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At least 127 records · Page 7

Chemical constraints for mare basalt genesis

Sequential instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to study 10 Apollo-15 rake basalts for 23 bulk, minor and trace elements and 13 basaltic fragments from the Apollo-15 deep drill core 15003 Station 8 for eight major, minor and trace elements. Attention is given here to La-MgO-TiO2 correlations, La/Sm-La and Sm/Eu-La correlations, the La/Sm-Sc correlation, and basalt genesis models.

Ma, M.-S.↗

Genesis of the Angra dos Reis and other achondritic meteorites

Major, minor, and trace element abundances were determined in seven Angra dos Reis samples, which included whole rocks, fassaite (clinopyroxene), olivine, and whitlockite separates, via sequential instrumental neutron activation analysis. The rare earth element abundance patterns and the trace element abundance patterns of this achondritic meteorite are discussed. A two-stage crystal-liquid fractionation model with source material containing olivine, orthopyroxene, and clinopyroxine is presented for the genesis of Angra dos Reis. Multilinear regression analysis was used to estimate possible composition and properties of the parent magmas. Angra dos Reis was compared with other achondrites, cumulate eucrites and nakhlites in particular. It is thought that the unique Angra dos Reis could not be related to those achondrites by crystal-liquid fractionation of the same parent body.

Ma, M.-S.↗

Thermal alteration experiments on organic matter in recent marine sediments as a model for petroleum genesis

The fate of naturally occurring lipids and pigments in a marine sediment exposed to elevated temperatures was studied. Samples of a young marine sediment from Tanner Basin, California, were heated to a series of temperatures (65-200 C) for varying periods of time (7-64 days). The sediment was analyzed prior to and after heating for pigments, isoprenoid compounds, alcohols, fatty acids, and hydrocarbons. Structural changes caused by heating unextractable organic material (kerogen) were also studied, and the significance of the results for understanding petroleum genesis is considered. Among other results, fatty acids and hydrocarbons increased in abundance although there appeared to be no obvious precursor-to-product relationship via simple decarboxylation reactions. Chlorins were partially converted into porphyrins. The phytyl side chain of pheophytin was initially preserved intact by reduction of the phytyl double bond, but later converted to a variety of isoprenoid compounds including alkanes. Thermal grafting of components onto kerogen occurred as well as structural changes caused by heat.

Baedecker, M. J.↗

Dynamic crystallization experiments as constraints on chondrule genesis

The effectiveness of dynamic recrystallization experiments to reconstruct chondrule textures is evaluated. Consideration is given to the results of several experimental simulations of the silicate spheres of pyroxene-olivine chondrules, Si-rich chondrules, chondrites, droplet chondrules, and microporphyritic chondrules. It is shown that many chondrules have textures consistent with heating to 1400-1600 C, and cooling rates from a few degrees to several thousands of degrees per hour. It is shown that this physical constraint effectively rules out mechanisms for chondrule genesis which do not require instantaneous or very slow cooling. Analysis of the available textural, chemical, and isotopic data suggest that chondrules were generated from primordial particles, and several mechanisms might have assisted in chondrule heating as they settled down toward the median plane of the nebula. The most important of these mechanisms appear to be friction with the nebular gas and heating by flares.

Hewins, R. H.↗

Analysis of cross-hemispheric influences on the monsoon trough and tropical cyclone genesis during FGGE and diurnal subsidence differences

For a number of years our project has been studying the cross-equatorial (winter to summer hemisphere) processs that can lead to the day-to-day alterations in the strength of the monsoon trough. These processes are also related to the genesis and intensification of tropical storms. The cross-hemispheric processes that occurred during the FGGE year are currently being studied with the use of the ECMWF analysis. How the winter hemisphere can affect low level cold surge penetration across the equator following cold front passage, and how upper tropospheric anticyclones of the winter hemisphere can produce an intensification of a tropical cyclone of the opposite hemisphere is described. ECMWF analysis of the 00Z versus 12Z diurnal difference in the clear region (10 deg diameter) subsidence occurring in the subtropical Pacific Ocean during FGGE is presented. The general reliability of the FGGE ECMWF analysis with regard to the specification of the large scale structure of tropical cyclones is shown.

