and dark streaks is strongly latitude dependent and is only weakly correlated with surface properties such as albedo and thermal inertia. Data on the colors, albedos, and phase behavior of streaks are consistent with models of bright streaks as mosaics of plains materials and brighter, redder dust. Less than 20 percent of the ground need be covered by the optically thick dust in the brightest parts of the streaks; the amount of dust in optically thick layers could be as little as 0.001 g/sq cm. Dark streaks can be interpreted as erosional windows in a patchy dust cover. The model of dust deposition in optically thick patches is sedimentologically different from scenarios involving the deposition of ubiquitous, optically thin layers. It has the advantage that large amounts of dust can be deposited without affecting regional albedos.

Thomas, P.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Mars - Experimental study of albedo changes caused by dust fallout

A laboratory apparatus was used to simulate the uniform fallout and deposition of particles 1 to 5 microns in diameter in an experimental study on how the spectral and photometric properties of representative Martian areas are affected by fallout of atmospheric dust (smaller than or equalling 60 microns) suspended during dust storms. In this study, measurements are made in the changes in reflectance at optical and near-infrared wavelengths (0.4 to 1.2 micron) caused by deposition of varying amounts of a Mars-analog dust on bright and dark substrates before and after deposition of 6 x 10 to the -5th to 1.5 x 10 to the -3rd g/sq cm of simulated fallout. It is believed that only small amounts of dust particles (approximately 3 x 10 to the -4th g/sq cm) are needed to make significant albedo changes in dark areas of Mars, and that this would rule out uniform dust deposition on the surface of the planet. Data also indicate that other high albedo features like bright crater-related wind streaks may not be areas of significant sediment deposits. Laboratory simulations have permitted estimates of how much the reflectance of an area on Mars would change given a certain amount of dust fallout (g/sq cm) or reflectance data. These simulations may also be useful in tracking the transport and deposition of the dust.

Wells, E. N.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Dust streaks on Mars: Colors and photometry

Photometric studies of crater related bright and dark streaks have strongly supported the hypothesis that the bright streaks are excess dust deposits and dark streaks are erosional windows in a partial dust cover. Red-blue (and red-violet) plots show that bright streaks are consistent with mosaics of bright red dust and background material. Here the plains are also consistent with a partial dust cover; the dark streak is the least covered area. Bright and dark streaks both reverse contrast relative to surrounding plains at phase angles over 100 deg in violet filter images. The similar phase behavior of both bright and dark streaks supports the idea that they are both changes in the amount of dust cover. Red-violet plots of bright streaks are most easily explained by mosaics of optically thick dust and plains material. Lengths of bright streaks are independent of their contrasts. This suggests the streak deposition, if in the mosaic patterns indicated above, is a function of available sites of deposition, rather than atmospheric dust loading. Contrasts of dark streaks with plains indicate the plains have fractional dust covers nealy as great as the maximum additional cover in bright streaks. The bright streaks thus store little of the global supply of dust.

Thomas, P.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Hyperion - 13-day rotation from Voyager data

The rotation period of Hyperion is determined here on the basis of a light-curve derived from low-resolution Voyager images taken over a two-month span. The data indicate a coherent 13-day spin period over 61 days, with the spin axis nearly parallel to the orbital plane. Since Hyperion is not in synchronous rotation, it cannot be used to test the hypothesis that dark dust spiralling inward on retrograde orbits causes the pronounced leading side/trailing side albedo asymmetry observed on the surface of Iapetus.

Thomas, P.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Martian intracrater splotches - Occurrence, morphology, and colors

Martian intracrater splotches and related streaks are studied using new morphologic, color, and global mapping data. The splotches are concentrated at high latitudes; surface properties such as albedo and thermal inertia have little influence on splotch occurrence. A significant fraction of splotches at high southern latitudes is formed of dune fields, some of which are much greater than 100 m thick. Evidence of complex histories of sedimentary filling and erosion is common at all latitudes for craters that contain splotches. The kind of splotches is correlated with the amount of crater floor erosion. Changes in splotch-related streaks are more common for those originating from dunes than for those associated with splotches lacking visible dunes. Colors of splotches fall in a specific range and indicate that dune and nondune splotches are part of a closely related group of materials.

