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At least 37 records · Page 2

Searching for Water Ice at the Lunar North Pole Using High-Resolution Images and Radar

Permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) at the lunar poles are potential reservoirs of frozen volatiles, and are therefore high-priority exploration targets. PSRs trap water and other volatiles because their annual maximum temperatures (40-100K) are lower than the sublimation temperatures of these species (i.e. H2O approx.104K). Previous studies using various remote sensing techniques have not been able to definitively characterize the distribution or abundance of ice in lunar PSRs. The purpose of this study is to search for signs of ice in PSRs using two complimentary remote sensing techniques: radar and visible images.

Mitchell, J. L.↗

A sensitive 1.5 GHz radio survey around the north ecliptic pole

A 29.3 sq deg region surrounding the north ecliptic pole (NEP; alpha = 18h00m, delta = +66 deg 30 min) was mapped with the Very Large Array at 1.5 GHz to support the deepest portion of the ROSAT all-sky soft X-ray survey. The resulting VLA-NEP survey catalog contains 2435 radio sources with flux densities in the range of 0.3-1000 mJy, including over 200 fainter than 1 mJy. The 28 fields of the inner 1.5 deg have noise levels sigma approximately equals 60 mu-Jy, and the 85 fields centered between 1.5 and 3.0 deg from the NEP have sigma approximately equals 120 mu-Jy. The typical spatial resolution is 20 sec HPBW, and most positions are accurate to less than 2 sec. Approximately 6% of the sources are found to be extended with size greater than 30 sec. We have compared the VLA-NEP catalog with four other radio catalogs made at lower resolution, as well as with the NASA Extragalactic Database and find counterparts for approximately 18% of the VLA-NEP objects. The normalized, differential radio source count is in agreement with previous studies. Between 1 and 150 mJy the slope of the log N-log S relation is 0.68 +/- 0.03. The catalog and related tables are available electronically.

Kollgaard, Ronald I.↗

The North Galactic Pole Rift and the Local Hot Bubble

The North Galactic Pole Rift (NGPR) is one of the few distinct neutral hydrogen clouds at high Galactic latitudes that have well-defined distances. It is located at the edge of the Local Cavity (LC) and provides an important test case for understanding the Local Hot Bubble (LHB), the presumed location for the hot diffuse plasma responsible for much of the observed 1/4 keV emission originating in the solar neighborhood. Using data from the ROSAT All- Sky Survey and the Planck reddening map, we find the path length within the LC (LHB plus Complex of Local Interstellar Clouds) to be 98 plus or minus 27 pc, in excellent agreement with the distance to the NGPR of 98 +/- 6 pc. In addition, we examine another 14 directions that are distributed over the sky where the LC wall is apparently optically thick at 1/4 keV. We find that the data in these directions are also consistent with the LHB model and a uniform emissivity plasma filling most of the LC.

ISM: bubbles aEuro" ISM: clouds aEuro" ISM: magnet↗

Another look at North Sea pole tide dynamics

The mechanism proposed by Wunsch (1974) to explain pole tide observations in the North Sea is evaluated. Wunsch's equations governing pole tide in the North Sea are presented, and solutions for correcting the depth, stream function, and deviation of the tidal height from the equilibrium values are described. The similarity between the Stokes paradox and the tidal equations of the North Sea, and the need for inclusion of inertial terms in the tidal equations are discussed.

Dickman, S. R.↗

Viking bistatic radar experiment - Summary of first-order results emphasizing north polar data

Initial results of bistatic radar observations of Mars made by the Viking Orbiter spacecraft are presented with particular emphasis on the previously unstudied polar regions. Bistatic radar scattering experiments were performed in near-equatorial regions by the Viking Orbiter 1, while other regions of the planet were observed by the polar-orbiting Orbiter 2, with scattered signals received by stations of the NASA Deep Space Network. In the equatorial region, the bistatic radar estimates of rms surface slope are found to be in qualitative agreement with results obtained using earth-based transmitter-receivers, showing a nearly 2:1 decrease in rms surface roughness between 20 and 22 deg N with no appreciable change in dielectric constant. Data in the north polar region reveal variations in surface roughness from 1 to 6 deg, with areas of smooth material generally located within rougher environs, surface roughness decreasing along Vastitas Borealis in the direction of the north pole, and north polar cap rms roughnesses on the order of 2.5-3.0 deg. Trends in radar reflectivity suggest a decreasing surface density with increasing latitude, consistent with a layer of seasonal CO2 or H2O snow increasing in depth as the pole is approached.

