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At least 289 records · Page 16

Voyager ultraviolet stellar occultation measurements of the composition and thermal profiles of the Saturnian upper atmosphere

Occultation of the star Delta-Scorpii by Saturn as recorded by the Voyager Ultraviolet Spectrometer yields the value of the exospheric temperature in the equatorial region to be 800 (+150, -120) K at an altitude of 1540 km above the 1-bar atmospheric pressure level; the H2-density at 1540 km is determined to be 5 (+3.6, -1.8) x 10 to the 9th per cu cm. Temperature gradient in the thermosphere is found to be 1.25 (+0.05, -0.07) K/km. Methane volume mixing ratio at 965 km above the 1-bar pressure level is determined to be 0.00015.

Festou, M. C.↗

Identification of 1980S27 and 1980S26 resonances in Saturn's A ring

The Voyager 2 ultraviolet spectrometer observation of a stellar occultation by Saturn's rings contains evidence for features associated with at least 31 resonances due to the F ring shepherd satellites 1980S27 and 1980S26. A limited analysis of density wave patterns associated with eight of these resonances yields surface mass densities for the A ring consistent with previous estimates.

Holberg, J. B.↗

Copernicus measurement of the Jovian Lyman-alpha emission and its aeronomical significance

It is pointed out that the intensity of the Lyman-alpha emission is a good indicator of the principal aeronomical processes on the major planets. The high-resolution ultraviolet spectrometer aboard the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory Copernicus was used in 1980 April and May to detect the Jovian Lyman-alpha emission by spectroscopically discriminating it from other Doppler shifted Lyman-alpha emissions such as those of the geocorona, and the interplanetary medium. Taking into consideration the reported emission data, it appears that an unusually large energy input due to the particle precipitation in the auroral region must have been responsible for the large observed Lyman-alpha intensity during the Voyager encounter. At most other times, the observed Jovian Lyman-alpha intensity can be explained, within the range of statistical uncertainty, by a model that takes into consideration the solar EUV flux, the solar Lyman-alpha flux, the high exospheric temperature, and the eddy diffusion coefficient without energy input from the auroral sources.

Atreya, S. K.↗

Dynamics of the eruptive prominence of 6 May 1980 and its relationship to the coronal transient

The active prominence of the 6 May 1980 has been observed between 5.23 and 10.22 UT with the Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter (UVSP) on board the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) satellite. Intensities of 1548 A line of CIV and dopplershifts have been derived. A motion of the magnetic tube maintaining the prominence material is noted. This motion is followed by a coronal transient observed with the Coronagraph and Polarimeter (C/P) between 11 and 13 UT. It is suggested that the event is related to a MHD wave induced by a flare occurring behind the solar disk, and a MHD modeling of the perturbation is proposed.

Mein, N.↗

UVSP/SMM observations of transition region oscillations in sunspots

Using Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter data obtained in emission lines formed at temperatures of 70,000 K to 130,000 K, transition region oscillations in sunspots have been observed. The frequency of these oscillations lies in the range 5.8 mHz to 7.8 mHz. Their regular appearance in line-of-sight velocity and their frequent occurrence in intensity in phase with maximum blue shift leads to the interpretation of the oscillations as upward-propagating acoustic waves. The presence in two of the C IV wavelength 1548.19 time series of a phase-shifted oscillation in the line width may be caused by the presence of unidentified blends in the line wings. The energy flux carried by the umbral acoustic waves is less than 2000 erg/sq cm/s, some seven orders of magnitude smaller than the missing radiative flux of sunspots.

Gurman, J. B.↗

Observations of the longitudinal magnetic field in the transition region and photosphere of a sunspot

The Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter on the Solar Maximum Mission spacraft has observed for the first time the longitudinal component of the magnetic field by means of the Zeeman effect in the transition region above a sunspot. The data presented here were obtained on three days in one sunspot, have spatial resolutions of 10 arcsec and 3 arcsec, and yield maximum field strengths greater than 1000 G above the umbrae in the spot. The method of analysis, including a line-width calibration feature used during some of the observations, is described in some detail in an appendix; the line width is required for the determination of the longitudinal magnetic field from the observed circular polarization. The transition region data for one day are compared with photospheric magnetograms from the Marshall Space Flight Center. Vertical gradients of the magnetic field are compared from the two sets of data; the maximum gradients of 0.41 to 0.62 G/km occur above the umbra and agree with or are smaller than values observed previously in the photosphere and low chromosphere.

