ALBERT

Description: The OGO 2 spacecraft characteristics are briefly described. Brief descriptions of experiments are presented along with a bibliography of papers pertaining to that experiment.

Description: A 27 day forecast of geomagnetic activity based on the forecasts from two locations is presented. To evaluate the reliability of the forecasts, the predicted activity was compared with the actual geomagnetic activity at five geomagnetic observatories located in different magnetic zones: Ottawa (57.0N, 351.5E); Meanook (61.8N, 301.0E); Fort Churchill (68.8N, 322.5E); Cambridge Bay (76.7N, 294.0E); and Resolute Bay (83.1N, 287.7E). Results indicate that the percentage of correct predictions varies with the geomagnetic latitude of the observatory used for comparison. The percentage is on the average highest for lower latitude stations and lowest for the northern stations. The number of incorrect predictions ranges from 4.7% for Ottawa to 8.4% for Churchill.

Description: Some of the factors limiting the prediction of foF2 are investigated using median and hourly foF2 values recorded at stations in the Australian ionosonde network. Different time and spatial scales together with different levels of solar and geomagnetic activity are considered. All data used in the analysis are displayed in a series of scatter diagrams which provide an overall view of the accuracy limits for foF2 predictions.

Description: Background for the National Geodetic Satellite Program (NGSP) is presented. An historical summary of the program and its technical structure is given. The technical structure of the program is described in enough detail that the reader can relate the work of the individual contributors to each other and to the NGSP.

Description: In an attempt to reduce the response time of the initial attack forces to lightning-caused fire, a lightning detection system that effectively locates accurate directions to lightning discharges to over 200 miles from the detection equipment was developed. The system was first tested in Alaska in 1975. Since that time, further development and operational testing led to the implementation of wide area networks. For the 1979 fire season an eight station network in Alaska is to be implemented that will cover virtually all of the lightning-caused fire areas in the state. In the western United States, an eighteen station network that will cover approximately 85% of eleven states is to be implemented. For the first time, large scale ground discharge lightning distribution information is to be available.

Description: A brief overview of the lightning observables and environment is provided. A selective review is presented of those properties of lightning which might be useful as space observables.

Description: Difficulties in making in situ and laboratory measurements of the ion composition of the middle atmosphere are related. An approach is presented which extends theoretical and laboratory results for both negative and positive ions from the D-region down to the stratosphere. In each case, the extension of data from the D-region 'down' to the higher pressure stratosphere is primarily a matter of inquiring into the role of the minor constituents whose absolute concentrations become large enough to allow them to become involved in the ion chemistry.

Description: There are a number of measurements of electrical variations that suggest a solar-terrestrial influence on the global atmospheric electrical circuit. The measurements show variations associated with solar flares, solar magnetic sector boundary crossings, geomagnetic activity, aurorae, differences between ground current and potential gradients at high and low latitudes, and solar cycle variations. The evidence for each variation is examined. Both the experimental evidence and the calculations made with a global model of atmospheric electricity indicate that there is solar-terrestrial coupling through atmospheric electricity which operates by altering the global electric current and field distribution. A global redistribution of currents and fields can be caused by large-scale changes in electrical conductivity, by alteration of the columnar resistance between thunderstorm cloud tops and the ionosphere, or by both. If the columnar resistance is altered above thunderstorms, more current will flow in the global circuit, changing the ionospheric potential and basic circuit variables such as current density and electric fields. The observed variations of currents and fields during solar-induced disturbances are generally less than 50% of mean values near the earth's surface.

Description: As a working definition of the extent of the middle atmosphere (MA), the height range from 30 to 100 km was adopted. The neutral and ionic composition and the dynamics within this height range are, for the most part, poorly understood. From available information, the importance of various particle and photon energy sources, including their variability, for ionization of the neutral atmosphere in this height range is assessed. The following topics are discussed: (1) penetration of the MA by particle and electromagnetic energy; (2) ionization sources for the MA; (3) galactic cosmic rays; (4) solar H Ly alpha, other EUV, and X-rays; (5) magnetospheric electrons and bremsstrahlung X-rays; and (6) solar cosmic rays.

Description: Thermal emission and solar resonance fluorescence from the atmospheric limb are reported. Global measurements are made of radiation from the molecular species. The gas correlation spectroscopy technique based on the use of gas cells to select emission from chosen spectral lines or from particular parts of spectral lines is used. The source function and departure from the thermodynamic equilibrium between 80 and 130 kilometers associated with CO2 emission bands were investigated. The zonal wind velocity component along the line of sight is measured.

Description: The radiation budget of the earth on both synoptic and planetary scales by simultaneous measurement of incoming solar radiation and outgoing earth reflected (shortwave) and emitted (longwave) radiation was determined. Both fixed wide angle sampling of terrestrial fluxes at the satellite altitude, and scanned narrow-angle sampling of the radiance components, dependent on angle are used to determine outgoing radiation. Measurements of radiation are obtained in 22 different optical channels.

Description: The OGO 6 spacecraft characteristics are briefly described. Brief descriptions of experiments are presented along with bibliographies of papers pertaining to each experiment.

Description: The OGO 5 spacecraft characteristics are briefly described. Brief descriptions of experiments are presented along with bibliographies of papers pertaining to each experiment.

Description: The Apollo Soyuz Test Project Geodynamics Experiment was performed to assess the feasibility of tracking and recovering high frequency components of the earth gravity field by utilizing a synchronous orbiting tracking station such as Applications Technology Satellite 6. Two prime areas of data collection were selected for this experiment. The first area is the center of the African continent, and the second area is the Indian Ocean depression centered at latitude 5 N and longitude 75 E. Preliminary results show that the detectability objective of the experiment has been achieved in both areas as well as in several additional anomalous areas around the globe. Gravity anomalies of the Karakoram and Himalayan mountain ranges of ocean trenches, and of the Diamantina depth are specific examples.

Description: The objectives and background, approach and mission profiles are discussed along with the configuration, and accomplishments of the program. The results of experiments for OGO 1,2,3, and 4 are presented.

Description: The present understanding of magnetosphere ionosphere interactions is described, and present and future predictive capabilities are assessed. Ionospheric features directly coupled to the magnetosphere to a significant degree are considered, with emphasis given to those phenomena of major interest to forecasters and users.

Description: The behavior of energetic solar flare particles in the magnetosphere is discussed. In the absence of magnetospheric motion, the problem of particle transport can be treated as simple propagation of charged particles in a stationary magnetic field configuration using, for instance, trajectory calculations in model fields. This single particle approach is the basis for the determination of intensity and anisotropy structures over the polar caps and in the geomagnetic tail from different interplanetary conditions. Particle transport on closed field lines is in addition strongly affected by resonant interaction processes as pitch angle scattering and radial diffusion.

