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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Solar Wind Features Responsible for Magnetic Storms and Substorms During the Declining Phase of the Solar Cycle: 197

We examine interplanetary data and geomagnetic activity indices during 1974 when two long-lasting solar wind corotating streams existed. We find that only 3 major storms occurred during 1974, and all were associated with coronal mass ejections. Each high speed stream was led by a shock, so the three storms had sudden commencements. Two of the 1974 major storms were associated with shock compression of preexisting southward fields and one was caused by southward fields within a magnetic cloud. Corotating streams were responsible for recurring moderate to weak magnetic storms.

magnetospheric corotating streams solar wind↗
NASA NTRS1984

The solar flare heavy ion environment for single-event upsets - A summary of observations over the last solar cycle, 1973-1983

A summary of observations of the flux of 25 to 400 MeV/nucleon heavy ions from solar flares is presented covering the period from late 1973 to early 1984. Distributions of flare occurrence frequency versus fluence, energy spectra, and composition are presented for the 30 events observed during this period, to quantify the variability of the heavy ion environment. A comparison of these data to a model environment suggests some refinements to the model. LET spectra based on the worst case flare observed are presented to illustrate the significance of the flare ion distribution and the importance of accurate shielding estimates.

Chenette, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The effect of the solar cycle on the maintenance of the nightside ionosphere of Venus

The behavior of the Venus nightside ionosphere at solar maximum and solar minimum is discussed based on Pioneer Venus radio occultation measurements. Although some solar maximum measurements are similar to those observed at minimum, which have an average peak density of about 7000/cu cm, others show much higher peak densities, reaching values of about 40,000/cu cm. These elevated peak densities also occur at higher altitudes. The integrated electron column densities for these measurements indicate the presence of substantial ionization above the main peak. The magnitudes of both the peak density and the integrated content above the peak are anticorrelated with the solar wind dynamic pressure, indicating that these enhancements during solar maximum are due to transterminator transport of O(+) ions from the dayside. The resulting ionization peak can be many times the concentration produced by energetic electron fluxes impacting the neutral atmosphere on the nightside.

Kliore, Arvydas J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Solar cycle dependence of the sun's radius at lambda = 525.0 nm

The Mount Wilson (California) synoptic program of solar magnetic observations scans the solar disk between 1 and 20 times per day. As part of this program, the radius is determined as an average distance between the image center and the point where the intensity in the FeI line at lambda = 525.0 nm drops to 25 percent of its value at the disk's center. The data base of information was analyzed and corrected for effects such as scattered light and atmospheric reflection. The solar variability and the measurement techniques are described. The observation data sets, the corrections made to the data, and the observed variations, are discussed. It is stated that similar spectral lines at lambda = 525.0 nm, which are common in the solar spectrum, probably exhibit similar radius changes. All portions of the sun are weighted equally so that it is concluded that, within spectral lines, the radiating area of the sun is increased at the solar maximum.

Ulrich, Roger K.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Variations in the Sun's Meridional Flow Over a Solar Cycle

The Sun's meridional flow is an axisymmetric flow that is generally directed from its equator toward its poles at the surface. The structure and strength of the meridional flow determine both the strength of the Sun's polar magnetic field and the intensity of sunspot cycles. We determine the meridional flow speed of magnetic features on the Sun using data from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. The average flow is poleward at all latitudes up to 75 , which suggests that it extends to the poles. It was faster at sun spot cycle minimum than at maximum and substantially faster on the approach to the current minimum than it was at the last solar minimum. This result may help to ex plain why this solar activity minimum is so peculiar.

Hathaway, David H.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Elemental Abundance Variations Observed in Solar Energetic Particle Events During Solar Cycle 23

We report on observations of the abundances of elements from Helium to Nickel in over 50 different solar energetic particle events using the Solar Isotope Spectrometer (SIS) on-board the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft. It had originally been expected that the energy spectra of different elements would show spectral roll-overs at energies related to the Q/M ratio of each element. Due to the partial stripping of Fe and essentially complete stripping of O, it was expected that the Fe/O ratio would be observed to decrease with increasing energy. While many events show this pattern, others have Fe/O which is constant with energy, while for yet others Fe/O actually increases with energy. Events having constant Fe/O could simply have their spectral breaks outside of the observed energy range. However, events which show increasing Fe/O cannot be explained within the framework of spectral breaks. Possible explanations include injection of remnant heavy ions from earlier impulsive events, hybrid Events consisting of a combination of flare-accelerated and shock-accelerated particles from a single solar event, and some new physical process in shock acceleration. We will report on efforts to distinguish these possible explanations.

