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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 109 records · Page 6
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NASA NTRS1973

Correction of sunspot intensities for scattered light

Correction of sunspot intensities for scattered light usually involves fitting theoretical curves to observed aureoles (Zwaan, 1965; Staveland, 1970, 1972). In this paper we examine the inaccuracies in the determination of scattered light by this method. Earlier analyses are extended to examine uncertainties due to the choice of the expression for limb darkening. For the spread function, we consider Lorentzians and Gaussians for which analytic expressions for the aureole can be written down. Lorentzians lead to divergence and normalization difficulties, and should not be used in scattered light determinations. Gaussian functions are more suitable.

Mullan, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Limb-darkening scans of Jupiter

Representative center-limb photometric measurements of several areas on Jupiter are presented in the form of limb-darkening scans taken through narrow-band interference filters which isolate continuum regions near the 3-0 and 4-0 hydrogen quadrupole bands (8200 and 6300 A, respectively). Results of scans measured through filters which isolate two regions dominated by methane absorption (6190 and 7250 A) are also discussed. Limb-darkening curves at all four wavelengths are computed for semiinfinite homogeneous isotropically scattering atmospheres with different values of the single-scattering albedo of the cloud particles. It is found that albedo values between 0.985 and 0.989 match the data over most of the northern component of the South Equatorial Belt. The single-scattering albedo values are used to show that the equatorial regions of Jupiter which emit at 5 microns may be relatively clear while the tropical regions may be relatively cloudy.

Pilcher, C. B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

VLA observations of Saturn at 1.3, 2, and 6 cm

Radio maps with a resolution of 1.5 arcsec were made of Saturn at 1.3, 2, and 6 cm. The inclination of the ring plane was -5.4 deg. A fraction of 0.49 + or - 0.08 of Saturn's emitted light is transmitted through the rings at 2 and 6 cm. This value converts to an effective head-on or normal optical depth of 0.07 + or - 0.02. The transparency at this small inclination angle must be provided entirely by the regions of very low optical depth, e.g., the Cassini and Encke's Divisions, and to achieve the desired number this requires either a relatively large fraction of gaps or a strong forward scattering by the ring particles. The planetary disk appears to be much less limb darkened in the N-S than the E-W direction, while cuts across the planet, averaged over all directions, agree with the theoretical limb-darkening curves for a planet with a uniform atmosphere and solar abundances for all chemical elements.

De Pater, I.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Silicon vidicon imaging of Jupiter - 4100- to 8300-A absolute reflectivities and limb darkening of spatially resolved regions

Jupiter was observed in six continuum wavelength channels in the region 4100-8300 A, using a silicon vidicon imaging photometer. Spectral reflectivities and high spatial resolution limb-darkening curves for several belts and zones have been extracted from the data. Simple model fits to the data yield information regarding spectral and spatial variations in single-scattering albedos and shape of particle single-scattering phase functions. Belts appear to be more backscattering than zones, particularly in the blue. The data are in moderate agreement with limb-darkening predicted by models derived from the center-to-limb variation in equivalent width of the H2 4-0 S(1) quadrupole line (Cochran, 1976) in the South Tropical Zone, but strongly disagree with the results of such models for the North Equatorial Belt.

Diner, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Planetary isophotes as a clue to aerosol characteristics. II - Observations of Venus from spacecraft

Contrary to published reports, the limb-darkening observed by Mariner 10 is consistent with the sulfuric-acid aerosol scattering that explains the polarization and spectroscopic features of Venus. A combination of both geometric and photometric systematic errors explains the previously reported discrepancy. Although the aerosol model cannot be distinguished from isotropic scattering at the Mariner 10 phase angle, Venera 9 data at larger phases clearly favor the aerosol model. There is no evidence for isotropic scattering in the clouds of Venus.

Young, A. T.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Preliminary results of polarimetry and photometry of Titan at large phase angles from Pioneer 11

The imaging photopolarimeter (IPP) aboard the Pioneer 11 spacecraft measured the linear polarization of the integrated disk of Titan in red and blue light at a variety of phase angles from 15 to 97 deg. The large polarization (54%) measured in blue light at 90 deg phase constrains the size of the aerosols near the top of Titan's atmosphere to have radii smaller than about 0.09 microns if they have a refractive index of 2.0. The polarization at 90 deg phase in red light is smaller (41%) and implies that the optical thickness of the layer of small aerosols is about 0.6 above an effectively depolarizing surface. The shape of the polarization versus phase curve in blue light suggests increasing particle size with increasing depth into the atmosphere. The limb darkening of Titan was measured at 28 deg phase by using the imaging mode of the IPP. The limb darkening observed in both colors is reasonably consistent with that given by the scattering models derived from the polarization observations.