Description: A schematic representation of the generation and propagation processes for energetic particles of concern in solar terrestrial predictions is given. Particle precipitation at low, mid, and high altitudes is discussed with emphasis on prediction techniques. Methods given for testing of such techniques include traditional collaborations, enhanced collaborations, simulated prediction schemes, and field tests.

Description: The magnetic activity indexes AE, ap, and Dst are correlated with approximately 35,000 hours of interplanetary plasma and magnetic field measurements acquired near the Earth (assembled by NASA/NSSDC into a composite data sat). Lag times between the indexes and solar wind parameters ranged from 0 to 30 hours. Correlations at lags less than 6 hours yield results in agreement with previous studies. At greater lags, the correlation coefficients between the solar wind parameters and AE and ap approach these parameters' autocorrelation (persistence) values. For Dst the correlation with solar wind parameters is lower than that with AE and ap in the 3 to 4 hour lag range whereas the autocorrelation of Dst is significantly higher over the entire 0 to 30 hour lag range. The implications of these differences between AE, ap, and Dst are discussed in terms of persistence of solar wind structure.

Description: Dosimetric results of the various U.S. manned spaceflight programs are presented along with a description of the instrumentation, trapped radiation environments, and spacecraft shielding models. Analytical dose calculations are included and composed with actual measurements. Future requirements of the solar-terrestrial data user who will support manned spaceflight operations during the space shuttle era are outlined.

Description: Empirical models of upper-atmospheric density and composition are employed in a number of areas, ranging from basic research in atmospheric and ionospheric physics to practical applications in satellite ephemeris prediction. Such models are based on various kinds of data sets and have varying levels of complexity, strengths, and weaknesses. The characteristics of several of the widely used models are described and studies in which the predictions of these models were compared with observational data are reviewed. The relative advantages and limitations of the models in current use are discussed as well as ways in which the models might be improved.

Description: The present status of low energy magnetospheric plasma interactions with space systems is reviewed. The role of predictions in meeting user needs in assessing the impact of such interactions is described. In light of the perceived needs of the user community and of the current status of modeling and prediction efforts, it is suggested that for most user needs more detailed statistical models of the low energy environment are required. In order to meet current prediction requirements, real-time in situ measurements are proposed as a near-term solution.

Description: The evolution of quantitative models of the trapped radiation belts is traced to show how the knowledge of the various features has developed, or been clarified, by performing the required analysis and synthesis. The Starfish electron injection introduced problems in the time behavior of the inner zone, but this residue decayed away, and a good model of this depletion now exists. The outer zone electrons were handled statistically by a log normal distribution such that above 5 Earth radii there are no long term changes over the solar cycle. The transition region between the two zones presents the most difficulty, therefore the behavior of individual substorms as well as long term changes must be studied. The latest corrections to the electron environment based on new data are outlined. The proton models have evolved to the point where the solar cycle effect at low altitudes is included. Trends for new models are discussed; the feasibility of predicting substorm injections and solar wind high-speed streams make the modeling of individual events a topical activity.

Description: The OGO 4 spacecraft characteristics are briefly described. Brief descriptions of experiments are presented along with bibliographies of papers pertaining to each experiment.

Description: The OGO 1 spacecraft characteristics are briefly described. Brief descriptions of experiments are presented along with bibliographies of papers pertaining to that experiment.

Description: The types of users of the Space Environment Services Center are identified. All the data collected by the Center are listed and a short description of each primary index or activity summary is given. Each type of regularly produced forecast is described, along with the methods used to produce each prediction.

Description: Two computer programs are used to forecast foF2 at points around Australia from daily and hourly ionospheric indices. It is found that for forecasts one day ahead, the most accurate results are obtained using the past variations of foF2 at several stations to determine a latitudinal-average daily ionospheric index. Forecasts made with lead times of zero to three hours do not offer significant improvements over those made one day ahead.

Description: A computer system for solar terrestrial data processing is described. The data base consists mainly of information contained in Ursigrams exchanged between the IUWDS Regional Warning Centers. The system structure and its functions are presented. Solar flare forecasting is described, as one of the prediction techniques incorporated in the system.

Description: The major accomplishments of the GEOS-B, C-band systems project is assessed. The project objectives are given, namely: (1) primary objectives that must be met for project success; (2) secondary objectives that were sufficiently important to warrant serious consideration; and (3) other objectives that were important to the project and for which additional effort would be desirable. The primary objectives are presented and discussed in detail.

Description: Equipment and techniques were evaluated operationally, by the Department of Defense, during the National Geodetic Satellite Program (NGSP). The theory, instrumentation, and data reduction methods used are described. Results obtained during the NGSP are given.

Description: The hypothesis that world thunderstorm activity represents the generator for the atmospheric electric current flow in the earth atmosphere between ground and the ionosphere is based on a close correlation between the magnitude and the diurnal variation of the supply current (thunderstorm generator current) and the load current (fair weather air-earth current density integrated over the earth surface). The advantages of using lightning survey satellites to furnish a base for accepting or rejecting the thunderstorm generator hypothesis are discussed.

Description: The solid Earth carried a negative charge of approximately 10 C to the 6 th power and the lower atmosphere an equal, opposite charge. While a number of charging processes in the lower atmosphere are involved, such as erupting volcanoes, snow, sand and dust storms, and the bubbles bursting from the oceans, the primary cause of the Earth's electrification is activity of thunderstorms. Although it is known that the electrification of these clouds is caused by the accumulation of regions of charged water particles, there is no general agreement concerning which process is the cause of the electrification within the cloud and what role this electrification plays in the meteorological processes that take place in the lower atmosphere. The development of thunderclouds and the electric fields and currents above them are discussed.

Description: The nature and cause of electric fields in the coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere system and their effects in the middle atmosphere are discussed. Electric fields induced by the solar wind are reported. The equivalence between forces and electric currents and also between current closure and stress balance is described. The motions of the magnetospheric and ionospheric fluids and the electric fields of interest were determined by the balance of these forces, or equivalently by the closure of the currents. The physical nature of stresses and currents was examined.

Description: The mechanisms by which phenomena occurring in the troposphere can affect that atmospheric region lying above the tropopause and below the mesopause are discussed as well as mechanisms by which middle atmospheric phenomena affect the tropospheric circulation, and how the middle atmosphere may act as a medium by which extraterrestrial effects may give rise to changes in tropospheric circulation. Energetics and external energy sources are considered. Aspects of vertical coupling examined include upward, downward, radiational, chemical, and electrical modes.

Description: A quick introduction to some of the important electrical properties, and to the factors that influence them and their variability are provided. The following topics are discussed: (1) production of ionization; (2) ion concentration; (3) ion composition; and (4) variability of the various sources of middle atmospheric ionization.

Description: The Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement 2 (SAM 2) is used to map the concentration and optical properties of stratospheric aerosols as a function of altitude, latitude, and longitude. The vertical distribution of the stratospheric aerosols in the polar regions of both hemispheres is provided.