Simpson, R. A.↗

Making Coal Relevant for Small Scale Applications: Modular Gasification for Syngas/Engine CHP Applications in Challenging Environments

The proposed project includes construction and operation of a power plant consisting of coal gasification facilities and engine generators which would produce electrical power and heat. The recovered heat and a portion of the carbon dioxide emissions from the engines would support an onsite greenhouse and other heat and power customers. The proposed project site is located on the Marathon North Pole Terminal property in North Pole, Alaska. Two gasifiers would convert the coal into syngas, which would be fed through a gas cleanup train and then combusted in six reciprocating engines driving electric generators. Heat recovery on the engine cooling loops and exhaust trains would provide heat to a glycol/water circulation system for use in the greenhouse, in the Marathon facilities and for other customers. Natural gas would fuel two additional engine generators and would also be available to supplement the syngas-fired engines.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

2.2-micron field stars at the North Galactic Pole

The properties of the 2.2-micron field stars seen near the North Galactic Pole by the Two Micron Sky Survey and by surveys at higher sensitivity are discussed. All the 2.2-micron sources found in these surveys can be identified with stars with known spectral types. The distribution of the 2.2-micron field stars appears to be well-understood.

Elias, J. H.↗

Observations of a Filament in the North Ecliptic Pole Supercluster

Our work on the ROSAT All-Sky Survey at the North Ecliptic Pole has increased from 7 to 21 the group and cluster membership of a previously known supercluster there, revealing a particularly striking example of a filament. We obtained observations of two clusters in this filament to elucidate its dynamics. However, these observations were severely compromised by flares: less than 20% of the requested time survived screening. Consequently the data were inadequate for the project.

Henry, Joseph Henry↗

Dynamics of the North Sea pole tide reconsidered

The anomalous tide in the North Sea, driven by the Chandler wobble, is here re-examined. A previously published solution in which these 'pole tide' observations were explained as a forced co-oscillation from the deep water tide is shown to be untenable, because it is very unlikely that the deep ocean tide is anything but equilibrium. Using the same physics as in the previous solution (viscous, linear, quasi-geostrophic dynamics), it is now suggested that the only plausible explanation is that there is a coincidental resonance between the long-wavelength branch topographic Rossby wave of the North Sea and the direct driving by the pole tide potential. This resonance is not a basin-resonance, but that of a free wave driven by a travelling forcing function. Simplified models reproduce the observations in qualitative fashion. If this explanation is the correct one, then the Arctic seas north of Asia and North America appear to be likely candidates as other regions where there may be a large pole tide response and, hence, a locus of wobble dissipation. Given the difficulties of observation, the long times required, and the general instability of the dissipation calculation with the simplified analytical model, probably a numerical model will be required for further progress.

Wunsch, Carl↗

A very deep IRAS survey at the north ecliptic pole

The data from approximately 20 hours observation of the 4- to 6-square degree field surrounding the north ecliptic pole have been combined to produce a very deep IR survey at the four IRAS bands. Scans from both pointed and survey observations were included in the data analysis. At 12 and 25 microns the deep survey is limited by detector noise and is approximately 50 times deeper than the IRAS Point Source Catalog (PSC). At 60 microns the problems of source confusion and Galactic cirrus combine to limit the deep survey to approximately 12 times deeper than the PSC. These problems are so severe at 100 microns that flux values are only given for locations corresponding to sources selected at 60 microns. In all, 47 sources were detected at 12 microns, 37 at 25 microns, and 99 at 60 microns. The data-analysis procedures and the significance of the 12- and 60-micron source-count results are discussed.

Houck, J. R.↗

Wind Forcing of the North Sea Pole Tide

The Chandler wobble of the earth's rotation has a period near 14 months and sets up the 0.5 cm amplitude pole tide in the deep oceans, However, the pole tide is anomalously large in the North Sea, where the amplitude increases sharply up to 3 cm along the continental coast. It is shown here that the sea levels are well correlated with winds at the pole tide frequency. The Princeton Ocean Model is used to investigate the response of the North Sea to wind forcing. The barotropic numerical ocean model depicts realistic coastlines and bathymetry at 5 ft x 5 ft resolution, with 97 x 73 grid points. The monthly mean wind fields for the 40-year period (1958-1997) from the National Centers for Atmospheric Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis were used to force the model. The winds were converted to stress with a neutral drag coefficient that varied linearly with windspeed (instead of using the NCEP windstress). A 5-day simulation was made for each month until the resulting flow regime came into equilibrium, and model water levels at various station locations were saved for comparison with tidal-gauge observed sea levels from the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL). The comparison is made for 10 North Sea stations with high quality tide gauge data. We find: (1) good agreement in annual and semi-annual phases and in the trend of amplitude w.r.t. latitude; (2) more importantly for this study, the model-predicted and observed non-seasonal sea level variations show a very significant temporal correlation as well as spectral coherence. However, a large amplitude difference exists between the two sets -- the overall amplitude variability of the observed is generally a factor of 2-3 larger than the model prediction (this same phenomenon has been reported in ocean circulation studies, although the cause is not yet clear.) Our results indicate that the wind forcing is the main cause of the observed large pole tide in the North Sea.