Gray, W. M.↗

Mare basalt genesis - Modeling trace elements and isotopic ratios

Various types of mare basalt data have been synthesized, leading to the production of an internally consistent model of the mare basalt source region and mare basalt genesis. The model accounts for the mineralogical, major oxide, compatible siderophile trace element, incompatible trace element, and isotopic characteristics of most of the mare basalt units and of all the pyroclastic glass units for which reliable data are available. Initial tests of the model show that it also reproduces the mineralogy and incompatible trace element characteristics of the complementary highland anorthosite suite of rocks and, in a general way, those of the lunar granite suite of rocks.

Binder, A. B.↗

Atlas of TOMS ozone data collected during the Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment (GALE), 1986

Data from the TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) instrument aboard the Nimbus-7 satellite were collected daily in real time during the GALE (Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment) from January 15 through March 15, l986. The TOMS ozone data values were processed into GEMPAK format and transferred from the Goddard Space Flight Center to GALE operations in Raleigh-Durham, NC, in as little as three hours for use, in part, to direct aircraft research flights recording in situ measurements of ozone and water vapor in areas of interest. Once in GEMPAK format, the ozone values were processed into gridded form using the Barnes objective analysis scheme and contour plots of the ozone created. This atlas provides objectively analyzed contour plots of the ozone for each of the sixty days of GALE as well as four-panel presentations of the ozone analysis combined on the basis of GALE Intensive Observing Periods (IOP's).

Larko, David E.↗

Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment NASA Electra Boundary Layer Flights Data Report

The objective of this research was to obtain high resolution measurements of the height of the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL) during cold air outbreaks using an Airborne Lidar System. The research was coordinated with other investigators participating in the Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment (GALE). An objective computerized scheme was developed to obtain the Boundary Layer Height from the Lidar Data. The algorithm was used on each of the four flight days producing a high resolution data set of the MABL height over the GALE experiment area. Plots of the retrieved MABL height as well as tabular data summaries are presented.

Palm, Stephen P.↗

Role of otolith endorgans in the genesis of vestibular-visual conflict sickness (pitch) in the squirrel monkey (First report)

The effects of ablation of the macula utriculi and macula sacculi on vestibular-visual conflict emesis in squirrel monkeys are investigated. An optokinetic drum and a turntable were used for the direction conflict experiment. A significant difference between the preoperative condition and postunilateral and postbilateral utriculo-sacculectomy conditions is observed. It is detected that after unilateral sacculectomy the conflict sickness decreases and no emesis occurs; however, 4.5 months after sacculectomy, the animals regain their conflict sickness. The data reveal that macular afferents are important in the genesis of sensory conflict emesis and two submodalities may be needed to cause conflict sickness onset.

Igarashi, Makoto↗

Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment (GALE) - An overview

The field phase of the Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment (GALE) was conducted from 15 January to 15 March 1986. The objectives of GALE were to study mesoscale and air-sea interaction processes in East Coast winter storms, with particular emphasis on their contributions to cyclogenesis. This project area, specail observing systems, and field operations are described. There were thirteen special observing periods during the field phase including eight cases of cyclogenesis. Meterological and oceanographic phenomena on which special observations were collected include: cyclogenesis, rainbands, cold fronts, coastal fronts, cold-air damming, jets streaks, tropopause folding, low-level jets, cold-air outbreaks, lightning and marine boundary layer interactions with Gulf Stream and mid-shelf oceanic fronts. Preliminary research findings and operational implications are presented. GALE data documents are listed. The GALE data set is open to all interested scientists.

Dirks, R. A.↗

A formational model for the polygonal terrains of Mars: Taking a crack at the genesis of the Martian polygons

The mechanism for the genesis of the polygonal terrains in Acidalia and Utopia Planitia has long been sought: however, no completely satisfying model was put forth that characterizes the evolution of these complexly patterned terrains. The polygons are roughly hexagonal but some are not entirely enclosed by fractures. These polygonal features range in widths from approximately 5 to 20 km. Several origins were proposed that describe the polygon borders as desiccation cracks, columnar jointing in a cooled lava, or frost-wedge features. These tension-induced cracking hypotheses were addressed by Pechmann, who convincingly disputes these mechanisms of formation based on scale magnitude difficulties and morphology. Pechmann suggests instead that the cracks delineating the 5-20-km-wide polygons on the northern plains of Mars are graben resulting from deep-seated, uniform, horizontal tension. The difficulty with this hypothesis is that no analogous polygonal forms are known to have originated by tectonism on Earth. McGill and Hills propose that the polygonal terrains on Mars resulted from either rapid desiccation of sediments or cooling of volcanics coupled with differential compaction of the material over a buried irregular topographic surface. They suggest that fracturing was enhanced over the areas of positive relief and was suppressed above the topographic lows. McGill and Hills suggest that the spacing of the topographic highs primarily controls the size of the Martian polygons and the physics of the shrinkage process is a secondary concern. Ray et. al. conducted a terrestrial study of patterned ground in periglacial areas of the U.S. to determine the process responsible for polygonal ground formation. They developed a model for polygon formation in which convection of seasonal melt water above a permafrost layer, driven by an unstable density stratification, differentially melts the permafrost interface, causing it to become undulatory.