Description: The Doppler tracking experiment was designed to test the feasibility of improved mapping of earth gravity field anomalies by means of the low-low satellite-to-satellite tracking method. All prescribed data have been retrieved and are currently being reduced and analyzed. Baseline data taken while the docking module was still attached to the command and service module indicated that the equipment operated satisfactorily. The efficacy of the two frequency ionospheric correction method has been demonstrated, and preliminary reduction of a data sample has successfully removed extraneous signatures down to the 50-millihertz level, where the rotational motion of the docking module is revealed. Photographs of the docking module, taken shortly after jettison, show that its rotation was stable.

Description: The state-of-the-art technology in the study of the three dimensional rotation of the earth about its center of mass is summarized. A survey of appropriate reference frames and problems involved in defining them is given along with an outline of the accuracy with which the earth's rotation can be measured relative to these frames. The various spectral features of changes in the axis orientation and spin rate of the solid earth and the physical mechanisms known or likely to effect and/or affect them are discussed.

Description: Visual observations, as made by cosmonauts, of the earth's surface, physical processes occurring in the earth's atmosphere, and optical phenomena are discussed.

Description: Perhaps the greatest chance for exhumation, or burial, of a landscape by terrestrial processes exists near the boundaries of the climatic belts. In the Southern Hemisphere, there is comparatively little land area within Budel's zone of extra-tropical valley formation, which contains most of the examples of exhumed topography in the Northern Hemisphere. The only examples of resurrected landforms that occur within Budel's tropical zone are located near the boundary of this zone, where climate may have changed during the Pleistocene. The ages of exhumed landforms sampled are not equally distributed through geologic time. Most of the exhumed features were created either during the Precambrian or the Tertiary periods which are commonly cited as episodes of significant landform development.

Description: The Dry Valleys of Antarctica are examples of polar deserts which are rare geological features on the Earth. Such deserts typically have high salinities associated with their closed-basin waters and on many surficial materials throughout them. In order to examine the possible sources for the salts observed in association with the soils in the Dry Valleys. The chloride and bromide concentrations of the water leachates from 58 soils and core samples were measured. The Cl/Br ratio for seawater is 289 and ratios measured for most of the 58 soils studied (greater than 85% of the soils studied) was larger than the seawater ratio (ratios typically were greater than 1000 and ranged up to 50,000). The enrichment in Cl relative to Br is strong evidence that the alts present within the soils were derived from seawater during ordinary evaporation processes, and not from the deposition of Cl and Br from aerosols or from rock weathering as has often been suggested.

Description: Field studies of terrestrial landforms and the processes that shape them provide new directions to the study of planetary features. Investigations discussed address principally mudflow phenomena and drainage development. At the Valley of 10,000 Smokes (Katmai, AK) and Mount St. Helens, WA, studies of the development of erosional landforms (in particular, drainage) on fresh, new surfaces permitted analysis of the result of competition between geomorphic processes. Of specific interest is the development of stream pattern as a function of the competition between perennial seepage overland flow (from glacial or groundwater sources), ephemeral overland flow (from pluvial or seasonal melt sources), and ephemeral/perennial groundwater sapping, as a function of time since initial resurfacing, material properties, and seasonal/annual environmental conditions.

Description: Desert pavement is a general term describing a surface that typically consists of a thin layer of cm-sized rock fragments set on top of a layer of finer material in which no fragments are found. An understanding of desert pavement is important to planetary geology because they may play a major role in the formation and visibility of various aeolian features such as wind streaks, which are important on Mars and may be important on Venus. A field study was conducted in Amboy, California to determine the formation mechanism of desert pavements. The probable sequence of events for the formation and evolution of a typical desert pavement surface, based on this experiment and the work of others, is as follows. Starting with a layer of surface material consisting of both fine particles and rock fragments, aeolian deflation will rapidly erode the surface until an armored lag is developed, after which aeolian processes become less important. The concentration of fragments then slowly increases as new fragments are brought to the surface from the subsurface and as fragments move downslope by sheet wash. Sheet wash would be responsible for removing very fine particles from the surface and for moving the fragments relative to one another, forming interlocks.

Description: Preliminary comparisons between global ozone burdens derived from the backscattered ultraviolet (BUV) experiment on Nimbus 4 and those inferred from an analysis of ground-based network data seem to indicate significant differences in the inter-annual variability of ozone. Some of the observed differences may be due to improper weighting of the ground-based network data, slowly changing planetary wave structure over the fixed station, of small inter-annual changes in meridional transport parameters. There is also some evidence which indicates that the polar stratosphere at high latitudes may represent an important ozone storage resevoir which tends to compensate for large scale changes observed in the regions outside of the polar stratosphere. Possible consequences of this are that the global trends derived from ground based ozone measurements may not be valid and furthermore that the current satellite techniques by themselves may be sufficient. An ozone monitoring system which includes observations from satellites, ground-based stations, balloons and rockets may be necessary.

Description: Field studies of terrestrial landforms and the processes that shape them provide new directions to the study of planetary features. These studies, conducted in Iceland and in Antarctica, investigated physical and chemical weathering mechanisms and rates, eolitan processes, mudflow phenomena, drainage development, and catastrophic fluvial and volcanic phenomena. Continuing investigations in Iceland fall in three main catagories: (1) catastrophic floods of the Jokulsa a Fjollum, (2) lahars associated with explosive volcanic eruptions of Askja caldera, and (3) rates of eolian abrasion in cold, volcanic deserts. The ice-free valleys of Antarctica, in particular those in South Victoria Land, have much is common with the surface of Mars. In addition to providing independent support for the application of the Iceland findings to consideration of the martian erosional system, the Antarctic observations also provide analogies to other martian phenomena. For example, a family of sand dunes in Victoria Valley are stabilized by the incorporation of snow as beds.

Description: Development of drainage networks by erosion by emergent groundwater (sapping) is being modelled by a combination of laboratory experiments and theoretical modelling. Miniature drainage networks formed in fine-grained sediments share many morphologic characteristics of Martian and terrestrial networks suspected to be formed by sapping processes. A larger and better instrumented sapping box was constructed to further explore the processes of sapping and the morphology of resulting networks. The experiments to be conducted in the sapping box will investigate the roles of several factors in controlling network morphology. The mechanics of sapping of fine-grained sediments were investigated in experiments in a two-dimensional sapping chamber and through development of a theoretical model. Results of extensive tests on sapping erosion of fine-grained, cohesionless sediment were analyzed with a theoretical model of the mechanics of sapping erosion and transport.