vonRosenvinge, T. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Chromospheric and photospheric evolution of an extremely active solar region in solar cycle 19

a comprehensive investigation was made of phenomena attending the disk passage, July 7 to 21, 1959, of active solar center HAO-59Q. At the photospheric level that comprised an aggregate of groups of sunspots of which one group, Mt. Wilson 14284, showed all the attributes deemed typical of solar regions associated with the production of major flares. A special characteristic of 59Q was its capability to eject dark material. Part of this material remained trapped in the strong magnetic fields above group 14284 where it formed a system of interrelated arches, the legs of which passed through components of the bright chromospheric network of the plage and were rooted in various underlying umbrae. Two apparently diffeent kinds of flare were identified in 59Q; namely, prominence flares (which comprised brightenings within part of the suspended dark prominence) and plage flares (which comprised brightenings within part of the chromospheric network). Prominence flares were of three varieties described as 'impact', 'stationary' and 'moving' prominence flares. Plage flares were accompanied in 3 percent of cases by Type III bursts. These latter radio events indicate the associated passage through the corona of energetic electrons in the approximate energy range 10 to 100 keV. At least 87.5 percent, and probably all, impulsive brightenings in 59Q began directly above minor spots, many of which satellites to major umbrae. Stationary and moving prominence flares were individually triggered at sites beneath which magnetic changes occurred within intervals which included each flare's flash phase.

Mckenna-Lawlor, S. M. P.↗
NASA NTRS1987

On the dependence of the lower thermospheric wind regime on the solar cycle

The lower thermosphere occupies the intermediate position between the overlying thermospheric layers, for which direct correlation of its parameters with solar variety variations is well established, and the underlying ones, where this correlation is mainly of an indirect character. Therefore, for understanding the mechanism of solar terrestrial correlation it is important to investigate the dependence of different atmospheric parameters in the lower troposphere, and of wind regime parameters in particular, on the solar activity. Several series of observations were used which include the results of meteor radar wind velocity measurements carried out in Obninsk complemented by the data obtained using the same technique at Jodrell Bank from 1953 to 1958 and in Kharkov from 1960 to 1963. The interannual variations of values averaged over these periods for prevailing wind velocities and semidiurnal harmonic amplitudes and also results for some months are presented. These results are discussed.

Djachenko, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Comparison of the N2/+/ photochemistry at different phases of the solar cycle

Thermospheric and ionospheric data obtained on 12 orbits throughout 1978 are analyzed using the chemical scheme established during 1974 when the solar EUV intensities were less than half of those encountered in 1978. It is shown that this scheme, with some modification, applies to the more active period. Photoionization of N2 is found to be the major source of N2(+) in the F2 layer, by contrast with the charge exchange reaction of O+(2D) with N2, which was dominant for the lower solar activity. The results confirm the laboratory measurements of the dissociative recombination rate coefficient for N2 with electrons, as well as the theoretically calculated rate coefficient for the quenching of O+(2D) by electrons.

Torr, M. R.↗
DOE OSTI2025

First observations of solar halo gamma rays over a full solar cycle

We analyze 15 years of Fermi-LAT data and produce a detailed model of the Sun’s inverse-Compton scattering emission (solar halo), which is powered by interactions between ambient cosmic-ray electrons and positrons with sunlight. By developing a novel analysis method to analyze moving sources, we robustly detect the solar halo at energies between 31.6 MeV and 100 GeV, and angular extensions up to 45° from the Sun, providing new insight into spatial regions where there are no direct measurements of the Galactic cosmic-ray flux. The large statistical significance of our signal allows us to subdivide the data and provide the first 𝛾-ray probes into the time variation and azimuthal asymmetry of the solar modulation potential, finding time-dependent changes in solar modulation both parallel and perpendicular to the ecliptic plane. Our results are consistent with (but with independent uncertainties from) local cosmic-ray measurements, unlocking new probes into astrophysical processes near the solar surface.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1992

BATSE flare observations in Solar Cycle 22

The Hard X-Ray Burst Spectrometer (HXRBS) group at GSFC has developed and is maintaining a quick-look analysis system for solar flare hard x-ray data from the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the recently launched Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (GRO). The instrument consists, in part, of 8 large planar detectors, each 2025 sq cm, placed on the corners of the GRO spacecraft with the orientation of the faces being those of a regular octahedron. Although optimized for the detection of gamma-ray bursts, these detectors are far more sensitive than any previous spacecraft-borne hard x-ray flare instrumentation both for the detection of small microflares and the resolution of fine temporal structures. The data in this BATSE solar data base are from the discriminator large area (DISCLA) rates. From each of eight detectors there are hard x-ray data in four energy channels, 25-50, 50-100, 100-300, and greater than 300 keV with a time resolution of 1.024 seconds. These data are suitable for temporal correlation with data at other wavelengths, and they provide a first look into the BATSE and other GRO instrument flare data sets. The BATSE and other GRO principle investigator groups should be contacted for the availability of data sets at higher time or spectral resolution or at higher energies.

