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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 541 records · Page 30

The Compton-Getting effect for low energy particles

It was found that the traditional first-order Compton-Getting effect, which relates particle distributions as observed in two frames of reference moving with constant relative velocity, is inadequate for the description of low energy particles (less than a few hundred keV/nucleon) in the solar system. An exact procedure is given for recovering both isotropic and anisotropic distributions in the solar wind frame from observations made in a spacecraft frame. The method was illustrated by analyzing a particle event observed on IPM-7.

Ipavich, F. M.↗

The early scientific history of the rocket-grenade experiment

In the decade, 1950 to 1960, some thirty sounding rockets carrying the grenade experiment were fired in the Arctic, at middle latitudes and in the equatorial western Pacific. The vertical distributions of temperatures and winds at different seasons and at different times of the day were measured. Although there were significant variations in the results from each of the sites, an outstanding feature was the uniformity with latitude of the seasonal variation of the wind field. Over the latitude-altitude ranges sampled, the winds were strong and from the west during the winter months; and weak and from the east during the summer months. The nature of the general circulation pattern in the mesosphere of the northern hemisphere was revealed by the measurements. Of particular interest were those measurements made at the seasonal turnovers because of the insight into the dynamics of this region they provided.

Stroud, W. G.↗

Tethered balloon-based measurements of meteorological variables and aerosols

Tethered balloon based measurements of the vertical distributions of temperature, humidity, wind speed, and aerosol concentrations were taken over a 4-hour period beginning at sunrise on June 29, 1976, at Wallops Island, Virginia. Twelve consecutive profiles of each variable were obtained from ground to about 500 meters. These measurements were in conjuction with a noise propagation study on remotely arrayed acoustic range (ROMAAR) at Wallops Flight Center. An organized listing of these vertical soundings is presented. The tethered balloon system configuration utilized for these measurements is described.

Sentell, R. J.↗

A catalog of 0.2 A resolution far-ultraviolet stellar spectra measured with Copernicus

Spectra between 1000 and 1450 A for 60 O- and B-type stars observed by Copernicus at 0.2-A resolution are presented in three forms: tables containing the numerical data, plots showing renormalized spectra, and synthetic photographic spectra. The data have been corrected for all instrument effects of importance for the photometric accuracy except fluctuations in continuum level caused by small variations in spacecraft guidance. Spectrometer sensitivity curves are provided for use in converting to absolute fluxes. It is expected that this catalog will be of use for research on many aspects of stellar UV spectra, including spectral classification, line identification, abundance determinations, spectrum synthesis, model atmosphere calculations, flux distributions, bolometric corrections, stellar winds, and mass loss.

Snow, T. P., Jr.↗

A two-scale scattering model with application to the JONSWAP '75 aircraft microwave scatterometer experiment

The general problem of bistatic scattering from a two scale surface was evaluated. The treatment was entirely two-dimensional and in a vector formulation independent of any particular coordinate system. The two scale scattering model was then applied to backscattering from the sea surface. In particular, the model was used in conjunction with the JONSWAP 1975 aircraft scatterometer measurements to determine the sea surface's two scale roughness distributions, namely the probability density of the large scale surface slope and the capillary wavenumber spectrum. Best fits yield, on the average, a 0.7 dB rms difference between the model computations and the vertical polarization measurements of the normalized radar cross section. Correlations between the distribution parameters and the wind speed were established from linear, least squares regressions.

Wentz, F. J.↗

Asymmetries in ozone depressions between the polar stratospheres following a solar proton event

Ozone depletions in the polar stratosphere during the energetic solar proton event on 4 August 1972 were observed by the backscattered ultraviolet (BUV) experiments on the Nimbus 4 satellite. The observed ozone contents, the ozone depressions and their temporal variations above the 4 mb level exhibited distinct asymmetries between the northern and southern hemispheres. Since the ozone destroying solar particles precipitate rather symmetrically into the two polar atmospheres, due to the geomagnetic dipole field, it is suggested that these asymmetries may be explained in terms of the differences in dynamics between the summer and the winter polar atmospheres. In the summer (northern) hemisphere, the stratospheric and mesospheric ozone depletion and recovery are smooth functions of time due to the preponderance of undistributed orderly flow in this region. On the other hand, the temporal variation of the upper stratospheric ozone in the winter polar atmosphere (southern hemisphere) exhibits large amplitude irregularities. These characteristic differences between the two polar atmospheres are also evident in the vertical distributions of temperatures and winds observed by balloons and rocket soundings.