Description: The 18 May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens was initiated by a massive rockslide-debris avalanche which completely transformed the upper 25 km of the North Fork Toutle River valley. The debris was generated by one of the largest gravitational mass movements ever recorded on Earth. Moving at an average velocity of 35 m/s, the debris avalanche buried approximately 60 sq km of terrain to an average depth of 45 m with unconsolidated, poorly sorted volcaniclastic material, all within a period of 10 minutes. Where exposed and unaltered by subsequent lahars and pyroclastic flows, the new terrain surface was characterized predominantly by hummocks, closed depressions, and the absence of an identifiable channel network. Following emplacement of the debris avalanche, a complex interrelationship of fluvial and mass wasting processes immediately began operating to return the impacted area to an equilibrium status through the removal of material (potential energy) and re-establishment of graded conditions. In an attempt to chronicle the morphologic evolution of this unique environmental setting, a systematic series of interpretative maps of several selected areas was produced. These maps, which document the rate and character of active geomorphic processes, are discussed.

Description: Pressure ridges are surface features on basaltic lava flows and, as with other surface features, they may be related to the emplacement of a flow and the rheological properties of the lava. Since many ridges are of sufficient size to be detected on high resolution orbital images, an understanding of pressure ridges could provide a means for interpreting volcanic flows on other terrestrial planets. Some proposed formation mechanisms are reviewed and three different types of pressure ridges are identified on the basis of morphology. Type 1 ridges are the most common and are associated with multiple flow unit pahoehoe in which the ridges are embayed by secondary toe fed lava. They tend to be restricted to wider sections or margins of the flow and to be oriented longitudinal to flow direction; however, oblique or transverse orientation is not uncommon. Bulbous squeeze ups are common within cracks and may reflect relative timing of crack formation. The interior structure of type 1 ridges consists of an upper slab section which generally contains columnar joints and a lower massive section with an irregular surface. This basic distinction may mark the thickness of the surface crust when ridge formation was initiated. Type 2 ridges occur in association with type 1 and are very similar with the exception of the secondary squeeze out material. Instead of only filling cracks, the secondary material on these ridges originated from underneath a thin crust and flowed as toes or channels from the top and sides of the ridge. Type 3 ridges have much steeper sides (almost vertical at the top) than the other types. Medial cracks are very wide and the crack walls are convex upward. No squeeze ups are present. The main difference between type 3 and the others may be reflection of viscosity.

Description: A model for the radiative cooling of thermally well mixed lava flows is presented and the relationship between effusion rate and length and area is analyzed. If radiative cooling is the prime mode of heat loss for a lava flow, one should expect to see a stronger correlation between the effusion rate and the plan area of the flow, than between effusion rate and just flow length. Different flows on a single volcano with differing initial temperatures, volatile content, and gross compositions should yield different areas for a given effusion rate. Likewise, a range of slopes for the relationship between effusion rate and flow area should result from comparisons between different volcanoes. As a test of these ideas, available data on the effusion rates, lengths, and areas of Hawaiian and Etnean flow is studied. It was found that: (1) the effusion rate/area correlation was statistically more significant than the correlation between effusion rate and length for four out of the five eruption episodes which met the necessary criteria of more than three individual flows with area, length, and effusion rate independently measured; (2) that there exists a minimum length and area for a given effusion rate, reflecting competition between overall characteristic proportionality between effusion rate and flow length, width, and area.

Description: Between 1217 and 1620 hours (PDT), on May 18, 1980, the magmatic eruption column of Mount St. Helens formed an ash fountain and pyroclastic flows dominated the eruption process over tephra ejection. Eurption-rate pulsations generally increased to a maximum at 1600 to 1700 hrs. After 1620 hrs, the eruption assumed an open-vent discharge with strong, vertical ejection of tephra. Relative eruption rates (relative mass flux rates) of the pyroclastic flows were determined by correlating sequential photographs and SLAR images, obtained during the eruption, with stratigraphy and surface morphology of the deposits.

Description: Reexamination of Upheaval Dome in the Canyonlands National Park, Utah, shows that the structure of this remarkable feature conforms with that expected for a deeply eroded astrobleme. The structure is definitely not compatible with an origin due simply to plastic flowage of salt and other rocks in the underlying Paradox Formation. The most strongly deformed rocks are bounded by a series of circumferential listric faults. The convergent displacement of the rocks corresponds to the deformation that results from collapse of a transient cavity produced by high speed impact. From considerations of the probable depth of exposure of the impact structure and upward extrapolation of the listric faults, the final collapsed crater is estimated to be about 8 to 10 km in diameter; the impacting body was on the order of 0.5 km in diameter.

Description: A brief synopsis of the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite environment is presented including neutral and ionic species. Two ground based atomic and molecular beam instruments are described which are capable of simulating the interaction of spacecraft surfaces with the LEO environment and detecting the results of these interactions. The first detects mass spectrometrically low level fluxes of reactively and nonreactively surface scattered species as a function of scattering angle and velocity while the second ultrahigh velocity (UHV) molecular beam, laser induced fluorescence apparatus is capable of measuring chemiluminescence produced by either gas phase or gas-surface interactions. A number of proposed experiments are described.

Description: A brief review of atmospheric composition in low Earth orbit is presented. The flux of ambient atomic oxygen incident on a surface orbiting in this environment is described. Estimates are presented of the fluence of atomic oxygen to which satellite surfaces in various orbits are exposed.

Description: Mathematical models of stratospheric ozone have predicted a reduction in the total ozone due to chlorofluoromethanes released into the atmosphere. Analytical procedures for the collection of air in the stratosphere and for analysis of these air samples for trace levels of chlorine, regardless of the state of chemical composition were developed. Calibration experiments are conducted in order to validate all methods and procedures. Results of neutron activation analysis calibration procedures using standard chlorine gases are included.

Description: Nineteen stratospheric samples from the eruption plumes of Mount St. Helens were collected in five flight experiments. The plume samples were collected at various altitudes from 13.1 to 20.7 km by using the Ames cryogenic sampling system on board the NASA U-2 aircraft. The enriched, cryogenically collected samples were analyzed by chromatography. The concentrations of aerosols precursor gases (OCS, SO2, and CS2), CH3Cl, N2O, CF2Cl2, and CFCl3 were measured by gas chromatography. Large enhancement of the mixing ratio of SO2 and moderate enhancement of CS2 and OCS were found in the plume samples compared with similar measurement under pre-volcanic conditions. A fast decay rate of the SO2 mixing ratio in the plume was observed. Measurement of Cl(-), SO2(2-), and NO3(-) by ion chromatography was also carried out on water solutions prepared from the plume samples. The results obtained with this technique imply large mixing ratios of HCl, (NO + NO2 + HNO3), and SO2, in which these constituents are the respective sources of the anions. Measurement of the Rn222 concentration in the plume was made. Other stratospheric constituents in the plume samples, such as H2O, CO2, CH4, and CO, were also observed.