Schwartz, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Solar cycle effects upon the relationship of Ne and Te in the F-region

Data from the Atmospheric Explorer-C recorded during the rise in solar activity from 1975 to 1978, and Dynamic Explorer-2 data recorded at solar maximum are used to examine how the relation between electron temperature and density in the F-region of the ionosphere is altered by solar activity. It is found that the solar maximum temperature Te is a factor of two larger than the solar minimum Te for the same values of electron density. Temperature does not necessarily increase in response to solar activity because electron density increases enough to approximately cancel the effect of higher solar extreme ultraviolet heating. The effect of solar activity is accounted for by a simple function of the F (10.7 cm) index which multiplies the solar minimum equation from a previous study (Brace and Theis, 1978).

Brace, L. H.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Seasonal variation of the 11 year solar cycle effect on the middle atmosphere: Role of the quasi biennial oscillation

Before the introduction of the Quasi Biennial Oscillation (Q.B.O.) in the study of the solar atmosphere relationship by Labitzke (1987) and Labitzke and Van Loon (1988), the only region of the atmosphere where an effect of a change in solar activity was generally admitted was the mesosphere. The response of the mesosphere, in phase with the solar activity, was found to be about one order of magnitude above model expectancy (around 10 to 20 Kelvin). It was observed independently of the season and maximized around 70 km (Chanin et al. 1987). However, from the same study, it was shown that the response of the stratosphere of opposite sign, clearly seen during winter and autumn, was at the threshold of detection in spring and summer. In the stratosphere, it was shown later that the separation of the data taking into account the sign of the Q.B.O. amplifies the negative correlation of the stratospheric temperature with solar activity in winter; it then becomes more significantly negative for the East phase of the Q.B.O. than when the data are all mixed (Labitzke and Chanin 1988). The studies of the seasonal response of the atmosphere to solar effect is crucial to understand the possible mechanism responsible of such a solar activity Q.B.O. relationship, knowing that the global dynamic circulation is quite different according to the seasons. The question is examined as to whether such separation of the data according to the phase of the Q.B.O. has any impact on the solar response of the middle atmosphere for seasons other than winter.

Keckhut, P.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Exospheric temperatures during solar cycle 22

An analysis is conducted of the orbital decay of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) satellite in order to develop an empirical model of the solar radio flux at 10.7 cm and of the exospheric temperature driving current atmospheric-density models at high radio fluxes. The Jacchia-Lineberry (1982) atmospheric model is used to fit a set of orbit semimajor axis observations to a predicted set whose only free variable was the exospheric temperature. A comparison of the exospheric temperatures with those predicted by the Jacchia (1977) model indicates increasing divergences above 1100 K, suggesting needed modifications to the model.

Badhwar, Gautam D.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Solar Cycle Variation and Application to the Space Radiation Environment

The interplanetary plasma and fields are affected by the degree of disturbance that is related to the number and types of sunspots in the solar surface. Sunspot observations were improved with the introduction of the telescope in the seventeenth century, allowing observations which cover many centuries. A single quantity (sunspot number) was defined by Wolf in 1848 that is now known to be well correlated with many space observable quantities and is used herein to represent variations caused in the space radiation environment. The resultant environmental models are intended for future aircraft and space-travel-related exposure estimates.

Wilson, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Solar cycle variations of the anomalous cosmic ray component

The intensity of the anomalous cosmic ray component, consisting of He, N, O, and Ne, has long been known to be especially sensitive to the effects of solar modulation. Following its discovery in 1972, this component dominated the quiet-time flux of cosmic ray nuclei below approximately 30 MeV/nucleon during the 1972 to 1978 solar minimum, but then became essentially unobservable at 1 AU with the approach of solar maximum conditions. One recent theoretical model predicts substantial differences in the intensity of the anomalous fluxes from one solar minimum period to the next because of the reversal of the solar magnetic field. Using data from the Caltech experiments on IMP-8 and ICE (ISEE-3), the intensity of anomalous O and He at 1 AU during the years 1972 to 1985 is reported. We hope to determine whether the anomalous fluxes will return to their 1972 to 1978 levels, as predicted by spherically symmetric modulation models, or whether they will fail to return to 1 AU, as suggested by modulation models in which gradient and curvature drifts dominate.

Mewaldt, R. A.↗