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At least 667 records · Page 37

The energy coupling function and the power generated by the solar wind-magnetosphere dynamo

A solar wind parameter epsilon, known as the energy coupling function, has been shown to correlate with the power consumption in the magnetosphere. It is shown in the present paper that the parameter epsilon can be identified semi-quantitatively as the dynamo power delivered from the solar wind to an open magnetosphere. This identification not only provides a theoretical basis for the energy coupling function, but also constitutes an observational verification of the solar wind-magnetosphere dynamo along the magnetotail. Moreover, one can now conclude that a substorm results when the dynamo power exceeds 10 to the 18th erg/s.

Kan, J. R.↗

GE MOD-1 noise study

Noise studies of the MOD-1 Wind Turbine Generator are summarized, and a simple mathematical noise is presented which is adequate to correlate the sound levels found near the machine. A simple acoustic measure is suggested for use in evaluating far field sound levels. Use of this measure as input to a currently available sound complaint prediction program is discussed. Results of a recent statistical survey relative to the far field variation of this acoustic measure because of atmospheric effects are described.

Wells, R. J.↗

Parameterization of spectrum

Many radars used for wind sounding generate Doppler power spectra as output. For compact data archiving purposes, as well as for data analysis, several parameters were produced to characterize each spectrum. The parameters chosen were noise level, echo signal strength, velocity, and width. Because the derived parameters may be the only quantities available for future analysis, it was important that they did not contain biases imposed by the derivation techniques. This consideration led to a processing scheme in which the parameters were derived independently for each spectrum.

Riddle, A. C.↗

Corrosion fatigue of high strength fastener materials in seawater

Environmental effects which significantly reduce the fatigue life of metals are discussed. Corrosion fatigue is a major concern in the engineering application of high strength fasteners in marine environments. The corrosion fatigue failure of an AISI 41L4O high strength steel blade to hub attachment bolt at the MOD-OA 200 kW wind turbine generator was investigated. The reduction of fatigue strength of AISI 41L4O in marine environments and to obtain similar corrosion fatigue data for candidate replacement materials was studied. The AISI 4140, PH 13-8Mo stainless steel, alloy 718 and alloy MP-35N were tested in axial fatigue at a frequency of 20 Hz in dry air and natural seawater. The fatigue data are fitted by regression equations to allow determination of fatigue strength for a given number of cycles to failure.

Tipton, D. G.↗

Calculated stormtime variations in plasmaspheric thermal ion composition

Model calculations describing stormtime variations in the earth's dayside plasmasphere are used to examine variations in ion composition. The model storm is initiated by high-latitude thermospheric heating that generates meridional winds that carry neutral species, momentum, and energy equatorward. The thermosphere acts on the plasmasphere through collisional transfer of momentum and through chemical reactions between neutral species and ions. Over latitudes near the region of thermospheric heating, the thermosphere-plasmasphere coupling processes cause enhancement in the density of oxygen ions while protons are being lost. Meanwhile, densities of oxygen ions and protons near the equator are increasing together, almost in phase. The largest enhancements in ion density develop at latitudes near 45 deg invariant for both oxygen and hydrogen.

Miller, N. J.↗

Design and dynamic simulation of a fixed pitch 56 kW wind turbine drive train with a continuously variable transmission

The dynamic analysis of a horizontal axis fixed pitch wind turbine generator (WTG) rated at 56 kW is discussed. A mechanical Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) was incorporated in the drive train to provide variable speed operation capability. One goal of the dynamic analysis was to determine if variable speed operation, by means of a mechanical CVT, is capable of capturing the transient power in the WTG/wind environment. Another goal was to determine the extent of power regulation possible with CVT operation.

Gallo, C.↗

Interplanetary shock phenomena beyond 1 AU

Attention is given to spatial dependences exhibited by spacecraft measurements obtained between 1 and 30 AU, together with temporal variations occurring between solar activity cycle maxima and minima. At 1-3 AU radial distances, shocks develop in association with the corotating solar wind streams characterizing solar minimum and accelerate solar wind evolution with distance while heating the solar wind and generating waves and turbulence. At solar maximum, shocks are observed more frequently at 1 AU but still in association with transient solar events; acceleration leading to energetic storm particles is observed both within and beyond 1 AU. The superimposed effect of large numbers of intense shocks may be responsible for the solar cycle modulation of galactic cosmic rays.

Smith, Edward J.↗

Observations of and a new model for fetch-limited wave growth

The Surface Contour Radar (SCR) is a 36-GHz computer-controlled airborne radar which generates a false-color coded elevation map of the sea surface below the aircraft in real time. In the present paper, SCR observations are discussed which demonstrate the existence of a full developed sea state. These observations are used to judge the validity of growth rates for fetch-limited wave spectrum development and lead to new refinements in the modeling of wave generation by wind. It is noted that the observations have resolved an apparent paradox in the JONSWAP and Donelan et al. (1985) fetch-limited algorithms.