Thomas, P.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Satellites of Saturn - Geological perspective

The Voyager encounters have added the satellites of Saturn to those planetary bodies for which geological studies are possible. These satellites are surprisingly heterogeneous, in spite of their apparently common composition of more than half water ice. All are more or less heavily cratered, but most also show clear evidence of substantial endogenic modification and resurfacing during the first few hundred million years of their existence. In the case of Enceladus, this internal activity has been most dramatic and may have persisted into the past billion years of solar-system history. Iapetus also remains a major mystery with its still unexplained hemispheric dichotomy, for which both external and internal causes have been suggested. The current knowledge of the satellites is reviewed from a geologic perspective, using primarily Voyager imaging data. Emphasis is placed on the six larger bodies (except Titan): Rhea, Iapetus, Dione, Tethys, Enceladus, and Mimas.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Phoebe - Voyager 2 observations

Voyager 2 images of Phoebe obtained over a period of 24 hours provide information on the size, rotation rate, surface markings, and photometric properties of this mysterious object. Phoebe is approximately equidimensional: its longest diameter, about 230 km, is only 10 percent greater than the shortest-diameter (about 210 km). A prograde-rotation period of 9.4 + or - 0.2 hours was determined from both the disk-integrated light curve and by tracking individual markings. Because of the limited resolution of the images (11 pixels across the disk) crater counts cannot be made. The geometric albedo of Phoebe is longitudinally variable from 0.046 to 0.060 (clear filter, lambda = 0.47 micron). The most prominent surface markings are brighter patches at high northern and southern latitudes that have reflectances as much as 50 percent greater than the dark, bland areas. These patches are scattered and do not appear to constitute polar caps. The Voyager color data agree with earlier ground-based spectra that show that Phoebe has a flatter spectrum than does the dark side of Iapetus; this observation is not consistent with simple contamination of Iapetus by debris from Phoebe.

Thomas, P.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Saturn's small satellites - Voyager imaging results

Voyagers 1 and 2 provided images of sufficient resolution for morphologic and photometric studies of Saturn's small satellites. These objects, all very difficult to observe from earth, orbit Saturn at distances of 2.3 to 6.3 Saturn radii (just outside the A ring to the orbit of Dione) and range in mean diameter from 22 to 188 km. All are irregularly shaped (long/short axis ratios range from 1.4 to 2.0) and probably heavily cratered. While impacts have apparently been important in shaping these objects, observed crater densities suggest that the present forms may have survived for about 4 billion years. Geometric albedos vary from 0.4 to at least 0.8. These albedos and the few color data available are similar to those of larger Saturn satellites which are known to have surfaces made predominantly of water ice. The range of observed albedos could be explained by minor variations in the amount of dark, opaque contaminants.

Thomas, P.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Code Solves Three-Dimensional Navier-Stokes Equations

Set of computer codes solves three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations for flow over nonaxisymmetric nozzles. Codes compute internal and external viscous flowfield about isolated nozzle, so flow characteristics and performance of three-dimensional jet engine exhaust nozzles can be predicted. Programs written in FORTRAN IV and ASSEMBLER.

Thomas, P.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Present wind activity on Mars - Relation to large latitudinally zoned sediment deposits

The relation of present Martian winds to large latitudinally zoned sediment deposits has been investigated using global wind streak data and mapping of large sand and dust deposits. Dune sand deposits occur primarily in three latitude belts: north polar (74-85 degrees North), low latitude (5 degrees North-20 degrees South), and south polar (40-80 degrees South). Comparison with wind streak data shows the high-latitude dunes to be in areas of seasonally reversing winds. The present winds can form latitudinal dune belts from a variety of initial dune distributions, including uniform distribution and a polar source. The presence of dune sand within the polar layered deposits, the erosional state of the deposits, and the present surface wind flow away from the poles indicate that both polar dune concentrations have been derived from erosion of the layered deposits. The low-latitude dunes are topographically confined in canyons and craters; they are probably subject to long-term reversal of orientations with climate cycles.

Thomas, P.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Amalthea

Voyager images have revealed Amalthea to be an irregular object 270 x 165 x 150 km in size. The spin period is probably synchronous with the orbital period of 11.9 hr, with the long axis pointing toward Jupiter. The satellite's surface is heavily scarred by impact craters, the largest of which has a diameter of 90 km (comparable to the mean radius of the satellite). Amalthea is very dark (reflectance about 5-6%) and very red, but isolated bright spots (reflectance up to 20%) occur. The spectrum of these bright spots is less red and may show an absorption feature near 0.6 micron. It is likely that the surface of Amalthea has been severely altered by its environment and by contamination from Io (especially by sulfur). It may, therefore, be very difficult to obtain definitive information on the composition of the intrinsic Amalthea material from remote sensing measurements.

Thomas, P.↗