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At least 343 records · Page 19

Quantitative magnetospheric models derived from spacecraft magnetometer data

Quantitative models of the external magnetospheric field were derived by making least-squares fits to magnetic field measurements from four IMP satellites. The data were fit to a power series expansion in the solar magnetic coordinates and the solar wind-dipole tilt angle, and thus the models contain the effects of seasonal north-south asymmetries. The expansions are divergence-free, but unlike the usual scalar potential expansions, the models contain a nonzero curl representing currents distributed within the magnetosphere. Characteristics of four models are presented, representing different degrees of magnetic disturbance as determined by the range of Kp values. The latitude at the earth separating open polar cap field lines from field lines closing on the dayside is about 5 deg lower than that determined by previous theoretically-derived models. At times of high Kp, additional high latitude field lines are drawn back into the tail.

Mead, G. D.↗

Surface magnetometer experiments - Internal lunar properties

Magnetic fields have been measured on the lunar surface at the Apollo 12, 14, 15, and 16 landing sites. The remanent field values at these sites are respectively 38, 103 (maximum), 3, and 327 gamma (maximum). Simultaneous magnetic field and solar plasma pressure measurements show that the remanent fields at the Apollo 12 and 16 sites are compressed and that the scale size of the Apollo 16 remanent field is 5 less than or equal to L less than 100 km. The global eddy current fields, induced by magnetic step transients in the solar wind, have been analyzed to calculate an electrical conductivity profile. From nightside data it has been found that deeper than 170 km into the moon, the conductivity rises from .0003 mho/m to .01 mho/m at 1000 km depth. Analysis of dayside transient data using a spherically symmetric two-layer model yields a homogeneous conducting core with a radius equal to 0.9 lunar radius and a conductivity of .001 mho/m, surrounded by a nonconducting shell of thickness equal to 0.1 lunar radius.

Dyal, P.↗

A quantitative magnetospheric model derived from spacecraft magnetometer data

The model is derived by making least squares fits to magnetic field measurements from four Imp satellites. It includes four sets of coefficients, representing different degrees of magnetic disturbance as determined by the range of Kp values. The data are fit to a power series expansion in the solar magnetic coordinates and the solar wind-dipole tilt angle, and thus the effects of seasonal north-south asymmetries are contained. The expansion is divergence-free, but unlike the usual scalar potential expansion, the model contains a nonzero curl representing currents distributed within the magnetosphere. The latitude at the earth separating open polar cap field lines from field lines closing on the day side is about 5 deg lower than that determined by previous theoretically derived models. At times of high Kp, additional high-latitude field lines extend back into the tail. Near solstice, the separation latitude can be as low as 75 deg in the winter hemisphere. The average northward component of the external field is much smaller than that predicted by theoretical models; this finding indicates the important effects of distributed currents in the magnetosphere.

Mead, G. D.↗

A program of data synthesis from the ALSEP/CPLEE ALSEP/SIDE, and Explorer 35 magnetometer to investigate lunar terminator and nightside particle fluxes and surface interactions

Lunar nightside electron fluxes were studied with the aid of the ALSEP/CPLEE and other instruments. The flux events were shown to be due to (a) electrons propagating upstream from the earth's bow shock, (b) electrons thermalized and scattered to the lunar surface by disturbances along the boundary of the lunar solarwind cavity, and (c) solar wind electrons scattered to the lunar surface by lunar limb shocks and/or compressional disturbances. These electrons were identified as a cause of the high night surface negative potentials observed in tha ALSEP/SIDE ion data. A study was also made of the shadowing of magnetotail plasma sheet electrons by interactions between the lunar body and the ambient magnetic field and by interactions between charged particles and lunar remnant magnetic fields. These shadowing effects were shown to modify lunar surface and near-lunar potential distributions.

Reasoner, D. L.↗

Lunar temperature and global heat flux from laboratory electrical conductivity and lunar magnetometer data

Three-layer monotonic electrical conductivity models for the lunar interior to a depth of 600 km are used in conjunction with laboratory measurements of the electrical conductivity of olivine and pyroxene to estimate a temperature-depth profile. The temperatures calculated for depths of 400-600 km are consistent with attenuation of the seismic shear wave. The temperature calculated at a depth of 100-250 km yields a heat flow that is in good agreement with the directly measured lunar heat flow. The temperature, however, is sufficiently close to melting that mascon anisostasy would not be maintained. Thus a better conductor is required at this depth.