Description: Mount St. Helens erupted somewhat less than 0.5 cu km of magma (dense rock equivalent) on May 18, 1980. The May 18 event was usually violent. As much 35% of the volume of the airfall material fell outside of the 2.5 mm isopach, which encloses about 88,000 sq km. This extraordinary dispersive power was transmitted by an eruption column which reached heights of more than 20 km. There was a lateral blast (or surge) of unusually large dimensions associated with the onset of the eruption. The magma is dacitic in composition and had a low ( 500 ppm) sulfur content. Distal ashes contain much nonmagmatic (lithic) material, but smaller ( 50 microns m) particles are mostly finely divided magmatic dacite. The grain size distributions of the ash are multimodal, frequently with peaks at 90, 25, and 10 microns. The finer populations fell out faster than their terminal velocities as simple particles would suggest. It is inferred that large proportions of the fine ash fell out as composite particles. This condition greatly reduces the atmospheric burden of silicate particles. Some of the unusual aspects (violence, intense surges, multimodal grain size distributions, lithic content of the ashes) of the eruption may be due to its phreatomagmatic character. The hydrothermal system above the magma may have infiltrated the magma body at the onset of the eruption. An "overprint" of the geochemistry of this hydrothermal system on the geochemistry of the magmatic gas system is likely. One important feature is that reduced gas species may be much more abundant than in many eruptions. Another is that fine ash may form aggregates more readily.

Description: A large set of bow shock crossings (i.e., 1392) observed by 17 spacecraft has been used to explore the three-dimensional shape and location of the Earth's bow shock and its dependence on solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions. This study investigates deviations from gas dynamic flow models associated with the magnetic terms in the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. Empirical models predicting the statistical position and shape of the bow shock for arbitrary values of the solar wind pressure, IMF, and Alfvenic Mach number (M(sub A)) have been derived. The resulting data set has been used to fit three-dimensional bow shock surfaces and to explore the variations in these surfaces with sonic (M(sub S)), Alfvenic (M(sub A)) and magnetosonic (M(sub MS)) Mach numbers. Analysis reveals that among the three Mach numbers, M(sub A) provides the best ordering of the least square bow shock curves. The subsolar shock is observed to move Earthward while the flanks flare outward in response to decreasing M(sub A); the net change represents a 6-10% effect. Variations due to changes in the IMF orientation were investigated by rotating the crossings into geocentric interplanetary medium coordinates. Past studies have suggested that the north-south extent of the bow shock surface exceeds the east-west dimension due to asymmetries in the fast mode Mach cone. This study confirms such a north-south versus east-west asymmetry and quantifies its variation with M(sub S), M(sub A), M(sub MS), and IMF orientation. A 2-7% effect is measured, with the asymmetry being more pronounced at low Mach numbers. Combining the bow shock models with the magnetopause model of Roelof and Sibeck (1993), variations in the magnetosheath thickness at different local times are explored. The ratio of the bow shock size to the magnetopause size at the subpolar point is found to be 1.46; at dawn and dusk, the ratios are found to be 1.89 and 1.93, respectively. The subsolar magnetosheath thickness is used to derive the polytropic index gamma according to the empirical relation of Spreiter et al. (1966). The resulting gamma = 2.3 suggests the empirical formula is inadequate to describe the MHD interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere.

Description: Radiation resulting from interaction between the effluent cloud of a space shuttle thruster and the ambient atmosphere was observed with a spectograph aboard the shutttle. The spectral measurements were made between 400 and 800 nm with a resolutoion of 3 nm. The primary emissions are identified as NO2, HNO, O(1)D, and O(1)S. These are the first observations od O(1)S emission in the shuttle plume. These data are compared with the previous measurements, and possible excitation mechanisms are discussed. The results are also compared with a Monte Carlo simulation of thruster plume-atmosphere interaction radiation.

Description: We report multi-instrument observations during an isolated substorm on 17 October 1989. The European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) radar operated in the SP-UK-POLI mode measuring ionospheric convection at latitudes 71 deg Lambda - 78 deg Lambda. Sub-Auroral Magnetometer Network (SAMNET) and the EISCAT Magnetometer Cross provide information on the timing of substorm expansion phase onset and subsequent intensifications, as well as the location of the field aligned and ionospheric currents associated with the substorm current wedge. Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-8 (IMP-8) magnetic field data are also included. Evidence of a substorm growth phase is provided by the equatorward motion of a flow reversal boundary across the EISCAT radar field of view at 2130 MLT, following a southward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). We infer that the polar cap expanded as a result of the addition of open magnetic flux in the tail lobes during this interval. The flow reversal boundary, which is a lower limit to the polar cap boundary, reached an invariant latitude equatorward of 71 deg Lambda by the time of the expansion phase onset. We conclude that the substorm onset region in the ionosphere, defined by the westward electrojet, mapped to a part of the tail radially earthward of the boundary between open and closed magnetic flux, the distant neutral line. Thus the substorm was not initiated at the distant neutral line, although there is evidence that it remained active during the expansion phase.

Description: The impact of the extraterrestrial object that formed the Chicxulub crater in the northwestern Yucatan peninsula of Mexico is the leading suspect for the extinction of the dinosaurs. This article reports on a Planetary Society expedition to Albion Island in the Rio Hondo region of Belize to investigate evidence supporting the impact theory.

Description: Direct current (DC) electric field and ion density measurements near density depletion regions (that is, equatorial plasma bubbles) are used to estimate the vertical neutral wind speed. The measured zonal electric field in a series of density depletions crossed by the San Marco D satellite at 01.47-01.52 Universal Time (UT) on 25 October 1988, can be explained if a downward neutral wind of 15-30 m/s exists. Simultaneously, the F-region plasma was moving downward at a speed of 30-50 m/s. These events appear in the local time sector of 23.00-23.15 in which strong downward neutral winds may occur. Indeed, airglow measurements suggest that downward neutral velocities of 25-50 m/s are possible at time near midnight in the equatorial F-region.

Description: An overview of the observations of backstreaming electrons in the foreshock and the mechanisms that have been proposed to explain their properties will be presented. A primary characteristic of observed foreshock electrons is that their velocity distributions are spatially structured in a systematic way depending on distance from the magnetic field line which is tangent to the shock. There are two interrelated aspects to explaining the structure of velocity distributions in the foreshock, one involving the acceleration mechanism and the other, propagation from the source to the observing point. First, the source distribution of electrons energized by the shock must be determined along the shock surface. Proposed acceleration mechanisms include magnetic mirroring of incoming solar wind particles and mechanisms involving transmission of particles through the shock. Secondly, the kinematics of observable electrons streaming away from a curved shock with an initial parallel velocity and a downstream perpendicular velocity component due to the motional electric field must be determined. This is the context in which the observations and their explanations will be reviewed.

Description: This paper focuses on the comparison of cloud amounts derived from an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM), Satellite-observed clouds, and Ground-based cloud observations. Unlike Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE)-type comparisons it does not mix potential errors in the cloud amount with those in the radiation code embedded in the model. Long term cloud climatologies were used to compare global cloud amounts and regional seasonal cycles. The AGCM successfully reproduced the signatures of the warm pool and North Pacific seasonal cycle cloudiness but failed in the low stratus region off the coast of South America, a known problem for AGCMs. The data sets also reproduced the anomaly signature associated with El Nino in the warm pool region, but the model amounts were lower. Global results had a similar success rate, with the model generally producing lower total cloud compared to the satellite and in situ measurements. To compare cloud vertical distributions the cloud height may need to be validated using the corresponding radiation fields. Unfortunately there were also some large discrepancies between the two observed cloud data sets. While tremendously improved over the last decade the character of the observed cloud data sets, must be substantially enhanced before they will be useful in validating AGCMs by any but the crudest levels of comparison.

