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NASA NTRS1983

Image motion compensation for the OSS-3/7 telescopes

The three telescope for the NASA Office of Space Science (OSS) Missions 3/7 will be clustered on the Instrument Point System (IPS). The IPS is to be mounted on a Spacelab pallet in the space shuttle orbiter. The three telescopes include the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT), the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT), and the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photopolarimetry Experiment (WUPPE). All three instruments have the ability to view from earth orbit stellar objects which are fainter than those which can be seen with ground-based telescopes. An Image Motion Compensation (IMC) system will be required for the appropriate conduct of the observations. The OSS-3/7 pointing problem is discussed, and a cost effective IMC system is proposed.

Shelton, H.L.↗

NASA NTRS1983

The soft X-ray background

Soft-X-ray maps in the B, C, and M (130-188, 160-284, and 440-1100-eV) bands, based on sounding-rocket observations obtained in the Wisconsin all-sky survey over a 10-yr period are presented and discussed. The B and C band maps are found to be similar, and comparison with the H I column densities of Cleary et al. (1979) shows an anticorrelation of B and C emission with neutral gas, implying hot-interstellar-gas emission from within 100 pc of the sun. The M-band pattern is different, and may be due to extragalactic high-energy diffuse emission and/or M dwarfs, although extragalactic sources are not specifically required to explain the data.

Kraushaar, W.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Seasonal variations of Pb-210 and Po-210 concentrations in an oligotrophic lake

In order to examine spatial and temporal variability during the seasonal cycle of the oligotrophic Crystal Lake, Wisconsin, vertical distribution measurements of Pb-210 and Po-210 in both the dissolved and particulate phases were conducted. Mass balance considerations indicate that the removal rates of the two isotopes from the water column to the sediment vary temporally by nearly an order of magnitude. The mean removal residence time was estimated to be 0.095 yr for Pb-210 and 0.26 yr for Po-210, suggesting a difference in the extent of water column recycling. Calculations indicate a cyclic response of the water column Po-210 inventory which corresponds to successive time periods when there were net losses or gains; this response may be due to rapid biological removal and subsequent release from the sediment of freshly deposited Po-210.

Talbot, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Photoabsorption cross section of acetylene in the EUV region

The measurement of the absolute photoabsorption cross sections of C2H2 in the 175-740 A region by means of a double ionization chamber is reported. The continuum background source is the synchrotron radiation emitted by the Wisconsin 240 MeV electron storage ring. It is found that the cross sections range from 2 to a maximum of 36 Mb. Two new Rydberg series are identified and the cross section data are applied in the analysis of various sum rules. From the rules, it is shown that the data of C2H2 in the 580-1088 A range may be too low, while the measured ionization transition moment may be too high.

Wu, C. Y. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Early Archean tonalite gneiss in the upper peninsula of Michigan

Geochronological results on tonalite gneiss of northern Michigan that is 3.56 Ga or slightly older is presented. Tonalitic augen gneiss and structurally overlying biotite gneiss and schist are exposed in a dome near Watersmeet. They are part of an extensive gneiss terrane of southern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan that includes rocks of early to late Archean ages and lies south of the Wawa volcanic subprovince. Two samples of the augen gneiss and one of the biotite gneiss show zircon grains of similar shape, zoning, color, and development of crystal faces. These zircons give Pb/U isotopic ratios that plot on a chord of 3,560 + or - 40 m.y. upper intersect and of 1,250 + or m.y. lower intersect. The 3,560 m.y. number is believed to be a minimum age because analysis of one of the least discordant zircon fractions by ion microprobe that gave a nearly concordant age of 3,650 m.y. The 1,250 m.y. lower intersect is without geological significance: it is interpreted to be a result of multiple lead loss at 2.7, 1.8, and 0.5 Ga by U/Pb in zircon. Archean rocks 10 to 25 km northwest of the Watersmeet dome give a 2.75 Ga age on zircons. Quartz monzonite here is dated at 2.65 Ga.

Peterman, Z. E.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Cosmic X-ray physics

The analysis of the beryllium-filtered data from Flight 17.020 was completed. The data base provided by the Wisconsin diffuse X-ray sky survey is being analyzed by correlating the B and C band emission with individual velocity components of neutral hydrogen. Work on a solid state detector to be used in high resolution spectroscopy of diffuse or extend X-ray sources is continuing. A series of 21 cm observations was completed. A paper on the effects of process parameter variation on the reflectivity of sputter-deposited tungsten-carvon multilayers was published.

