Solar XUV limb brightening observations

OSO-IV observations of the equatorial limb brightening of XUV resonance lines of Nv, O vi, Ne viii, Mg x and Si xii are interpreted with a modified version of a coronal model developed by Dupree and Goldberg (1967). Good agreement is obtained between the observed limb brightening and that predicted by the model. The sensitivity of the predicted limb-brightening curves to changes in parameters describing the model is discussed. Coronal abundances for N, O, Ne, Mg, and Si are obtained.     

The center-limb behavior of solar molecular lines

The center-limb behavior of C₂, CH, CN, CO, and MgH lines have been analyzed using five photospheric models. A three-stream model developed by G. Elste gave the most satisfactory results, providing evidence for the existence of inhomogeneities in the photospheric layers - 2.5 log 5000 -0.5.     

Long term storage of relativistic particles in the solar corona

A model is presented which shows that large numbers of energetic electrons (0.3-> 10 MeV) and protons (1–30 MeV) can be stored in the solar corona at altitudes around 3 × 10⁵ km for periods in excess of 5 days. Specific reference is made to the time period July 6–16 1968 as an excellent example of energetic solar particle storage. Time histories of interplanetary charged particle intensities observed by the IMP-4 and Pioneer 8 satellites are used to substantiate this contention. Detailed reference is also made to solar X-ray, optical and radio data obtained during the period in question, in addition to interplanetary magnetometer data. This model provides a unique solution to many hitherto unexplained solar particle events, and can also account for the lack of prompt particle emission from certain large solar flares recorded in the past.     

Terrain Pattern Recognition and Spatial Decision Making for Regional Slope Stability Studies

A terrain partition scheme is presented that allows the identification of regions with high landslide risk in natural terrain zones on the basis of geomorphometric criteria from moderate resolution DEMs. The key factor being the terrain segmentation to aspect regions (regions formed by points preserving the same aspect direction) instead of using an artificial regular-grid terrain partition scheme. The study area is in western Greece (NW Peloponnesus) whereas a moderate resolution digital elevation model with spacing 75 m is used. Landslide inventory analysis and knowledge conceptualization identified that the landslide susceptibility of a particular aspect region is high, if the mean elevation is low and the mean gradient is high. Each aspect region was parametrically represented on the basis of its mean gradient and elevation. The domain of each parameter was divided to seven slices (classes) on the basis of the observed density. Subsequent knowledge based mapping identified aspect regions with high landslide susceptibility for the following spatial rule: (a) “mean slope in class 6 or 7” and (b) “mean elevation in class 1 to 5”. Alternatively the rule is expressed as mean slope to be equal or greater than 15^∘ whereas mean elevation to be in the range 0 to 750 m. These identified zones correspond to regions where historical landslides occurred (populated coastal areas in the North) as well as to south regions (natural terrain zone) where no landslide record is available, because of the limitations posed by the natural terrain landslide mapping program in Greece. The presented terrain segmentation technique combined to the spatial decision-making process, provided both an object framework for integrating geomorphometric parameters and a method for landslide risk analysis in natural terrain zones.     

Heights of formation of non-magnetic solar lines suitable for velocity studies

Heights of formation of lines that do not exhibit Zeeman splitting are calculated using an LTE, partial non-LTE, and full non-LTE approach. Non-magnetic (g=0) lines are valuable for velocity investigations in quiet-Sun magnetic field regions, and a knowledge of their formation heights is useful for obtaining three dimensional velocity profiles in these regions. Presently at Sacramento Peak Observatory. Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Effects of Io ejecta on Europa

We examine the effects of Io ejecta on the surface and environment of Europa. We find that the observed sulfur on the trailing side of Europa, when interpreted as a deposit in equilibrium between implanation of, and sputtering by, corotating Io ejecta, implies a slow loss of material from Europa by sputtering. From this we infer that the spectrum of particles sputtered from water ice is soft. The quantity of observed sulfur and its confinement to the trailing hemisphere appear to exclude significant implantation and sputtering by energetic heavy ions. We also conclude that the contribution from Europa to the magnetospheric plasma (even at Europa itself) is negligible compared to the matter ejected from Io.     

A modified first-motion approximation for the synthesis of body-wave seismograms

Summary. Modified first-motion approximations have been developed for the generation of synthetic body-wave seismograms using the Cagniard-de Hoop method. Comparisons are presented between classical first motion, modified first motion and full Cagniard treatments for problems involving a homogeneous sphere and a triplication in a realistic earth model. Results of these comparisons show that the modified first-motion approximations may be used for a wide variety of geophysically interesting problems with little loss of accuracy compared to the full Cagniard method.