Description: Three-dimensional finite element modeling techniques are used to synthesize geodetic and seismological results for 1979 Imperial Valley earthquake. The strategy pursued consists of two principal steps. In the first step, the seismologically-derived coseismic fault slip is taken as a function of position in the fault plane and is applied directly to the three-dimensional dislocation model. In the second step, a physical model of stresses and constitutive parameters is perturbed so as to reproduce the observed fault slip. Hence, the principal features of the coseismic slip pattern are explained by a stress-driven fault model in which: (1) a spatially unresolved asperity is found equivalent to a stress drop of 18 MPa averaged over an area of 15 sq km, and (2) driving stress is essentially absent on the fault segment overlapping the 1940 earthquake rupture zone.

Description: Simultaneous observations during four substorms are reported from the Lockheed auroral particle spectrometer on ATS-5 and the University of Alberta meridian magnetometer chain (Canada). During the four events studied, there was a good correlation between the magnitude of the trapped electron fluxes in the energy range from 1.8 to 53 keV and the magnitude of the electrojet current as measured by a station in the magnetometer chain at a latitude close to that expected for the ATS conjugate point. The Hall effect was studied and a model electrojet was constructed which gave a good absolute agreement between the two measured quantities. The results are consistent with the convection electric field remaining approximately constant during a substantial portion of each of the substorms studied. The temporal variations of the electrojet were apparently controlled by conductivity changes in the ionosphere as determined by the precipitating auroral electrons.

Description: Measurements of NH3 absorption coefficients are presented for several transitions of a C-13(O-16)2 laser for small concentrations of NH3(p less than 1 torr) for absorption lines broadened to 1 atm with N2. NH3 absorption coefficients were determined for laser transitions R(8)(920.2194 wavelengths/cm) to R(28)(933.8808 wavelengths/cm) of the 00 1 - (10 0,02 0)I band. The strongest absorption coefficient K = 36.09 + or - 1.43 per (atm-cm) was measured for the R(18) transition for the NH3 line, aQ(6,6), and is larger than has been found in any previous measurements with a CO2 laser. The dependence of K on total pressure was also obtained for select transitions, and the frequency separation between the R(18) laser transition and the neighboring NH3 line aQ(6,6) was determined to be 550 + or - 50 MHz. These results are significant for long path absorption monitoring of NH3 with CO2 lasers since the path length can be reduced by approximately 40% and for heterodyne detection of NH3 since the relative position of the laser transition to the NH3 absorption line is well within the bandpass of Hg-Cd-Te photomixers.

Description: A brief review is presented of recent progress made toward gaining a more complete understanding of the thermal structure of the ionosphere. Important heat sources for the ionosphere are described, including the solar EUV flux, midlatitude interactions between the magnetosphere and ionosphere, electric-field enhancements at high latitudes, particle precipitation in the auroral oval, and polar-wind heating. Discrepancies between electron-temperature measurements by satellite probes and incoherent-backscatter techniques are noted.

Description: The complex interaction of the cold plasma of the plasmasphere and ionosphere with the hot plasma of the ring current and the plasma sheet is studied. It is seen that a coupling, probably through wave particle interactions, exists which seems to have a strong influence on the temperature of the plasma of the outer plasmasphere and on the detailed dynamics of the bulge region, especially the formation of detached plasma regions or plasma tails. Also, there is evidence that the outer plasmasphere may display very high temperatures, and that detached plasma regions are closely associated with ring current injections.

Description: Questions of radiative transfer in realistic atmospheres are considered along with aspects related to radiative energy budgets and the solar constants, the radiative properties of atmosphere and surfaces, radiation instruments and measurements, and radiative interactions in dynamical systems. A number of special topics are discussed, taking into account remote sensing, air pollution, and the effect of turbulence on the propagation of light through the atmosphere. It is pointed out that numerous recent studies have been conducted of the properties and effects of atmospheric aerosols.

Description: Riometric and forward-scatter radio-wave absorption measurements at high polar latitudes in both hemispheres are compared with absorption calculations based on satellite observations in the magnetosheath to determine whether a north-south asymmetry in the solar electron flux occurred during a polar-cap absorption (PCA) event. Detection of solar electrons in interplanetary space is shown to have occurred simultaneously with detection of HF radio-wave absorption, indicating that the initial stage of the PCA was due to the arrival of solar electrons. A north-south asymmetry is observed in the electron flux, and it is found that the flux precipitating over the South Pole did not exceed the mean unidirectional intensity of the electrons detected in space. The ratio between fluxes in the low and high polar latitude regions over Antarctica during a period of solar electron anisotropy is found to be comparable with that obtained during periods of isotropy. These results are shown to be consistent with the idea of an open magnetosphere and with the conclusion that an anisotropic solar electron flux may be rendered isotropic at the magnetopause.

Description: Two cyclic ethers have been identified for the first time from insoluble polymer-like kerogen in a Precambrian rock by ozonolysis, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometry. The ethers are 2-n-propyl-3-methyltetrahydrofuran and 2-n-propyltetrahydropyran. These compounds could prove to be the oldest indigenous biochemical fossils. The sample was obtained 750 m stratigraphically above the base of the Transvaal Sequence from an outcrop approximately 315 km north-east of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Description: Explorer 43 data were used to study 34 bow shock crossings observed from 5 to 16 earth radii upstream of the average bow shock location. Waves with periods of 6 to 130 s having amplitudes up to delta-B/B = 1 were detected. Wave polarization for the low-frequency waves is right-handed in relation to the average field direction when the observer moves from the upstream to downstream direction but is left-handed when the observer moves in the opposite sense. This fact identified the waves as standing whistler waves in the coordinate system of the shock. The waves are in agreement with collisionless low Mach number laminar shock theory. When the measured parameters were used to calculate theoretical wavelengths, the observed wave frequencies could be used to calculate velocities for the shock-wave coordinate system past the spacecraft; such velocities are mostly between 10 and 30 km/s. It is suggested that the higher-frequency propagating whistler waves may evolve from the standing whistler waves through a decay instability.

Description: The equations of horizontal motion of the neutral atmosphere between 120 and 500 km are integrated with the inclusion of all nonlinear terms of the convective derivative and the viscous forces due to vertical and horizontal velocity gradients. Empirical models of the distribution of neutral and charged particles are assumed to be known. The model of velocities developed is a steady state model. In Part I the mathematical method used in the integration of the Navier-Stokes equations is described and the various forces are analyzed. Results of the method given in Part I are presented with comparison with previous calculations and observations of upper atmospheric winds. Conclusions are that nonlinear effects are only significant in the equatorial region, especially at solstice conditions and that nonlinear effects do not produce any superrotation.

