Engineering topics

Yee, J. H.

Publications and source records attributed to Yee, J. H..

16 records

NASA NTRS2017

First Application of the Zeeman Technique to Remotely Measure Auroral Electrojet Intensity From Space

Using the O2 118 GHz spectral radiance measurements obtained by the Microwave Limb Sounder instrument on board the Aura spacecraft, we demonstrate that the Zeeman effect can be used to remotely measure the magnetic field perturbations produced by the auroral electrojet near the Hall current closure altitudes. Our derived current-induced magnetic field perturbations are found to be highly correlated with those coincidently obtained by ground magnetometers. These perturbations are also found to be linearly correlated with auroral electrojet strength. The statistically derived polar maps of our measured magnetic field perturbation reveal a spatial-temporal morphology consistent with that produced by the Hall current during substorms and storms. With today's technology, a constellation of compact, low-power, high spectral-resolution cubesats would have the capability to provide high precision and spatiotemporal magnetic field samplings needed for auroral electrojet measurements to gain insights into the spatiotemporal behavior of the auroral electrojet system.

spectral radiance measurements; Aur↗

NASA NTRS1989

Diurnal and seasonal variation of the nighttime OH (8-3) emission at low latitudes

Nighttime morphological maps of the hydroxyl emission (8-3 band) measured by the Visible Airglow Experiment on board the Atmosphere Explorer E satellite are presented for solstice and equinox conditions. The volume emission rate profile of the emission was determined by inverting satellite perigee observations. This profile was later used to convert limb measurements into zenith intensities of the emission. A theoretical model has been used to correct twilight observations for the presence of the thermospheric O(+)(2P) emission at 7320-7330 A. The derived morphology agrees well with ground based measurements and theoretical simulations.

Abreu, Vincent J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Atmosphere Explorer observations of the geocoronal H Balmer alpha nightglow

The Balmer alpha nightglow emission of geocoronal atomic hydrogen has been investigated using photometric data obtained by the Visible Airglow Experiment on board the Atmosphere Explorer E satellite. The measured H Balmer alpha intensities are presented as a function of solar depression angle, observation zenith angle, and azimuth relative to the sun for solar minimum conditions. The results are at variance with the earlier D2A satellite observations but in better agreement with previous ground-based studies. As a result of comparison with theoretical predictions, the present observations reaffirm the findings of the ground-based investigations in implying that values for the Lyman beta line center flux are a factor of 2 greater than those derived from direct measurements.

Burrage, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Mesospheric 5577 A green line and atmospheric motions - Atmosphere Explorer satellite observations

Photometric measurements of the 5577 A O(1S) green line mesospheric emission obtained by the Visible Airglow Experiment on board the Atmosphere Explorer satellite have been analyzed. The inverted volume emission rate profiles showed a peak at approximately 96-97 km with a half-width of about 8 km. The diurnal variation of the intensity indicates the presence of a wave component with a 10 to about 12 h period, probably of solar semidiurnal tide. Shorter time scale variations due to the presence of traveling waves were also observed.

Yee, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Energetic N(+) ions in the interstellar medium

Energetic N(+) ions are produced in interstellar clouds by reactions of He(+) ions and N2 with sufficient energy to overcome the exoergicity of the reaction of N(+) with H2 and thereby from NH(+) ions. The reacting N(+) ions also slow down by elastic collisions with the ambient H2 molecules. The equilibrium energy distributions of the N(+) ions in a gas with temperature between 10 and 70 K are derived and the effective reaction rate coefficients are calculated. At 30 K, the rate coefficient is 1.6 x 10 to the -10th cu cm/sec.

Yee, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The quenching rate of O(1D) by O(3P)

The rate coefficient for the quenching of O(1D) by O(3P) has recently been calculated by Yee et al. (1985). Their results indicate that quenching by atomic oxygen should not be ignored in the analysis of the 6300 A emission airglow. Data obtained by the Visible Airglow Experiment on board the AE satellites have been reanalyzed to determine the quenching rate of O(1D) by atomic oxygen. The results of this analysis are presented.

Abreu, V. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The Atmosphere Explorer and the shuttle glow

Recent analyses of the Atmosphere Explorer data are discussed in which it is demonstrated that the satellite glows have two components, one at high altitudes which is consistent with excitation in single collisions of atmospheric oxygen atoms with the vehicle surface and the other at low altitudes which is consistent with double collisions of nitrogen molecules. Contrary to an earlier suggestion, the low-altitude data are not consistent with collisions of oxygen molecules. The separation of the two components strengthens the conclusion that the high-altitude glow arises from vibrationally excited OH molecules produced by a formation mechanism that is different from that leading to the normal atmospheric OH airglow. The spectrum is consistent with association of oxygen and hydrogen atoms at sites on the surface into the vibrational levels of OH. The low-altitude glow is consistent with the green mechanism but there are difficulties with it. The shuttle glows are different and have the spectral appearance of emission from NO2. The characteristics of the shuttle glows and the satellite glows will be contrasted and a tentative resolution of the differences in the Atmosphere Explorer and shuttle glows will be offered.

Dalgarno, A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The OI 989-A tropical nightglow

Attention is given to the morphology and origin of the OI 989 A emission in the tropical nightglow. Dielectronic recombination of O(+) is suggested as the mechanism responsible for populating the 3s' 3D0 state of this 2p4 3P 3s' 3D0 emission. The spectrometer used is that aboard the STP 78-1 satellite, which is in sun-synchronous orbit. The emission morphology is characterized by tropical arcs on each side of the dip equator.

