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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 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Energy and mass transport in the thermosphere

Examples illustrating the effects of large scale energy and mass transport in the thermosphere discussed include: (1) The seasonal variations reveal temperature, composition, and ionospheric anomalies involving energy exchange between the thermosphere and mesosphere. (2) The midnight temperature maximum in the thermosphere is interpreted as a signature of tidal waves emanating from the mesosphere and momentum coupling associated with ion drag. (3) The ionospheric storm in the F region illustrates the intricate effects of large scale atmospheric winds driven by magnetospheric energization processes. (4) Atmospheric signatures of Joule heating and electric field momentum coupling are markedly different.

Mayr, H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Dynamics explorer guest investigator

The use of Dynamics Explorer (DE) data sets to model the auroral inputs for the time dependent ionospheric model (TDIM) is reported. The modelling requires DE-1 SAI images and simultaneous DE-2 LAPI particle data. The data sets allow the large scale relative auroral variations and local absolute energy flexes and characteristics energies to be defined. The images enabled global scale auroral modelling with 12 min. time resolution and the LAPI data presented a detailed energy flux and characteristic energy calibration of the image model. The auroral model is used as an input to the TDIM and studies ionospheric storms.

Sojka, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Vital phase of space science

Space science began with the indirect phase where the activity in space was inferred from such terrestrial phenomena as geomagnetic storms, ionospheric variations, and fluctuations in the cosmic ray intensity. The direct phase was initiated with spaceflight placing instruments directly in space and permitting the direct observation of UV and X rays, as well as precision observations of solar luminosity variations. The evidence from these many direct studies, together with the historical record of terrestrial conditions, shows that the variations of the luminosity of the Sun affect the terrestrial atmosphere at all levels, with devastating changes in climate tracking the major changes in the activity level and luminosity of the Sun. The quantification and understanding of this vital connection should be the first priority of space science and geophysics, from oceans and atmosphere through the ionosphere, magnetosphere, and all the way to the convective zone of the Sun. It becomes the vital phase of space science, focused on the basic science of the changing habitability of Earth.

Parker, E. N.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Ionosphere Delay Calibration and Calibration Errors for Satellite Navigation of Aircraft

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is implementing a satellite-based navigation system for aircraft using the Global Positioning System (GPS). Positioning accuracy of a few meters will be achieved by broadcasting corrections to the direct GPS signal. These corrections are derived using the wide-area augmentation system (WAAS), which includes a ground network of at least 24 GPS receivers across the Continental US (CONUS). WAAS will provide real-time total electron content (TEC) measurements that can be mapped to fixed grid points using a real-time mapping algorithm. These TECs will be converted into vertical delay corrections for the GPS L1 frequency and broadcast to users every five minutes via geosynchronous satellite. Users will convert these delays to slant calibrations along their own lines-of-sight (LOS) to GPS satellites. Uncertainties in the delay calibrations will also be broadcast, allowing users to estimate the uncertainty of their position. To maintain user safety without reverting to excessive safety margins an empirical model of user calibration errors has been developed. WAAS performance depends on factors that include geographic location (errors increase near WAAS borders), and ionospheric conditions, such as the enhanced spatial electron density gradients found during ionospheric storms.

Harris, Ian↗
NASA NTRS2020

MAVEN ROSE Observations of the Response of the Martian Ionosphere to Dust Storms

During a Martian dust storm, the lower atmosphere is heated locally. Due to dynamical effects, the upper atmosphere and ionosphere can be lifted upward on a global scale by approximately 10 km. The connections between lower atmospheric dust events and associated ionospheric responses are poorly understood due to limited observations. Here, we present MAVEN Radio Occultation Science Experiment (ROSE) observations of ionospheric peak altitude during dust events in 2018 and 2016. In June 2018, a planet-encircling dust event arose from the Acidalia storm track in the northern hemisphere. Ionospheric peak altitudes at around 20°S were normal in ROSE egress observations on 19 June and 22 June and then 10–15 km higher on 26 June and thereafter. Ionospheric peak altitudes at around 50°N were also elevated in ROSE ingress observations, which began on 17 June. This suggests that the ionospheric peak altitude was affected by the dust event in the northern hemisphere before the southern hemisphere. We also observe evidence that smaller dust storms can trigger ionospheric responses: In July–October 2016, ionospheric peak altitudes at solar zenith angles of 54–70° and latitudes of 50–80°S were 20 km higher than expected. These observations were acquired during a modest “A storm” during a year without a global dust storm.

M. Felici↗
NASA NTRS1974

The evolution of electron density and temperature distributions in the topside ionosphere during magnetic storms

The latitudinal distributions of electron density and temperature during geomagnetic storms in the mid-latitude topside ionosphere are observed to change in a manner than can be related to the evolution of ring current particle populations. The region of auroral precipitation is characterized by correlated increases in electron temperature and density. Equatorwards of this region, there is a broad belt of elevated electron temperatures and depressed electron densities which is usually much broader than any stable auroral red arc distinguishable from the ground, but which is nevertheless the same basic physical phenomenon. The changes of position of this belt can be related to prior bursts of geomagnetic activity and injection of ring current particles into the magnetosphere.