Tomasko, M. G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Light scattering in a spherical, exponential atmosphere, with applications to Venus

In the present discussion of the problem presented by the reflection of light from an optically thick spherical atmosphere, in which the scatterers are distributed exponentially with a scale height that is small by comparison to the radius of the planet, exact formal solutions are obtained for the single scattered component. The results obtained are applied to the analysis of the Mariner 10 limb and terminator images of Venus, which show a detached haze layer as a planetwide feature that is similar in location, scale height, and thickness during both Pioneer Venus and Mariner 10 missions, by contrast to the dramatically altered lower haze. The possible nature of the limb hazes is discussed.

Wallach, D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

El Chichon and 'mystery cloud' aerosols between 30 and 55 km Global observations from the SME visible spectrometer

Visible limb radiances measured by the Solar Mesosphere Explorer (SME) are used to obtain volume scattering ratios for aerosol loading in the 30-55 km altitude range of the stratosphere. Global maps of these ratios are presented for the period January 1982 to August 1984. Significant aerosol scattering from the 'mystery cloud' and El Chichon aerosol layers are found above 30 km. A timescale of approximately 2 months between the appearance of the aerosol at 30.5 km and at 37.5 km is consistent with vertical transport of aerosol or vapor by eddy diffusion above 30 km. An anticorrelation exists between aerosol scattering and stratospheric temperatures. Periods of lower stratospheric temperatures may account for the formation of aerosol between 40 and 55 km altitude.

Clancy, R. T.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Lunar electromagnetic scattering. II - Magnetic fields and transfer functions for parallel propagation

Magnetic field and transfer function amplitudes, resulting from a transverse electromagnetic wave in the interplanetary medium scattering from the moon and its diamagnetic cavity, are presented. Calculations are made using an asymmetric scattering theory for a spherical two-layer model of the lunar electrical conductivity profile and a nonconducting cylindrical model of the downstream lunar plasma void. Both the field and transfer function magnitudes are calculated as functions of position on the surface of the moon for frequencies relevant to the observations of the lunar surface and orbiting magnetometers. The amplitudes of the magnetic field components on the cavity boundary are also computed as functions of frequency and distance downstream from the lunar limb. Comparisons of the results are made with those of (1) spherically symmetric descriptions of lunar electromagnetic scattering, (2) the quasi-static approximation to asymmetric scattering theory, and (3) observations of the scattering phenomenon by lunar surface and orbiting magnetometers.

Schubert, G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Regularized Monte-Carlo calculations of the optical polarization induced by scattering in X-ray binaries

The results of regularized Monte Carlo calculations of the optical polarization Stokes parameters expected as a result of scattering from gas streams or accretion wakes in close binary systems whose properties resemble those of X-ray binaries are presented. The physical processes occurring in the system are represented by a model which follows a selected sample of individual photon paths from each emitting element on the surface of the primary to the photon's detection at earth. The result represents the variations in the intensity from each individual emitting element caused by the effects of limb darkening, gravity darkening, and variation in the projected area of the emitting element as seen from the scattering element.

Dolan, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Near-opposition limb darkening of solids of planetary interest

Results are presented for a general laboratory study of the limb darkening at small phase angles of various materials of planetary interest, with particular attention given to the wavelength dependence of limb darkening. Only substances stable at room temperature were measured, including basalt, graphite, mixtures of MgO and charcoal powders, olivine, goethite, bronzite, CaCO3, MgSO4, BaSO4, limonite, and hematite. Previous studies aimed at determining the nature of limb darkening at opposition for different common materials are reviewed. It is found that the scattering properties of most particulate materials near phase zero can be described adequately by Minnaert's law, but that such a representation is totally inadequate for materials that tend to fracture into flakes with mirrorlike surfaces (e.g., bronzite and graphite). The results also indicate that materials such as olivine have scattering properties within deep absorption bands which exhibit definite departures from Minnaert's law at large angles of incidence or emission.