Mccammon, D.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Generation of attenuation corrected images from lidar data

The interpretation of data generated by aerosol backscatter lidars is often facilitated by presentation of RHI and PPI images. These pictures are especially useful in studies of atmospheric boundary layer structure where convective elements, stratifications and aerosol laden plumes can be easily delineated. Procedures used at the University of Wisconsin to generate lidar images on a color enhanced raster scan display are described.

Eloranta, E. W.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Remote observations of severe storms

The focus of current research activities is on: (1) analyzing spectra from cloud-to-ground lightning and intracloud lightning; (2) site error analyses and sensitivity tests for direction finders in the East Coast network; (3) integration of lightning location data with satellite images on the Wisconsin McIDAS system; and (4) fundamental studies of the relation between meteorological parameters and characteristics of lightning determined by the SUNYA Lightning Detection Network.

Orville, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Spatial distribution of 6300A emission determined from narrow-band images of Halley's Comet

In March 1986 the Wisconsin dual-etalon Fabry-Perot spectrometer was adapted for use with an intensified CCD imaging detector and good quality images of OI 6300A emission from a 10 arcmin field centered on Halley's comet head were obtained in April and May 1986. The 10 km/sec bandpass was adequate to eliminate spectral contamination from cometary NH2 and, with appropriate Doppler shifts, terrestrial airglow. The observed distribution of OI emission indicates O(sup 1)D production from 2 sources, presumably photodissociation of H2O and OH. Scale lengths are determined for the distributions of these sources in the coma.

Roesler, F. L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Observations of the soft X-ray diffuse background at 0.1 keV

The results of a sounding rocket flight that observed the very soft X-ray diffuse background in a section of the northern Galactic hemisphere are presented. The ratio of the measured Be band count rates to the Wisconsin sky survey B band count rates is nearly constant over a 120 deg arc on the sky, strongly suggesting a common emission mechanism for both Be and B band X-rays. The mean free path is about seven times smaller for the Be band than for the B band. The present results imply that the neutral hydrogen column density between the emitting material and the earth varies by less than 2 x 10 to the 18th H I/sq cm over the observed region. It is concluded that such variations are unlikely unless the total intervening column density is less than a few times this value.

Bloch, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Computer-generated imagery for 4-D meteorological data

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center is developing animated stereo display terminals for use with McIDAS (Man-computer Interactive Data Access System). This paper describes image-generation techniques which have been developed to take maximum advantage of these terminals, integrating large quantities of four-dimensional meteorological data from balloon and satellite soundings, satellite images, Doppler and volumetric radar, and conventional surface observations. The images have been designed to use perspective, shading, hidden-surface removal, and transparency to augment the animation and stereo-display geometry. They create an illusion of a moving three-dimensional model of the atmosphere. This paper describes the design of these images and a number of rules of thumb for generating four-dimensional meteorological displays.

Hibbard, William L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The excitation function of OH(A2Sigma/+/ - X2Pi) fluorescence produced through photodissociation of H2O

The absolute cross section for production of OH(A2Sigma/+/ X2Pi) fluorescence through photodissociative excitation of H2O was obtained using the University of Wisconsin synchrotron radiation source. The absolute fluorescence cross section function shows three broad features, roughly centered at 710, 400, and 240 A; the maximum value fluorescence cross section was found to be 3.4 x 10 to the -20th sq cm at 703 A. The broad features in the 700-A and 400-A regions are considered to be due to the second and the third excited states of H2O, respectively; it is argued that the broad feature at 240 A may have an origin similar to that of the 400-A broad feature. From present and previous data on quantum yields, it is estimated that part of the yield may be attributable to the production of neutral ground state OH(X) and H(1 2S) fragments. Such a process could provide a significant source of high kinetic energy OH and H observed in cometary atmospheres.

Wu, C. Y. Robert↗

NASA NTRS1987

Second AIAA/NASA USAF Symposium on Automation, Robotics and Advanced Computing for the National Space Program

An introduction is given to NASA goals in the development of automation (expert systems) and robotics technologies in the Space Station program. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been identified as a means to lowering ground support costs. Telerobotics will enhance space assembly, servicing and repair capabilities, and will be used for an estimated half of the necessary EVA tasks. The general principles guiding NASA in the design, development, ground-testing, interactions with industry and construction of the Space Station component systems are summarized. The telerobotics program has progressed to a point where a telerobot servicer is a firm component of the first Space Station element launch, to support assembly, maintenance and servicing of the Station. The University of Wisconsin has been selected for the establishment of a Center for the Commercial Development of Space, specializing in space automation and robotics.