Description: The reported discussion is concerned with longitudinal waves associated with electron motions. These waves are easily stimulated in the ionosphere by rocket- and satellite-borne RF sounders. Most of the observations of stimulated plasma waves in the ionosphere are based on ionograms obtained from the sounders carried on board five satellites, including Explorer 20, Alouette 1 and 2, and ISIS 1 and 2. The majority of the observations can be explained by considering the propagation of the sounder-stimulated plasma waves. Attention is given to aspects of plasma wave dispersion, linear phenomena, plasma wave instabilities and nonlinear phenomena, unexplained phenomena, diagnostic applications, geophysical and astrophysical applications, and a number of experiments planned for the future.

Description: Exospheric neutral and electron temperatures have been estimated for the primitive upper atmosphere and ionosphere with various oxygen content in the scheme of our previous model (Shimizu and Shimazaki, 1976). The exospheric neutral temperature has been shown to be rather insensitive to the change of oxygen content, justifying our previous assumption for the temperature variation, while the exospheric electron temperature has been found to be quite sensitive to the compositional change, mainly owing to the strong dependence of electron density on the oxygen concentration.

Description: Computer simulations of the evolution of the earth's atmospheric composition and surface temperature have been carried out. The program took into account changes in the solar luminosity, variations in the earth's albedo, the greenhouse effect, variation in the biomass, and a variety of geochemical processes. Results indicate that prior to two billion years ago the earth had a partially reduced atmosphere, which included N2, CO2, reduced carbon compounds, some NH3, but no free H2. Surface temperatures were higher than now, due to a large greenhouse effect. When free O2 appeared the temperature fell sharply. Had earth been only slightly further from the sun, runaway glaciation would have occurred at that time. Simulations also indicate that a runaway greenhouse would have occurred early in earth's history had earth been only a few percent closer to the sun. It therefore appears that, taking into account the possibilities of either runaway glaciation or a runaway greenhouse effect, the continuously habitable zone about a solar-type star is rather narrow, extending only from roughly 0.95 to 1.01 AU.

Description: Nitric oxide and ozone concentrations in the lower stratosphere have been measured from a high-altitude research aircraft using in situ measuring techniques. Results of several geographical surveys are presented along with predictions of two two-dimensional stratospheric models. Meridional and zonal data were obtained in June 1974 and in June, July, and August 1975. At longitudes 122-158 deg W the meridional data taken between 5 and 80 deg N latitude show an increasing NO concentration with latitude, by a factor of 4 at 21-km altitude and a less marked increase at 18 km. The minimum NO concentration at 21 km is observed at 5 deg N latitude and is about 6 x 10 to the 8th power/cu cm. Zonal data at latitudes 22-38 deg N taken from 55 to 176 deg N longitude show little variation of the NO and O3 concentrations with longitude.

Description: Rocks from an ophiolite suite once on the seafloor were analyzed for rare earth elements (REE), Sc, Co, Na2O, Cr, Zn and FeO. Strontium isotope exchange noted in some of the lavas is attributed to basalt-seawater interaction; the Ce abundance in smectite- and zeolite-bearing lavas may also be due to prolonged exposure to seawater. The higher grades of metamorphic rock, however, show no variation from the usual flat or slightly light REE depleted profiles. Plutonic igneous rock, all light REE depleted, have total REE abundances varying by a factor of 100 between the dunites and diorites. In order of decreasing REE abundance are hornblende, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, orthopyroxene and olivine. Calculations of REE contents of liquids in equilibrium with early cumulative clinopyroxenes suggest that the parent to the stratiform sequence was more depleted in light REE than the parent to the lava pile.

Description: The goals of map/wind (winter in Northern Europe) are to better understand: (1) the interaction of planetary waves of tropospheric origin; (2) the temporal and spatial development of sudden stratospheric warmings; (3) the temporal and spatial development of mesospheric cooling events in conjunction with stratospheric warmings; (4) the vertical and horizontal transport of minor constituents; (5) the effects on the chemistry of neutral and charged species of the large temperature changes occurring during stratospheric warmings and mesospheric cooling; (6) sources of turbulent energy; (7) the temporal and spatial development of turbulent layers; and (8) the contributions of dynamical processes to the heating and cooling of the mesospheric and turbopause region.

Description: Three general areas of study were identified: stratospheric composition; mesospheric and lower ionospheric structure and composition; and middle atmospheric dynamics. The role of chemical reactions and spectroscope in the study of the middle atmosphere is discussed.

Description: Organizations in the United States which are interested in MAP participation were surveyed. Satellites, rockets, balloons, and ground support systems are listed with available experimentation.

Description: The plans for India's participation in the middle Atmosphere Program are outlined.

Description: Atmospheric interactions involving the nitrogen species are varied and complex. These interactions include photochemical reactions, initiated by the absorption of solar photons and chemical kinetic reactions, which involve both homogeneous (gas-to-gas reactions) and heterogeneous (gas-to-particle) reactions. Another important atmospheric interaction is the production of nitrogen oxides by atmospheric lightning. The nitrogen cycle strongly couples the biosphere and atmosphere. Many nitrogen species are produced by biogenic processes. Once in the atmosphere nitrogen oxides are photochemically and chemically transformed to nitrates, which are returned to the biosphere via precipitation, dry deposition and aerosols to close the biosphere-atmosphere nitrogen cycle. The sources, sinks and photochemistry/chemistry of the nitrogen species; atmospheric nitrogen species; souces and sinks of nitrous oxide; sources; sinks and photochemistry/chemistry of ammonia; seasonal variation of the vertical distribution of ammonia in the troposphere; surface and atmospheric sources of the nitrogen species, and seasonal variation of ground level ammonia are summarized.

Description: If all biotic sinks of atmospheric CO2 reported were added a value of about 0.4 Gt C/yr would be found. For each category, a very high (non-conservative) estimate was used. This still does not provide a sufficient basis for achieving a balance between the sources and sinks of atmospheric CO2. The bulk of the discrepancy lies in a combination of errors in the major terms, the greatest being in a combination of errors in the major terms, the greatest being in the net biotic release and ocean uptake segments, but smaller errors or biases may exist in calculations of the rate of atmospheric CO2 increase and total fossil fuel use as well. The reason why biotic sinks are not capable of balancing the CO2 increase via nutrient-matching in the short-term is apparent from a comparison of the stoichiometry of the sources and sinks. The burning of fossil fuels and forest biomass releases much more CO2-carbon than is sequestered as organic carbon.