Sonett, C. P.↗

Initial ISEE magnetometer results - Magnetopause observations

Magnetic-field profiles across the magnetopause are examined which were obtained by the ISEE 1 and 2 spacecraft on four passes when the spacecraft separation was only a few hundred kilometers. The velocity of the magnetopause is found to be highly irregular, ranging from 4 to over 40 km/s and varying on a shorter time scale than required for a spacecraft to cross the boundary. The thickness of the magnetopause is estimated to range from 500 to over 1000 km. Clear evidence for field-line reconnection is discerned in data obtained when the magnetosheath field was southward. This evidence consists of flux-transfer events in which reconnection begins and ends on a time scale of minutes or less, leading to oscillations in the position of the magnetopause.

Russell, C. T.↗

Energetic particle precipitation into the high-latitude ionosphere and the auroral electrojets. I - Definition of electrojet boundaries using energetic electron spectra and ground-based magnetometer data

Magnetometric data are used to define the poleward and equatorward borders of the eastward electrojet in the evening sector. The relationship between central plasma sheet (cps) and boundary plasma sheet (bps) and the auroral electrojet region is explored. This relationship is used to infer the electric field configuration in the cps and bps regions. It is shown that in the evening sector the cps is threaded by field lines carrying current flowing into the ionosphere, while the bps is threaded by field lines carrying current flowing out of the ionosphere.

Winningham, J. D.↗

Initial ISEE magnetometer results - Shock observation

A selection of early measurements is used to illustrate the three advantages brought by ISEE to the study of natural collisionless shocks. These advantages are the ability to resolve most space/time ambiguity by means of simultaneous two-point measurements, instrumentation to make comprehensive field and particle observations covering all important quantities, and the capacity to record data at high time resolution. Magnetic-field records from shocks of various types are presented; the types of shock include laminar, supercritical, quasi-perpendicular, high-beta, and quasi-parallel. The spacing of the two spacecraft and the resolution of the system are employed to develop numerous kinematic descriptions of the shocks and the waves that compose and surround them. Data from a single particle experiment are correlated with field data for three cases to demonstrate the important role of comprehensive instrumentation.

Russell, C. T.↗

Comparison of Magnetic Anomalies of Lithospheric Origin Measured by Satellite and Airborne Magnetometers over Western Canada

Crustal magnetic anomaly data from the OGO 2, 4 and 6 (Pogo) satellites are compared with upward-continued aeromagnetic data between 50 deg -85 deg N latitude and 220 deg - 260 deg E longitude. Agreement is good both in anomaly location and in amplitude, giving confidence that it is possible to proceed with the derivation and interpretation of satellite anomaly maps in all parts of the globe. The data contain a magnetic high over the Alpha ridge suggesting continental composition and a magnetic low over the southern Canada basin and northern Canadian Arctic islands (Sverdrup basin). The low in the Sverdrup basin corresponds to a region of high heat flow, suggesting a shallow Curie isotherm. A ridge of high field, with two distinct peaks in amplitude, is found over the northern portion of the platform deposits and a relative high is located in the central portion of the Churchill province. No features are present to indicate a magnetic boundary between Slave and Bear provinces, but a trend change is evident between Slave and Churchill provinces. South of 60 deg latitude a broad magnetic low is located over very thick (40-50 km) crust, interpreted to be a region of low magnetization.

Langel, R. A.↗

The Magsat magnetometer boom

A lightweight extendable structure that can precisely position magnetically sensitive instruments safe distances from magnetic sources in a spacecraft is described as well as the major areas of concern that played dominant roles in its development. Weight, packaging volume, thermal distortion, mechanical misalignments, dimensional instability, launch environments, and low temperature functioning were areas that presented some formidable obstacles. The ways in which these obstacles were dealt with are examined for those involving the development of similar aerospace mechanisms with equally restrictive requirements.

Smola, J. F.↗