Maeda, K.↗

The source of electrostatic fluctuations in the solar-wind

Solar wind electron and ion distribution functions measured simultaneously with or close to times of intense electrostatic fluctuations are subjected to a linear Vlasov stability analysis. Although all distributions tested were found to be stable, the analysis suggests that the ion beam instability is the most likely source of the fluctuations.

Lemons, D. S.↗

GEOS-3 radar altimeter study for the South Atlantic Bight

Three years of radar altimeter data from GEOS-3 for the South Atlantic Bight were processed. Mean monthly topographic maps were produced which estimate geostrophic flow in the region. Statistical distribution of the surface wind speed and significant wave height as a function of both space and time are presented.

Leitao, C. D.↗

HR 4511 - A probable Cepheid with a supergiant-like hot companion

IUE observations have shown HR 4511 to have an early B-type companion with a strong stellar wind. Fitting the energy distribution of the system from far-UV to middle-IR yields a difference of about 3.2 mag at the V passband. Since HR 4511 is in the small cluster Stock 14 and has M(V) = -7.8, M(V) for the secondary is about -4.6, which is only slightly more luminous than the known BO.5 III and B1 stars at the turnoff point. This implies an inconsistency between the deduced luminosity of the secondary and the nature of its UV spectrum, which mimics stars of considerably greater luminosity. It is suggested that the secondary may have been observed in a brief stage between core and shell H burning.

Parsons, S. B.↗

Scanner for measuring fine sea-surface structures

An optical scanner using the principle of light reflection has been designed for determining directional slope distributions of the wind-disturbed water surface. The instrument has been tested successfully in the laboratory and could be used in the field. Some sample results along with procedures for data analysis are also presented.

Wu, J.↗

Global-scale weekly and monthly energetics during January and February 1979

Time averages of the latitudinal distribution of kinetic energy and terms of the kinetic energy equation are presented as depicted by analyses of the First GARP Global Experiment during the First Special Observing Period. It is found that the monthly averages exhibit peaks in the stationary wave energy at 30 degrees N and in the tropics, while global decompositions of the streamfunction and velocity potential in spherical harmonics are truncated at the fourth degree. The kinetic energy distribution of the associated wind field displays peaks in the tropics and northern mid-latitudes in January, but only a tropical peak in February. These analyses support the Eliassen-Palm relationship for latitudinal momentum and geopotential wave transport, particularly in the mid-latitudes. However, in the deep tropics, latitudinal convergence of the fully resolved stationary wave momentum transport accompanies latitudinal convergence of stationary wave geopotential flux in westerly flow.

Paegle, J.↗

An aerodynamic analysis computer program and design notes for low speed wing flap systems

The expanded capabilities for analysis and design of low speed flap systems afforded by recent modifications of an existing computer program is described. The program provides for the simultaneous analysis of up to 25 pairs of leading-edge and trailing-edge flap deflection schedules. Among other new features of the program are a revised attainable thrust estimation method to provide more accurate predictions for low Mach numbers, and a choice of three options for estimation of leading-edge separation vortex flow effects. Comparison of program results with low speed experimental data for an arrow wing supersonic cruise configuration with leading-edge and trailing-edge flaps showed good agreement over most of the range of flap deflections. Other force data comparisons and an independent study of airfoil and wing pressure distributions indicated that wind-tunnel measurements of the aerodynamic performance of twisted and cambered wings and wings with leading-edge flaps can be very sensitive to Reynolds number effects.