Description: The initial attempts to model the atmospheric CO2 distribution, including couplings to the ocean and biosphere as sources and sinks of atmospheric CO2, encourage the notion that this approach will lead to useful quantitative constraints on CO2 fluxes. Realization of this objective will require: (1) continued improvement in the realism of the global transport modeling; (2) extended timeline of atmospheric CO2 monitoring, which improved precision and improved definition of the uncertainties in the measured CO2 amounts; and (3) given an accurate knowledge of model capabilities and limitations and given a good understanding of CO2 observations and their limitations, there is a need for good ideas concerning what quantitative information on the carbon cycle can be inferred from global modeling.

Description: A science that chooses the globe as it fundamental biogeophysical unit forces extraordinary conceptual difficulties. The roles of energy flow, matter cycles, carbon cycle, air pollution, global effects, air water interactions are discussed.

Description: Measurements of atmospheric aerosol backscatter coefficients, using a coherent CO2 lidar at 9.25- and 10.6-micron wavelengths, are described. Vertical profiles of the volume backscatter coefficient beta have been measured to a 10-km altitude over the Pasadena, CA, region. These measurements indicate a wide range of variability in beta both in and above the local boundary layer. Certain profiles also indicate a significant enhancement in beta at the 9.25-micron wavelength compared with beta at the 10.6-micron wavelength, which possibly indicates a major contribution to the volume backscatter from ammonium sulfate aerosol particles.

Description: While in the lobes of the distant magnetotail, ISEE-3 encountered regions of compressed magnetic field at a rate of several per day. The duration of these events was 5 to 20 minutes and they were observed 10 to 30 minutes following the onset of substorm activity near the earth. During each event, the lobe magnetic field tilted first northward and then southward with the inflection point near the time of peak field strength. Following the compression events, the lobe field weakened and retained a southward component for 20 to 40 minutes. It is suggested that these traveling compression regions are the lobe signatures of plasmoids moving rapidly down the tail in the plasma sheet. Comparison of ISEE-3 compression event times with substorm onset times yielded propagation speeds of 350 to 750 km/s.

Description: Ionospheric rocket sounding data for eight nighttime auroral events are used to characterize relativistic electron showers and their effects on atmospheric ozone. The rockets were launched from the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska and from Andoya, Norway over the period 1976-82. Energetic fluxes were always detected but were of insufficient magnitude to produce significant changes in stratospheric ozone. However, middle atmospheric energy sources were found to be dominated by relativistic electrons and X-ray bremmstrahlung, the latter from 40-55 km and the former from 55-60 km altitudes. The ionizing radiation is concluded to be a significant factor in mesospheric ion conductivity, mobility, electric field structure and analytical models for the ion-neutral chemistry.

Description: The dynamics of the polar thermosphere are examined by using observations made from the Dynamics Explorer 2 satellite. The results used in this study were obtained primarily from the Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) and the wind and temperature spectrometer (WATS) during the time period from September 1981 through January 1982. Two primary geophysical conditions were examined: these were the southern summer and the northern winter polar regions. The results support the conclusion that above 60 degrees of latitude the neutral winds are strongly controlled by ion/neutral frictional momentum transfer resulting from magnetospheric convection. This implies that the natural coordinate system within which to display the neutral winds in the high polar thermosphere is magnetic. The collected observations of this study were used to assess the validity of two of the large thermospheric general circulation models. The result of this assessment was that the models reasonably represent the vector winds at high altitudes but do not, at present, accurately simulate the thermodynamics of that regime.

Description: Line strengths of N2O and its isotopic derivatives in the 1120-1440/cm region were measured at low pressure and high resolution (0.0054/cm). The band strength, rotationless dipole moment matrix elements, and F factor coefficients were considered. First-order nondegenerate perturbation theory was employed to derive explicit expressions for the rotationless dipole moment matrix elements and F factor coefficients. This made it possible to obtain general expressions for the F factor. The derived expressions were also applicable to CO2 bands.

Description: The atmospheric and oceanic mass transport associated with the southern oscillation/El Nino will inevitably induce an interannual variation in the length of day. An empirical correlation study is conducted by comparing the Southern Oscillation Index time series and the interannual length-of-day variation (obtained by removing the long-period and short-period variations from a BIH length-of-day series) for the period 1957-1983. The two series have an encouraging qualitative correlation, in particular with respect to El Nino events; and the linear correlation coefficient is found to be 0.55. It is believed that much, if not most, interannual length-of-day variation is caused by the southern oscillation, and the true correlation is considerably higher than its apparent value considering the fact that the Southern Oscillation Index is merely an indicator derived from two local atmospheric measurements.

Description: NASA is proposing to launch a new geopotential fields exploration system called the Geopotential Research Mission (GRM). Two spacecraft will be placed in a circular polar orbit at 160 km altitude. Distances between these satellites will vary from 100 to 600 km. Both scalar and vector magnetic fields will be measured by magnetometers mounted on a boom positioned in the forward direction on the lead satellite. Gravity data will be computed from the measured change in distance between the two spacecraft. This quantity, called the range-rate, will be determined from the varying frequency (Doppler shift) between transmitter and receiver on each satellite. Expected accuracies (at the one-sigma level) are: gravity field, 1.0 milliGal, 5 cm geoid height; magnetics, scalar field 2 nT, vector to 20 arcsec, both resolved to less than 100 km. With these more accurate and higher resolution data, it will be possible to investigate the earth's structure from the crust (with the shorter wavelength gravity and magnetic anomalies) through the mantle (from the intermediate wavelength gravity field) and into the core (using the longer wavelength gravity and magnetic fields).

Description: Infrared solar absorption spectra recorded at 0.02-per cm resolution during a balloon flight from Alamogordo, NM (33 deg N), on March 23, 1981, have been analyzed for the possible presence of absorption by formic acid (HCOOH). An absorption feature at 1105 per cm has been tentatively identified in upper tropospheric spectra as due to the nu-6 band Q branch. A preliminary analysis indicates a concentration of about 0.6 ppbv and 0.4 ppbv near 8 and 10 km, respectively.

Description: The UV spectrometer polarimeter on the Solar Maximum Mission has been utilized to measure mesospheric O3 altitude profiles by the technique of solar occultation. Sunset data are presented for 1980, during the fall equinoctal period within + or - 20 deg of the geographic equator. Mean O3 concentrations are (40, 16, 5.5, and 1.5) x 10 to the 9th/cu cm at 50, 55, 60, and 65 km, respectively. Some profiles exhibit altitude structure which is wavelike. The mean O3 profile is fit best with the results of a time-dependent model if the assumed water-vapor mixing ratio employed varies from 6 ppm at 65 km.

Description: A comprehensive formula is worked out for the photochemical time constant of minor constituents in the middle atmosphere. The formula is particularly useful for evaluating the time constants for families of some chemical species that are strongly coupled by rapid exchange reactions. Height profiles of photochemical time constants are calculated for individual species and their families based on the chemical reaction rate constants recommended in the recent WMO and JPL reports. Potential exchange reactions among various family members are discussed, and the effects of the choice of family membership on the time constant are evaluated.