Myers, Dale↗

NASA NTRS1988

Mining for helium: Site selection and evaluation

Part of the University of Wisconsin study of the feasibility of recovering He-3 from the moon is selection and evaluation of potential mining sites. Selection and evaluation are based primarily on salient findings by investigators: (1) Regoliths from areas underlain by highland materials contain less than 20 wppm He; (2) Regoliths of certain maria or parts of maria also contain less than 20 wppm He, but mare regoliths at the Apollo 11 and 17 sites contain 25 to 49 wppm He; (3) The helium content of a regolith is a function of its composition; and (4) Helium is concentrated in the -50 micron size fractions of regoliths. In site selection, the concern is with the compositions of lunar regoliths, in particular with their titanium contents. It is widely accepted that compositions of mare regoliths are controlled by the nature of the underlying basalts from which the regoliths are largely derived. The distribution and extent of the three groups of basalts and the regoliths derived from them are the first basis for site selection and evaluation. Other considerations are briefly discussed.

Cameron, Eugene N.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Fabry-Perot ground-based observations of comets and the Jupiter plasma torus

The Wisconsin 150 mm dual etalon Fabry-Perot spectrometer is a powerful instrument for the study of diffuse emission sources such as cometary atmospheres, the Jupiter plasma torus, and various emission nebulae. Since 1985, researchers have concentrated their efforts on extensive observations of Comet Halley and the analysis of the data. Images of Comet Halley in (OI)6300 Angstrom emission were analyzed to obtain the spatial distribution of O(1D) in the cometary atmosphere. The narrow spectral bandpass of the Fabry-Perot (0.2 Angstrom) eliminated contamination from terrestrial airglow (OI)6300 and cometary NH2 lines in the nearby spectrum. The results were modelled to provide photodestruction lifetimes of cometary Water abd OH, the predominant parents of O(1D). The Fabry-Perot was also used in the scanning mode to obtain measurements of (OI)6300 and Balmer alpha emissions which were used to determine the H, O(1D) and water production rates as a function of heliocentric distance, both pre-perihelion and post-perihelion. Researchers also analyzed high resolution spectra of the NH2 (0,8,0) band in the 6300 Angstrom region to obtain preliminary values of the NH2 production rate. Assuming NH3 is the major parent of NH2, researchers found that the abundance ratio NH3/water is about (0.12 plus or minus 0.04 percent), assuming thermal equilibrium for the level populations of NH2.

Scherb, Frank↗

NASA NTRS1988

Estimation of forest canopy characteristics and nitrogen cycling using imaging spectrometry

Canopy lignin concentration is strongly related to annual rates of nitrogen mineralization in a series of Wisconsin forest ecosystems. High spectral resolution Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) data were acquired over these forests to investigate the potential of remotely estimating canopy lignin content. Analysis of the data using a derivative transformation and correlative techniques suggests that lignin or a closely associated cellular constituent is influential in canopy reflectance. Spatial distributions of percent canopy lignin and annual rates of nitrogen mineralization for Blackhawk Island, WI, have been estimated from a mosaic of AIS imagery.

Wessman, Carol A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

4-D techniques for evaluation of atmospheric model forecasts

A capability for four-dimensional display of meteorological data is being developed at the Space Science and Engineering Center of the University of Wisconsin. McIDAS is used for all aspects of the analysis, including acquiring data, running the model. storing the output, and displaying the results. A version of the Australian Regional Analysis and Forecast Models was applied to the eastern portion of the USA and adjacent Atlantic Ocean. The assimilation system is being used to analyze intensive observing periods during the GALE (Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment) field experiment.

Santek, David↗

NASA NTRS1988

Prediction of leaf chemistry by the use of visible and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

The chemical content of dry, ground leaf material sampled from deciduous and conifer tree species from sites in Alaska, Wisconsin, and California was estimated using visible and shortwave IR spectroscopy. Seven chemical components - sugar, starch, protein, cellulose, total chlorophyll, lignin, and total nitrogen - were analyzed by wet chemical methods and their concentrations regressed against log 1/rho and first and second differences of log 1/rho (where rho is measured reflectance) at wavelengths selected by stepwise regression. Predictions of chemical concentrations based on cross validation suggest that this technique may be useful for extracting vegetation canopy biochemical information by remote sensing.

Card, Don H.↗