Veverka, J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Methane band limb-brightening on Uranus

Area scanner measurements of the brightness distributions of Uranus at 6300 and 7250 A are presented. At the former wavelength, which is characteristic of continuum radiation, the observed limb-darkening is consistent with the results of Stratoscope observations. At the latter wavelength, in the center of a strong methane absorption band, the planet shows substantial limb-brightening as has been reported by other investigators. The limb-brightening and geometric albedo of Uranus in this methane band can be explained in terms of a clear atmospheric model in which the methane partial pressure above the saturation level is equal to its equilibrium vapor pressure. This conclusion is relatively insensitive to the methane mixing ratio below the saturation level. The presence of a high-altitude, conservatively, isotropically scattering haze of optical thickness 0.1, such as that previously proposed as a possible cause of the 7250-A limb-brightening, would produce a geometric albedo at this wavelength that is substantially larger than the value observed for Uranus.

Pilcher, C. B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Simultaneous radio scattering and white light observations of a coronal transient

Reports that a coronal transient observed by the Solwind coronagraph off the west limb of the sun was also seen in the spectral broadening observations of the Helois-2 2.3 GHz radio signal. These simultaneous data are compared and applied to studies of the shock front. UT difference images show a time difference of up to 2 h between shock and white light occurrences. Helios and Voyager shock speed measurements are consistent, implying that the event observed by Helios is a shock. These coronal transient data show that the shock front is ahead of the white light front, but additional observations of larger events will contribute information to the understanding of coronal transient evolution as they propagate away from the sun.

Woo, R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Voyager 2 imaging eclipse observations of the Jovian high altitude haze

High stratospheric haze layer characteristics are presently explored in view of Voyager 2 wide-angle camera images of the Jupiter northern hemisphere dawn and dusk limbs. It is noted that such phenomena as particle size, refractive index, haze top altitude, and density have major effects on the intensity of scattered light; a unique solution specifying each of these is not possible. Important limits on the altitude of the haze top and haze extinction coefficients in the high stratosphere are nevertheless derived. The images show considerable, unanticipated differences between the dawn and dusk limbs at high latitude, suggesting a dynamically active upper atmosphere.

West, Robert A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Venus - Vertical structure of stratospheric hazes from Mariner 10 pictures

An 'optical barometer' technique for determining the altitudes of haze in the stratosphere of Venus is presented wherein the Rayleigh-scattering component is derived by comparing orange and UV brightness profiles for nearby Mariner 10 television-picture pairs. The derived scale height for CO2 gas is 4.2 km, corresponding to a temperature of 200 K, in good agreement with radio occultation data. The optical barometer yields a pressure of 4 mb for the level at which the slant-path optical depth at the limb is unity. This level corresponds to a distance from the center of Venus equal to 6131 km, which is accurate to within 1 km provided that there is no appreciable contribution to the brightness by Rayleigh-scattering aerosols which mimic CO2 gas. It is possible that the limb haze layering observed between 6130 and 6140 km could be correlated with temperature inversions detected by the Mariner 5 radio-occultation experiment. A model is proposed wherein the concentration of particles increases rapidly with an effective scale height of about 2 km as one descends about 10 km from the limb haze to the main polarization cloud deck.

Oleary, B.↗
NASA NTRS1960

The Atmosphere and Haze of Mars

The 'blue haze' is an absorbing smoke, dark as soot in reflection, red in transmission. Its currently accepted explanation by pure scattering (omnidirectional or forward) is untenable, as it would either increase the surface brightness of fall to obscure the surface details. The limb darkening of Mars is mainly the results of absorption by the smoke. The opacity of the Martian atmosphere increases from the red toward the violet. The extinction by the Martian atmosphere is greater than that by the terrestrial at all wavelengths, but only about 20 per cent of the Martian extinction is due to scattering. Dollfus' polarimeteric estimate, corrected for self-absorption, corresponds to a martian atmospheric pressure of 87 mm Hg. The photochemical breakup of carbon dioxide and the escape of oxygen must lead to considerable concentrations of carbon monoxide in the martian atmosphere.

HAZE↗
NASA NTRS1991

Modeling the non-grey-body thermal emission from the full moon

The present series of thermophysical computer models for solid-surfaced planetary bodies whose surface roughness is modeled as paraboloidal craters of specified depth/diameter ratio attempts to characterize the nongrey-body brightness temperature spectra of the moon and of the Galilean satellites. This modeling, in which nondiffuse radiation properties and surface roughness are included for rigorous analysis of scattered and reemitted radiation within a crater, explains to first order the behavior of both limb-scans and disk-integrated IR brightness temperature spectra for the full moon. Only negative surface relief can explain lunar thermal emissions' deviation from smooth Lambert-surface expectations.

Vogler, Karl J.↗