OConnor, W.↗

An accurate Galactic N(sub H) map of the north ecliptic pole

The Galactic HI column density was measured at 21 min angular resolution over an 8 deg x 9 deg region centered on the north ecliptic pole. Over the region N(sub H) varies smoothly between 3 x 10(exp 20) atoms/sq cm and 8 x 10(exp 20) atoms/sq cm; some structure is seen over most of the map on an 0.5 - 1 deg scale. There are other possible sources of interstellar opacity in this direction which may add an equivalent 10(exp 20)/sq cm of HI. We evaluate the effect of uncertainties in the HI column density on implied X-ray fluxes of extragalactic objects.

Elvis, Martin↗

Wind Stress Forcing of the North Sea "Pole Tide"

We conducted numerical simulations of the wind-forcing of the sea level variations in the North Sea using a barotropic ocean model with realistic geography, bathymetry, and boundary conditions, to examine the forcing of the 14-month "pole tide" which is known to be strong along the Denmark- Netherlands coast. The simulation input is the monthly-mean surface wind stress field from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis for the 40-year period 1958-1997. The output sea level response was then compared with 10 coastal tide gauge records from the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL). Besides the strong seasonal variations, several prominent quasi-periodicities exist at around 7 years, 3 years, 14 months, 9 months, and 6.5 months. Correlation and spectral analyses show remarkable agreement between the model output and the observations, particularly in the 14-month, or Chandler period band. The latter indicates that the enhanced pole tide found in the North Sea along the Denmark-Netherlands coast is actually the coastal setup response to wind stress forcing with a periodicity of 14 months. We find no need to invoke a geophysical explanation involving resonance-enhancement of pole tide in the North Sea to explain the observations.

OConnor, William P.↗

Titan Surface Temperatures as Measured by Cassini CIRS

Thermal radiation from the surface of Titan reaches space through a spectral window of low opacity at 19-microns wavelength. This radiance gives a measure of the brightness temperature of the surface. Composite Infrared Spectrometer' (CIRS) observations from Cassini during its first four years at Saturn have permitted latitude mapping of zonally averaged surface temperatures. The measurements are corrected for atmospheric opacity using the dependence of radiance on emission angle. With the more complete latitude coverage and much larger dataset of CIRS we have improved upon the original results from Voyager IRIS. CIRS measures the equatorial surface brightness temperature to be 93.7+/-0.6 K, the same as the temperature measured at the Huygens landing site. The surface brightness temperature decreases by 2 K toward the south pole and by 3 K toward the north pole. The drop in surface temperature between equator and north pole implies a 50% decrease in methane saturation vapor pressure and relative humidity; this may help explain the large northern lakes. The H2 mole fraction is derived as a by-product of our analysis and agrees with previous results. Evidence of seasonal variation in surface and atmospheric temperatures is emerging from CIRS measurements over the Cassini mission.

Jennings, Donald E.↗

Participation in the north ecliptic pole sky survey

This grant supported research into the nature of the faintest x-ray sources found in the ROSAT All Sky Survey, with particular emphasis on distant clusters of galaxies. The project was broadened to include sources found in the ROSAT deep pointing at the North Ecliptic Pole. Progress on the research is briefly summarized.

Henry, J. Patrick↗

21 cm Power Spectrum Analysis of North Celestial Pole Observations with the Tianlai Dish Pathfinder Array

The Tianlai Dish Pathfinder Array (TDPA) is a radio interferometer designed to test techniques for 21 cm intensity mapping in the post-reionization Universe as a means of measuring large-scale cosmic structure. Using nine nights of observations targeting the North Celestial Pole field, totaling approximately 107 hr of integration time, we analyze data in the frequency range 700–800 MHz (corresponding to redshift z ∼ 0.9). We do the data format conversion, radio frequency interference flagging, calibration, imaging and point source subtraction, and foreground removal via Singular Value Decomposition. The spherically averaged power spectrum Δ 2 (k) is obtained. Furthermore, this work successfully establishes and validates a comprehensive data analysis framework for the TDPA. We identify key improvements including sky model refinement, increased integration time, and pipeline optimization that will enable future detection of the 21 cm signal through auto-correlation and cross-correlation with optical galaxy surveys.

cosmology: large-scale structure of universe↗