Henze, W., Jr.↗

Dawn-dusk electric field asymmetry of the Io plasma torus

The effects of a combined convection and corotation electric field across the Io plasma torus are considered. A dawn-to-dusk electric field E sub C will modify the orbits of charged particles shifting them toward dawn. The radial drift imposed by the perturbed orbits implies a local time-dependent modulation of low-energy ion and electron temperatures with particles hotter at dusk than at dawn. With E sub C approximately 4 mV/m, the orbits near 6 Jupiter radii would be shifted by approximately 0.2 Jupiter radius. Then the electron temperature would be 20% higher at dust than at dawn, an effect which could explain the local time asymmetry of EUV intensity found by the Voyager ultraviolet spectrometer. The source of the convection electric field is internal to the magnetosphere, and is attributed to the tailward escape of Iogenic and Jovian plasma beyond the Alfven surface.

Barbosa, D. D.↗

Vertical gradients of sunspot magnetic fields

The results of a Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) guest investigation to determine the vertical gradients of sunspot magnetic fields for the first time from coordinated observations of photospheric and transition-region fields are described. Descriptions are given of both the photospheric vector field of a sunspot, derived from observations using the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center vector magnetograph, and of the line-of-sight component in the transition region, obtained from the SMM Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter instrument. On the basis of these data, vertical gradients of the line-of-sight magnetic field component are calculated using three methods. It is found that the vertical gradient of Bz is lower than values from previous studies and that the transition-region field occurs at a height of approximately 4000-6000 km above the photosphere.

Hagyard, M. J.↗

Behavior of transition-region lines during impulsive solar flares

The emissions observed in lines originating in the transition-region plasma, particularly during impulsive flares, are investigated using data collected by the Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter on the Solar Maximum Mission. Data concerning lines from ions such as Si II, C IV, Si IV, O V, and Fe XXI are analyzed. Topics examined include the transition region away from sunspots, oscillatory motions above sunspots, the shape of the transition region, the transition region during flares, and O V and Fe XXI during flare flash phases.

Tandberg-Hanssen, E.↗

Saturn's upper atmosphere from the Voyager 2 EUV solar and stellar occultations

The temperature and composition of the upper atmosphere of Saturn have been inferred from Voyager 2 ultraviolet-spectrometer-occultation measurements made by observing the sun and the star Delta Scorpii while they were being occulted by Saturn. The observations analyzed here provide atmospheric parameters from 2900 km down to 960 km above the 1-bar level referred to the equator. The temperature in the model simulation of the data is 420 + or - 30 K down to about 1600 km. Below 1600 km the temperature decreases with a variable lapse rate down to 120 + or - 30 K near the methane homopause located at 1010 + or - 40 km. A constant temperature at 120 K is applied in the model for the region of the methane homopause down to 960 km where the present analysis terminates. Column amounts of H2 and H were measured from 2900 km down to about 1100 km, giving respective densities of about 1.0 x 10 to the 8th/cu cm and about 5.5 x 10 to the 6th/cu cm near the exobase at 2500 km. Near the methane homopause the H2 density is = 1.2 x 10 to the 12th/cu cm with a CH4 number-density mixing ratio of 0.00006. The eddy-diffusion coefficient in the vicinity of the methane homopause is estimated to be 5.0 x 10 to the 6th sq cm/sec. The atomic hydrogen density profile suggests a downward H flux of 1.8 x 10 to the 9th sq cm/sec from near the exobase down to a terminal boundary of about 1200 km.

Smith, G. R.↗

Extended atmospheres of outer planet satellites and comets

The cometary hydrogen particle-trajectory model was used successfully to analyze observations of Comet P/Encke. The Pioneer Venus Orbiter Ultraviolet Spectrometer observed the comet at 1216A (hydrogen Lyman-alpha) on 15 April 1984, when the comet was .58 AU from the Sun and 1.02 AU from Venus. The analysis implies a production rate at .58 AU of 3.3 x 10 to the 28th power/sec of the water molecules which photodissociate to produce the observed hydrogen.