Wenrich, M. L.↗

Project Genesis: Mars in situ propellant technology demonstrator mission

Project Genesis is a low cost, near-term, unmanned Mars mission, whose primary purpose is to demonstrate in situ resource utilization (ISRU) technology. The essence of the mission is to use indigenously produced fuel and oxidizer to propel a ballistic hopper. The Mars Landing Vehicle/Hopper (MLVH) has an Earth launch mass of 625 kg and is launched aboard a Delta 117925 launch vehicle into a conjunction class transfer orbit to Mars. Upon reaching its target, the vehicle performs an aerocapture maneuver and enters an elliptical orbit about Mars. Equipped with a ground penetrating radar, the MLVH searches for subsurface water ice deposits while in orbit for several weeks. A deorbit burn is then performed to bring the MLVH into the Martian atmosphere for landing. Following aerobraking and parachute deployment, the vehicle retrofires to a soft landing on Mars. Once on the surface, the MLVH begins to acquire scientific data and to manufacture methane and oxygen via the Sabatier process. This results in a fuel-rich O2/CH4 mass ratio of 2, which yields a sufficiently high specific impulse (335 sec) that no additional oxygen need be manufactured, thus greatly simplifying the design of the propellant production plant. During a period of 153 days the MLVH produces and stores enough fuel and oxidizer to make a 30 km ballistic hop to a different site of scientific interest. At this new location the MLVH resumes collecting surface and atmospheric data with the onboard instrumentation. Thus, the MLVH is able to provide a wealth of scientific data which would otherwise require two separate missions or separate vehicles, while proving a new and valuable technology that will facilitate future unmanned and manned exploration of Mars. Total mission cost, including the Delta launch vehicle, is estimated to be $200 million.

Acosta, Francisco Garcia↗

Cover Drive and Lock Ring Mechanisms for Genesis

The Genesis payload canister will return solar wind samples to Earth. The canister contains four mechanism assemblies: the Cover Drive Mechanism, the Lock Ring Mechanism, the Array Deployment Mechanism, and the Array Latch Mechanism. The Cover Drive and Lock Ring Mechanisms are described in detail while the other two mechanisms are briefly summarized. The Engineering Model canister has been designed, built, tested, and delivered to the spacecraft. The Flight Model is currently being built with delivery to the spacecraft scheduled for mid July 2000. Launch is scheduled for January 2001

Jandura, Louise↗

Genesis Trajectory Design

The Genesis mission will launch in 2001, sending the spacecraft into a halo orbit about the Sun-Earth L1 point to collect and return solar wind samples to the Earth for analysis in 2003. One of the most constraining aspects of the mission design is the requirement to return to the designated landing site (the Utah Test and Training Range, UTTR) during daylight hours. The ongoing mission design has led the development of a family of solutions that characterize a broad range of conditions at Earth entry. Characterizing this family provides insight into the possible existence of additional trajectories while also helping to narrow the search space by indicating where additional solutions are unlikely to exist; this contributes to a more efficient utilization of mission design resources.

Bell, Julia L.↗

Genesis Solar-Wind Sample Return Mission: The Materials

This abstract is a brief overview of the Genesis mission. Included is an instrument description, what materials were chosen for capturing solar wind and why, and information as to what will be available for analysis when the samples return to Earth in 2003.

Jurewicz, A. J. G.↗

Genesis Discovery Mission: Science Canister Processing at JSC

This document includes a description of collector material installation and final cleaning of the Genesis Discovery Mission science canister at Johnson Space Center. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Stansbery, E. K.↗