Abreu, V. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

The surface glow of the Atmosphere Explorer C and E satellites

Detailed line intensities of the rotational-vibrational spectrum of OH are calculated for various rates of population of sixteen bound vibrational levels in which the rotational level populations are in thermal equilibrium. The line intensities are convolved with the instrument function of the Visible Airglow Experiment on the AE C and E satellites to obtain spectra for comparison with the atmospheric data. Within the uncertainties, a model can be constructed that reproduces the observed spectrum. Synthetic spectra are computed for the OH Meinel system between 2000 A and 5.5 microns. The maximum intensity occurs between 1 micron and 2 microns.

Langhoff, S. R.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Visible glow induced by spacecraft-environment interaction

Illumination was found recently in the ram direction of the Shuttle Orbiter arising from interaction with the ambient surrounding atmosphere. We have examined a similar optical glow by analyzing photometric data taken by the Visible Airglow Experiment on board the Atmosphere Explorer Satellites. Analysis at six different wavelengths from the ultraviolet to the near infrared suggests that the glow has a diffuse band or continuum spectrum which peaks in the red and probably in the infrared.

Yee, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Optical contamination on the Atmosphere Explorer-E satellite

Atmospheric optical emission measurements by the Visible Airglow Experiment (VAE) on board the Atmosphere Explorer (AE-C, D and E) satellites have been analyzed and found to be contaminated at low altitudes. The contamination maximizes in the forward direction along the spacecraft velocity and is sensitive to the composition and density of the ambient atmosphere. Analysis at two different wavelengths suggests that the contamination is likely to have a diffuse band spectrum which is brighter toward the red. Some unknown processes which involve satellite surface materials and the incoming ambient particles are believed to be responsible for the contamination. A simulation model is presented here to account for the observed angular dependence.

Yee, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Galactic and zodiacal light surface brightness measurements with the Atmosphere Explorer satellites

Galactic and zodiacal light surface maps based on the Atmosphere Explorer-C, -D, and -E satellite data are presented at 7320, 6300, 5577, 5200, and 4278 A. A procedure used to generate these maps, which involves separation of the individual stars and diffuse starlight from the zodiacal light, is described in detail. The maps can be used in atmospheric emission studies to correct for galactic emissions which contaminate satellite as well as ground-based photometric observations. The zodiacal light maps show enhanced features which are important for understanding the nature of interplanetary dust.

Abreu, V. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Exospheric temperatures deduced from 7320- to 7330-A /O/+//2P/ - O/+//2D// twilight observations

A technique developed to deduce exospheric temperatures from the 7320- to 7330-A emission measured by the visible airglow experiment on board the AE-E satellite is considered. An excess emission in the measured 7320- to 7330-A brightness is noticed as a result of the interaction between the spacecraft and the atmosphere. The observed brightnesses are corrected for this effect. The galactic background emission is also carefully subtracted. The deduced temperatures exhibit a positive correlation with solar activity. It varies from approximately 700 K in late 1976 to approximately 1700 K at the peak of this solar cycle. The presence of a nonthermal oxygen corona is considered inconclusive.

Yee, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The O II /7320-7330 A/ airglow - A morphological study

A statistical study of the 7320-30 A airglow arising from the metastable transition between aP and aD states of atomic oxygen ions was conducted by analyzing the data taken from the visible airglow experiment on the Atmosphere Explorer satellites C and E during the time periods between 1974 and 1979. Averaged column emission rate profiles as a function of solar zenith angle and solar activity variation are presented. The galactic background has been carefully subtracted. The result shows that the rate of decreasing emission as a function of solar zenith angle agrees with the theoretical calculation based upon a neutral atmosphere model and the solar spectrum as measured by the EUV spectrometer on the Atmosphere Explorer satellite. Furthermore, an expected increase with solar activity also appeared in a plot of emission brightness versus solar 10.7-cm flux.

Yee, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Detection of a corona of fast oxygen atoms during solar maximum

A series of twilight interferometric observations of the near infrared O(+)(2P) doublets at 7320 and 7330 A between April 1979 and October 1979 detected excessive amounts of emission at shadow heights above 550 km. The scale height deduced from the vertical brightness profile determined from data taken on September 26, 1979, when the 10.7-cm flux was 231, showed a marked increase above 550 km. The equivalent temperature was estimated to be 4000 K or higher. Observations of the emission line shape with the high-resolution capability of the interferometer substantiated these results by a very apparent progressive broadening of the emission profile between times of low and high shadow height. It is concluded from these results that there exists an atomic oxygen corona overlying the thermosphere during the solar maximum period.

Yee, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The oxygen polar corona

At high-latitude regions, energetic oxygen atoms are produced by a nonthermal mechanism associated with precipitated energetic atomic oxygen ions during disturbed periods. The upward moving nonthermal atoms can redistribute themselves at higher altitudes. For the storm of December 17, 1971, assuming the energetic O(+) ions are uniformly precipitated between 50 deg and 70 deg magnetic latitudes, the nonthermal oxygen atoms become dominant over the ambient at about 700 km on the dayside and at about 600 km on the nightside at 60 deg magnetic latitude. Globally, a high-number-density atomic oxygen corona appears between 50 deg and 70 deg magnetic latitudes above the exobase, and the maximum is located at a few degrees poleward from the center of the band (63 deg magnetic latitude).

Yee, J. H.↗