Imaging coronal emission lines under high sky-background conditions

We have obtained images in solar coronal emission lines under high sky-background conditions by making precise differential measurements between the coronal emission line and the near-by continuum, which is primarily due to scattered light from the solar disk. Chopping between the two wavelengths was performed at 100 kHz to avoid artifacts from fast-flying dust particles and other aerosols, and also from seeing effects. The differential signal was detected with a novel CCD camera that demodulates signals up to 100 kHz. These preliminary observations show coronal emission at the 0.2% level of the scattered-light background and pave the way to efficient and precise imaging of coronal emission features under less than ideal coronal-sky conditions.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.     

Mixed-layer characteristics as related to the monsoon climate of New Delhi,India

Annual variations of mixed-layer characteristics at New Delhi, India have been studied for a weak monsoon (1987) and a strong monsoon (1988) year. In the weak monsoon year (1987), the maximum mixing depthh _max was found to have a value of around 3000 m during the pre-monsoon, less than 2000 m during the summer monsoon, around 2000 m during the post-monsoon, and less than 1000 m in the winter season. For the strong monsoon year (1988),h _max values were less than 1987 values for comparable periods throughout the year. The seasonal and yearly differences ofh _max were explained by the surface energy balance and potential temperature gradient at a time close to sunrise. According to the spatial patterns of obtained by an objective analysis of the 850 to 700 hPa layers. mixed-layer characteristics obtained at New Delhi are representative of the north and central regions of India.     

Discrete emissions and whistler precursors recorded at low latitude ground station Gulmarg

Discrete chorus-type emission and whistler precursors recorded in March 1972 during day time hours at our ground based station Gulmarg are presented. It is shown that discrete chorus type emissions are generated in the equatorial region (L 1.2) during cyclotron resonance interaction between the propagating whistler wave and the gyrating electrons. The whistler precursors are explained in terms of the mechanism suggested by Dowden (1972).     

Environmental geology problems in the Tyrrhenian coastal area of Santa Marinella, province of Rome, central Italy

 The Tyrrhenian resort of S. Marinella (central Italy) is subjected to significant anthropogenic pressures during the summer vacation period, a common situation all along the Italian coast. Located 65 km NW of Rome on the southern slopes of the Tolfa Mountains, S. Marinella is built on a gently sloping, E–W trending belt which is cut by 14 N–S oriented ephemeral streams that discharge into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The low to medium permeability turbiditic sandstones which outcrop along this belt belong to the Late Cretaceous Pietraforte unit. Three environmental problems are addressed in this study. The first problem is related to the high water supply demand during the summer months which has forced local residents to dig a large number of wells. Extensive pumping from these wells has caused salt-water intrusion into the Pietraforte, thus compromising the domestic use of the groundwater. The second problem consists of the illegal dumping of urban solid waste, material that represents a hazard during significant rain events as well as a possible cause of groundwater contamination. The final issue addressed concerns the flooding potential of the 14 ephemeral streams that cross the inhabited area of S. Marinella, a risk which is highlighted by the disastrous flood which occurred on 2 October 1981 and during the period of the Roman Emperor Settimio Severo (205 A.D.). Some suggestions are proposed to mitigate and contain the effects of these problems. Received: 7 November 1995 / Accepted: 5 December 1996     

The mass accommodation coefficient of ammonia on water

The mass accommodation coefficient of ammonia gas on water has been determined by measuring the absorption rate of 50–200 ppm NH₃ in one atm of air or helium into a liquid jet of 97 µm diameter as function of the exposed jet length, and comparing the results with numerical simulations which treat as the only free parameter. The model considers in detail transport of NH₃ by molecular diffusion, penetration of the gas/water interface, hydrolysis in the acidified water, and transport of the solutes from the surface into the jet. A correction is applied for the time evolution of the jet surface speed, using literature data on the fluid mechanics of liquid jets. The result of nine sets of independent measurements is

Room temperature solid-state detectors for Gamma ray burst spectroscopy

We have evaluated several solid state detectors which offer excellent energy resolution at room temperature for soft X-rays. For soft X-rays (< 1 keV to 20 keV), silicon P-intrinsic-N (PIN) and avalanche-mode photodiodes (APD's) have been studied. Using commercially available charge sensitive pre-amplifiers, these photodiodes provide 1 keV resolution without cooling. Their detection efficiencies are limited to about 20 keV and 15 keV, respectively. To overcome this constraint, we have studied thick (1.5 mm) PIN detectors made by Micron Semiconductor Ltd., U.K., as well as compound semiconducting materials with high Z constituents such as CZT and PbI₂. PbI₂ allows high detection efficiencies of photons up to 100 keV with detectors 100–300 microns thick. These new detectors offer the capability to study the low-energy spectral evolution of Gamma ray bursts (GRBs). A matrix of these detectors could be used as an image plane detector with moderate spatial resolution for imaging.     

Impact cratering - a review,with special reference to the economic importance of impact structures and the Southern African impact crater record

Only since several decades has impact cratering been recognized as an important surface process on all planetary bodies in the Solar System. However, as the process has not yet been effectively introduced into geological curricula, it is necessary to inform a wider public about its importance for (i) planetary formation and (ii) evolution, (iii) the understanding of this process as a geological process, (iv) the terrestrial impact crater record and its limitations, and (v) the recognition criteria for terrestrial impact structures, as well as (vi) the need of improvement of the impact cratering record in the light of the potential danger of an impact catastrophe on this planet. It is, particularly for developing countries, of interest to examine the economic and educational-environmental potential of impact structures. That it is possible to carry out an effective, low-budget geological investigation of impact structures within a Second World environment is demonstrated by the discussion of the progress that has been made in recent years with regard to the Southern African impact crater record. Several recommendations on how to improve, on the one hand, the terrestrial impact crater record and, on the other, their general working situation by activation of workers in Developing Countries are discussed.     

A study of the young open cluster NGC 6611

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An extended investigation of Helios 1 and 2 observations: The interplanetary magnetic field between 0.3 and 1 AU

Helios-1 and 2 spacecraft allowed a detailed investigation of the radial dependence of the interplanetary magnetic field components between 0.3 and 1 AU. The behaviour of the radial component B _ris in a very good agreement with Parker's model (B _r r ^-2) and the azimuthal component B also shows a radial dependence which is close to theoretical predictions (B r ^-1). Experimental results for the normal component B and for the field magnitude B are consistent with those from previous investigations. The relative amplitude of the directional fluctuations with periods less than 12 hr is essentially independent of heliocentric distance, while their power decreases approximately as r ^–3 without any appreciable difference between higher and lower velocity regimes.Also at Laboratorio Plasma nello Spazio, CNR, Frascati.