Walsh, E. J.↗

Wind-Wave-Current Tank Research Facility usage and status

This summary is to provide information as to: (1) research activities, and (2) facilities status of the wind-wave-current tank research facility located at the GSFC/WFF. Research Activities include: (1) Wave-Turbulence Interaction; (2) Velocity Structure Below Waves; (3) Short-Wave Modification by Long-Waves; (4) Wind-Wave Generation Time Scale; (5) Wave-Current Interaction; (6) Rain Effects on Microwave Scattering from the Sea-Surface; and (7) Gas Exchange Rates versus Scatterometer Power.

Bliven, L. F.↗

Experimental measurements of large scale structures in an incompressible turbulent boundary layer using correlated X-probes

Hot-wire anemometry measurements in an incompressible turbulent boundary-layer flow over a flat plate, at zero pressure gradient were made using two X-probes simultaneously. The over seven meters long flat plate installed within the wind tunnel generated an approximately 20-cm thick boundary layer, and R(theta) of about 4,000. The mean velocity and turbulence intensity data very close to the wall were measured with a single-wire. Space-time velocity fluctuation and shear-product correlation measurements enabled the calculation of large-scale structure convection velocity, inclination-angle to the wall, and spatial extent in space. The shear-product correlation results are reported for the first time.

Strataridakis, Constantine J.↗

Ionospheric dynamo theory for production of far ultraviolet emissions on Uranus

A model is presented to explain diffuse FUV emissions from the outer planets, specifically Uranus, in excess of those diffuse emissions that are currently explainable by scattering of sunlight and/or excitation by photoelectrons. These electroglow emissions in H Ly-alpha and H2 bands, which occur in the sunlit hemisphere slightly above the homopause, appear to require particle excitation in the 10- to 50-eV range. An in situ mechanism for accelerating photoelectrons (and ions is proposed, involving neutral wind dynamo generation of field-aligned currents analogous to what occurs in the earth's equatorial E and F regions. Sufficiently strong field-aligned currents are found in the model calculation for Uranus to produce a potential drop of about 100 eV or greater between the F peak and homopause, concentrated at lower altitudes, and capable in principle of accelerating photoelectrons (and ions) to the 10- to 50-eV energies required to explain the observed emissions. The fact that the excitation and ionization cross sections are larger than elastic scattering cross sections in an H2 atmosphere at these energies makes in situ acceleration feasible for the production of UV on the outer planets.

Hudson, M. K.↗

Turbulence measurements and noise generation in a transonic cryogenic wind tunnel

A high-frequency combination probe was used to measure dynamic flow quality in the test section of the NASA Langley 0.3-m Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel. The probe measures fluctuating stagnation (total) temperature and pressure, static pressure, and flow angles in two orthogonal planes. Simultaneous measurements of unsteady total temperature and pressure were also made in the settling chamber of the tunnel. The data show that the stagnation temperature fluctuations remain constant, and the stagnation pressure fluctuations increase by a factor of two, as the flow accelerates from the settling chamber to the test section. In the test section, the maximum rms value of the normalized fluctuating velocity is 0.7 percent. Correlation coefficients failed to show vorticity, entropy, or sound as the dominant mode of turbulence in the tunnel.

Ng, W. F.↗

Interpretation of ground-based radiometric observations in terms of a gravity wave model

An analysis is presented of 2-hour and 4-hour segments of data taken at Denver, Colorado, on February 3, 1984, by a ground-based radiometer designed and operated by the Wave Propagation Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The zenith-viewing instrument has two moisture-sensing and four temperature-sensing channels. It is demonstrated that a peak at a period of 10 min, present in the spectra of the measured brightness temperature and of the derived geopotential heights, thicknesses, and vertically integrated water vapor content, is due to an internal gravity wave generated by wind shear in the jet aloft. This analysis shows that the radiometer has the sensitivity to detect such disturbances and that the mathematical inversion technique used to retrieve the geopotential field and other integrated quantities retains the derived information as well. Finally, a linear expression is derived which relates the brightness temperature to the atmospheric temperature, density, humidity, and cloud liquid perturbation fields.

Canavero, F. G.↗

Radar Backscatter From The Ocean At Low Windspeeds

Report describes experimental study of radar backscattering from ocean waves generated by winds of 2 to 4 m/s. Study part of continuing effort to develop radar scatterometry into technique for remote sensing of ocean-surface winds. Emphasis upon backscattering at windspeeds previously thought to be at or below lower limit of scatterometric detectability.