Carlson, H. W.↗

The evolution of Ertel's potential vorticity during stratospheric sudden warmings

In the winter stratosphere of the Northern Hemisphere, the disruption of the westerly vortex and associated warming of polar latitudes is a well known phenomenon. It has become apparent that some important dynamical processes in the stratosphere are highly nonlinear and are best thought of locally rather than in terms of the interaction between the zonal-mean flow and harmonic waves around latitude circles. The importance of nonlinear processes was suggested by McIntyre and Palmer (1983, 1984) who used isentropic maps of Ertel's Potential Vorticity to show that during disturbed episodes material lines may become strongly and irreversibly deformed in certain places. They adopted the term planetary wave breaking to describe this process. Isentropic maps of Q are used to follow the evolution of a Canadian warming in November - December 1981 and a particularly strong warming in January 1982. The advection of Q over large distances on isentropic surfaces was a striking feature of the flow during each event. This could be identified because of our ability to follow the movement of material lines due to the approximate conservation of Q over several days. The advection of Q was a nonlinear process because its changing distribution affected the advecting wind field. The Canadian warming did not lead to a permanent change in the structure of the westerly vortex, as defined by the coarse-grain field of Q, whereas the January event was accompanied by a substantial loss of resolved Q which was never fully recovered.

Fairlie, T. D. A.↗

Airborne Doppler lidar measurements

This paper describes recent measurements using coherent Doppler lidars operating at a wavelength of 10.6 microns aboard the NASA Ames Convair 990. The purpose of the measurements was to obtain data on the atmospheric wind fields and the distribution of the backscatter coefficient at 10.6 microns. A decription of the instruments is provided detailing the modifications incorporated following the 1981 test flights of the systems. The measurement program is outlined, and preliminary results are discussed.

Bilbro, James W.↗

Estimation of blade airloads from rotor blade bending moments

This paper presents a method for the estimation of blade airloads, based on the measurements of flap bending moments. In this procedure, the blade rotation in vacuum modes is calculated, and the airloads are expressed as an algebraic sum of the mode shapes, modal amplitudes, mass distribution, and frequency properties. The method was validated by comparing the calculated airload distribution with the original wind tunnel measurements which were made using ten modes and twenty measurement stations. Good agreement between the predicted and the measured airloads was found up to 0.90 R, but the agreement degraded towards the blade tip. The method is shown to be quite robust to the type of experimental problems that could be expected to occur in the testing of full-scale and model-scale rotors.

Bousman, William G.↗

Use of satellite data and modeling to assess the influence of stratospheric processes on the troposphere

Current research focused on the examination of the effects of ozone heating and Newtonian cooling on the linear stability of transient planetary waves. A finite difference numerical model was developed in which the basic state wind, temperature, and ozone distributions were constructed using ground-based and satellite data. Preliminary results indicate that ozone dynamics interaction may play a more important role in the stability and maintenance of planetary waves than previously thought, particularly in summer when the mean solar zenith angle is smallest and thus ozone heating largest. Examination of the finite amplitude interactions among radiation, ozone, and dynamics was carried out. Self-consistent, coupled equations governing the weakly nonlinear interactions are currently being analyzed to provide a better understanding of wave-mean flow interactions and ozone transport in a continuously stratified model of the troposphere-stratosphere coupled system.

Nathan, Terrence↗

Availability of hydrogen for lunar base activities

Hydrogen will be needed on a lunar base to make water for consumables, to provide fuel, and to serve as a reducing agent in the extraction of oxygen from lunar minerals. This study was undertaken in order to learn more about the abundance and distribution of solar-wind-implanted hydrogen. Hydrogen was found in all samples studied, with concentrations, varying widely depending on soil maturity, grain size, and mineral composition. Seven cores returned from the Moon were studied. Although hydrogen was implanted in the upper surface layer of the regolith, it was found throughout the cores due to micrometeorite reworking of the soil.

Bustin, Roberta↗