Cole, K. D.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Ionospheric Variability and Storms on Mars

The goal of this grant was to conduct the first-ever study of ionospheric variability on Mars. To do so, we used data from the Radio Science (RS) experiment onboard the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) satellite. Dr. David Hinson of the RS team at Stanford University was a most helpful and valuable colleague throughout the studies we conducted. For the initial RS datasets available from the MGS mission, there were no severe storms caused by solar wind activity, so we concentrated on day-to-day effects. This turned out to be a wise approach since understanding "normal variability" had to be done before any claim could be made about "space weather" effects. Our approach was three-fold: (1) select a good dataset for characterization of ionosphere variability at Mars, one for which excellent terrestrial data were also available. This turned out to be the period 9-27 March 1999; (2) once the variability at Mars was described, develop and use a new photochemical model of the martian ionosphere to find the extent to which solar variability on those days caused or contributed to the observed patterns; (3) use the results from the above, together with additional datasets from the MGS/RS experiment, to describe some practical consequences that the martian ionosphere would have upon NASA s proposed navigation and communications systems for Mars. The results of these studies showed that: (a) solar variability is the dominant source of ionospheric variability at Mars (during periods of quiet solar wind), (b) that current models do a good job in portraying such effects at the height of the ionospheric peak electron density, and (c) that ionospheric structure on Mars can affect attempts at precise position-fixing at Mars should relatively high (GPS-like) frequencies not be used in a Mars communications and navigation system.

Mendillo, Michael↗
NASA NTRS2011

C/NOFS Measurements of Magnetic Perturbations in the Low-Latitude Ionosphere During Magnetic Storms

The Vector Electric Field Investigation suite on the C/NOFS satellite includes a fluxgate magnetometer to monitor the Earth s magnetic fields in the low-latitude ionosphere. Measurements yield full magnetic vectors every second over the range of +/-45,000 nT with a one-bit resolution of 1.37 nT (16 bit A/D) in each component. The sensor s primary responsibility is to support calculations of both V x B and E x B with greater accuracy than can be obtained using standard magnetic field models. The data also contain information about large-scale current systems that, when analyzed in conjunction with electric field measurements, promise to significantly expand understanding of equatorial electrodynamics. We first compare in situ measurements with the POMME (Potsdam Magnetic Model of the Earth) model to establish in-flight sensor "calibrations" and to compute magnetic residuals. At low latitudes the residuals are predominately products of the storm time ring current. Since C/NOFS provides a complete coverage of all local times every 97 min, magnetic field data allow studies of the temporal evolution and local time variations of storm time ring current. The analysis demonstrates the feasibility of using instrumented spacecraft in low-inclination orbits to extract a timely proxy for the provisional Dst index and to specify the ring current s evolution.

Le, Guan↗
DOE OSTI2023

Geomagnetic Storm Effects on Ionospheric Irregularities: Insights from SuperDARN, Madrigal GPS TEC, and ISR Data [Slides]

Geomagnetic disturbances trigger an influx of electrons from the magnetosphere, leading to an increase electron density (even in lower altitudes), amplified ionospheric currents, and subsequently, increased conductance. A surge in the AE index, indicating heightened auroral currents, correlates with a rise in precipitated charged particles, including electrons, into the polar ionosphere. This correlation is detectable through increased parameter values measured by SuperDARN. The downward flow of electron density towards lower altitudes, as observed in PFISR data, potentially obstructs the transmission frequency from radar stations passing through the PFISR location (just like we saw in the KOD station). During the geomagnetic storm, there is increased backscatter power (increased amount of ionospheric irregularities), and the plasma flow draws closer to the radar, suggesting a possible southward shift in the auroral oval as a result of the heightened auroral activity. Increased geomagnetic activity correlates with an elevation in average TEC and induces the occurrence of SED (Storm Enhanced Density).

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1976

The storm-time equatorial electrojet

A Petrel rocket carrying a double cell rubidium magnetometer was launched from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station during the early main phase of a magnetic storm. No ionospheric currents associated with the storm were observed and the large field depression, at the flight time, must therefore be attributed to currents at higher altitudes. The equatorial enhancement of ionospheric magnetic storm currents, predicted on the basis of theory and earlier ground data, was not observed.

Burrows, K.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The storm-time equatorial electrojet

A Petrel rocket carrying a double cell rubidium magnetometer was launched from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station during the early main phase of a magnetic storm. No ionospheric currents associated with the storm were observed, and the large field depression at the flight time must therefore be attributed to currents at higher altitudes. The equatorial enhancement of ionospheric magnetic storm currents, predicted on the basis of theory and earlier ground data, was not observed.

Burrows, K.↗
NASA NTRS1998

The Ionosphere and Upper Atmosphere

Because our society is becoming increasingly dependent on technological systems that can be affected by ionospheric phenomena during geomagnetic storms, the ionosphere, its electrodynamics, and its coupling with the neutral atmosphere and the magnetosphere are being studied as part of a coordinated program of "space weather" research. This research seeks to characterize the variability of ionospheric density and electric currents during magnetic storms, and to determine to what extent valid predictions of those phenomena and their effects can be made.

Richmond, A. D.↗