Li, Fuk K.↗

Diurnal forcing of planetary atmospheres

A free convection parameterization has been introduced into the Mars Planetary Boundary Layer Model (MPBL). Previously, the model would fail to generate turbulence under conditions of zero wind shear, even when statically unstable. This in turn resulted in erroneous results at the equator, for example, when the lack of Coriolis forcing allowed zero wind conditions. The underlying cause of these failures was the level 2 second-order turbulence closure scheme which derived diffusivities as algebraic functions of the Richardson number (the ratio of static stability to wind shear). In the previous formulation, the diffusivities were scaled by the wind shear--a convenient parameter since it is non-negative. This was the drawback that all diffusivities are zero under conditions of zero shear (viz., the free convection case). The new scheme tests for the condition of zero shear in conjunction with static instability and recalculates the diffusivities using a static stability scaling. The results for a simulation of the equatorial boundary layer at autumnal equinox are presented. (Note that after some wind shear is generated, the model reverts to the traditional diffusivity calculation.)

Houben, Howard C.↗

Boundary layer structure over the ocean observed by LEANDRE 1 during a tramontane event

A new airborne backscatter lidar, has been developed by CNRS (Service d'Aeronomie, (SA) Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique (LMD) and the Institut des Sciences de 1'Univers) in the frame of the LEANDRE research program. It has been qualified on board the ARAT in autumn 1989 and spring 1990 and was involved in its first cooperative campaign during PYREX in October and November 1990. During this campaign, lidar observations of the perturbations induced on tropospheric flow and boundary layer structure were performed, and results are presented. A large number of experiments were performed, for synoptic situation description (meteorological radiosoundings, constant level balloons) and local flow analysis (aircrafts, radars, sodars). For the first time in such an experiment, a lidar has been flown on a research aircraft to perform altitude resolved observations of these perturbations, and we will present here results obtained for deflected flow structure. In the presence of a synoptic northerly flow, part of it is deflected to the east by the Pyrenees, and accelerated over the Mediterranean by the mountain surroundings. In this case, a low level wind is generated (the Tramontane) bringing cold and dry air over the Mediterranean Sea. As the sea is still at a warm temperature in November (around 17 degrees), an Internal Marine Boundary Layer rapidly grows over the first tens of kilometers and stabilizes at about 1 km depth, corresponding to an altitude just below the Lifting Condensation Level. The whole Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL) is characterized by highly turbulent motions bringing large humid particles from the surface up to its top. The lidar signal due to scattering by these particles is then representative of the turbulent kinetic energy in this layer.

Flamant, C.↗

A historical overview of high-temperature structural testing at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility

Major hot structure test programs conducted at NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility from 1960s to the present are reviewed with emphasis placed on the YF-12A flight load program, which included extensive experimental and analytical tasks. Analytical models of the YF-12A aircraft were generated using NASTRAN and FLEXTAB codes. Experimental data were generated from wind tunnel model tests, laboratory tests performed on the flight vehicle (including Mach-3 thermal simulation that involved heating the entire aircraft's surface after which the aircraft was returned to flight status), and flight tests.

Deangelis, V. M.↗

Magnetocentrifugally driven flows from young stars and disks. 1: A generalized model

We propose a generalized model for stellar spin-down, disk accretion, and truncation, and the origin of winds, jets, and bipolar outflows from young stellar objects. We consider the steady state dynamics of accretion of matter from a viscous and imperfectly conducting disk onto a young star with a strong magnetic field. For an aligned stellar magnetosphere, shielding currents in the surface layers of the disk prevent stellar field lines from penetrating the disk everywhere except for a range of radii about pi = R(sub x), where the Keplerian angular speed of rotation Omega(sub x) equals the angular speed of the star Omega(sub *). For the low disk accretion rates and high magnetic fields associated with typical T Tauri stars, R(sub x) exceeds the radius of the star R(sub *) by a factor of a few, and the inner disk is effectively truncated at a radius R(sub t) somewhat smaller than R(sub x). Where the closed field lines between R(sub t) and R(sub x) bow sufficiently inward, the accreting gas attaches itself to the field and is funneled dynamically down the effective potential (gravitational plus centrifugal) onto the star. Contrary to common belief, the accompanying magnetic torques associated with this accreting gas may transfer angular momentum mostly to the disk rather than to the star. Thus, the star can spin slowly as long as R(sub x) remains significantly greater than R(sub *). Exterior to R(sub x) field lines threading the disk bow outward, which makes the gas off the mid-plane rotate at super-Keplerian velocities. This combination drives a magnetocentrifugal wind with a mass-loss rate M(sub w) equal to a definite fraction f of the disk accretion rate M(sub D). For high disk accretion rates, R(sub x) is forced down to the stellar surface, the star is spun to breakup, and the wind is generated in a manner identical to that proposed by Shu, Lizano, Ruden, & Najita in a previous communication to this journal. In two companion papers (II and III), we develop a detailed but idealized theory of the magnetocentrifugal acceleration process.

Shu, Frank↗