Smyth, W. H.↗

Scientific Requirements for Ozone Measurements

A study was conducted to determine the necessary parameters for the correlation of data on Earth ozone. First, requirements for the needed measurement accuracy for the change in ozone (yearly percent decrease) over a ten year period were determined. Secondly, the capabilities of the solar backscatter ultraviolet spectrometer instrumentation (SBUV) were examined. These included satellite coverage, radiometric calibration accuracy, instrument degradation, and algorithm accuracy. Third, and finally, ground based total and vertical zone distribution measurements, which could be used to support satellite observations, were considered.

Source record↗

Voyager UVS observations of stellar occultations by the rings of Saturn

During the Voyager 1 and 2 Saturn encounters the ultraviolet spectrometers observed 3 separate stellar occultations by Saturn's rings. The observations, which sampled the optical depth of the rings at resolutions from 3 to 6 km, were used to establish a highly accurate distance scale allowing the identification of numerous ring features associated with resonances due to exterior satellites. Three separate observations of an eccentric ringlet near the location of the Titan apsidal resonance are discussed along with other ringlet-resonance associations occurring in the C ring. Density waves occurring in the A and B rings are reviewed and the analysis of one of these features is discussed.

Holberg, J. B.↗

Future studies of planetary rings by spaceprobes

The Voyager 2 encounter with Uranus and Neptune, and Galileo with Jupiter are described. The opportunities and capabilities for ring studies are discussed. At Uranus, stellar occultation, radio occultation, solar occultation, and imaging studies are possible. At Neptune, only stellar occultations and imaging seem promising. The Galileo ultraviolet spectrometer and dust collector offer interesting possibilities for ring studies.

Stone, E. C.↗

Dynamic evolution of recurrent mass ejections observed in H-alpha and C IV lines

The mass ejections of 1 September, 1980 are studied from observations obtained with the MSDP spectrograph and with the Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter aboard the Solar Maximum Mission satellite. The analysis is focused on observations in the chromospheric H-alpha line and the transition region C IV 1548 A line. It is noted that cold and hot material had the same projection, although the upward C IV velocity structure was more extended than the H-alpha one. It is shown that the observed contrast of the H-alpha absorbing structure can be interpreted in terms of a dynamic cloud model overlying the chromosphere. Radial velocities of 25-30 km/s and -40 km/s are estimated for the first and second phases of ejection, respectively.

Schmieder, B.↗

The absolute flux of six hot stars in the ultraviolet (912-1600 A)

Six hot stars were observed on 1984 March 2 from a Black Brant V sounding rocket (NASA 21.085UG). The absolute fluxes from Gamma 2 Vel, Zeta Pup, Alpha CMa ,Gamma Ori, Beta Tau, and Epsilon Per were measured in the spectral region between 912 and 1600 A at 10 A resolution. Comparisons with revised Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 Ultraviolet Spectrometer data and previous sounding rocket data are evaluated. In general, the two sounding rocket experiments are in good agreement, and the revised Voyager data and the sounding rocket data are in agreement except at wavelengths below 1000 A.

Woods, T. N.↗

Evidence for systematic flows in the transition region around prominences

The solar transition region in the neighborhood of prominences has been studied from observations with the Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter of NASA's Solar Maximum Mission satellite. Dopplergrams from observations of the transition-region lines C IV 1548 A and Si IV 1393 A, which are formed at about 100,000 K, give velocity amplitudes typically in the range + or - 15 km/s. Prominences are found to be located very close to dividing lines between areas of up- and down-drafts in the transition-region. The observed pattern suggests that the 100,000 K gas flows take place within arcades of magnetic loops, which most likely are part of the supporting magnetic structure for the prominence matter. An additional band of blue-ward Doppler shifts is frequently seen close to quiescent prominences. This may be the source of outward flowing matter along the helmet streamers above filament channels.

Engvold, O.↗