A dipole field model for axisymmetric alfvén waves with finite ionosphere conductivities

An axisymmetric model for approximate solution of the magnetospheric Alfvén wave problem at latitudes above the plasmapause is proposed, in which a realistic dipole geometry is combined with finite anisotropic ionosphere conductivities, thus bringing together various ideas of previous authors. It is confirmed that the axisymmetric toroidal and poloidal modes interact via the ionospheric Hall effect, and an approximate method of solution is suggested using previously derived closed solutions of the uncoupled wave equations.A solution for zero Hall conductivity is obtained, which consists of sets of independent shell oscillations, regardless of the magnitude of the Pedersen conductivity. One set reduces to the classical solutions for infinite Pedersen conductivity, while another predicts a new set of harmonics of a quarter-wave fundamental, with longer eigenperiods than the classical solutions for a given L-shell.     

Plasmasphere convection patterns observed simultaneously from two ground stations

Whistler data recorded during a 14 h period on 10–11 July 1973 at Siple (L = 4.17) and Sanae (L = 3.98) have been used to compare the apparent plasma convection patterns observed from these Antarctic stations. Two distinct bulges in the plasmasphere are seen at both stations, each bulge corresponding to an apparent outflowed followed by in flow of plasma. These structures do not coincide in U.T. or M.L.T. The first bulge is seen at Siple almost 1 h earlier in M.L.T. than at Sanae and the second bulge almost 3 h earlier. This is interpreted in terms of a fairly rapid westward and inward movement of the plasmasphere structure.     

Geology of the lunar farside crater Necho

The lunar farside crater Necho (30 km diameter) displays intricate morphological and structural characteristics. The highland setting provides a complex impact site when compared with the relatively uniform setting of mare craters. Therefore, the effects of pre-impact topography and structure play a dominant role in Necho's formation and modification. Necho's bright ejecta, extensive rays, fresh morphology, and lack of superposed craters indicate that it is extremely young. The asymmetric distribution of ejecta materials may be due to substrate effects, topographic shalowing, or oblique impact.Necho's interior is divided into five physiographic units based on morphologic differences: three floor units (Necho does not display a true flat floor), one hilly central unit, and the wall unit which includes terraces and smooth walls. The interior of the crater also exhibits an unusual asymmetry in the prevalence of terraced units on the western wall. Interior morphology and terrace orientations are probably the result of pre-impact effects. Structural and topographic orientations associated with three large pre-existing degraded craters dominate the impact site.     

Photoelectric lightcurve and period of rotation of the asteroid 182 Elsa

Photoelectric observations on five consecutive nights yield a period of rotation of 80 ± 2 hr with an amplitude of 0.7 magnitude for 182 Elsa, making it the longest period of rotation known to date. 182 Elsa is classed as an S object with a diameter of 48 km.     

Galilean satellite eclipse studies: III. Jovian methane abundance

The methane abundance in the lower Jovian stratosphere is measured using Galilean satellite eclipse light curves. Spectrally selective observations in and between absorption bands are compared. An average mixing ratio at the locations measured is [CH₄]/[H₂] ～ 1.3 × 10^?3, larger than the value 0.9 × 10^?3 expected for a solar abundance of carbon. Some zenographic variation of the mixing ratio may occur. Observationally compatible values are 1.3–2.0 × 10^?3 in the STZ, 1.3– 2.6 × 10^?3 on the GRS/STrZ edge, and 0.7–1.3 × 10^?3 in the GRS.     

Exospheric perturbations by radiation pressure: II. Solution for orbits in the ecliptic plane

An earlier paper gave solutions for the mean time rates of change of orbital elements of satellite atoms in an exosphere influenced by solar radiation pressure. Each element was assumet to beahve independently. Here the instantaneous rates of change for three elements $\text{(e, ω,}\text{and}\text{θ = ω + Ω)}$ are integrated simultaneously for the case of the inclination i = 0. The results (a) confirm the validity of using mean rates when the orbits are tightly bound to the planet and (b) serve as examples to be reproduced by the complicated numerical solutions required for arbitrary inclination. Strongly bound hydrogen atoms perturbed in Earth orbit by radiation pressure do not seem a likely cause of the geotail extending in the anti-Sun direction. Instead, radiation pressure wil cause those particles' orbits to form a broad fan-shaped tail and to deteriorate into the Earth's atmosphere. Whether loosely bound H atoms are plentiful enough to create the geotail depends on their source function versusr; that question is beyond the scope of this paper.     

Protoplanetary core formation by rain-out of minerals

Models of giant gaseous protoplanets calculated by DeCampli and Cameron (1979) indicate that iron and probably other minerals in the interior of a planet would be in the liquid state during part of the protoplanet evolution. Liquid drops in a protoplanet would grow by coalescence much as cloud drops in the Earth's atmosphere grow to rain drops. We have modeled this process by using the stochastic collection equation (Slattery, 1978) for various initial conditions. In all of the cases considered, the growth time (to centimeter-sized droplets) is much shorter than the time, as estimated by detailed evolutionary calculations, that the drops are in the liquid state. Brownian collection is effective in quickly coalescing tiny liquid droplets to an average radius of about 0.005 cm with very few drops remaining with radii less than 0.001 cm. For radii larger than 0.005 cm gravitational collection is dominant. Since the particles are rapidly swept from interstellar grain sizes to much larger sizes, the opacity in the cloud layer is expected to drop sharply following melting of the grains.     

Coherence analysis of granular intensity

A high resolution spectrogram of the Mg b₂ line from the quiet Sun disc centre is subjected to a coherence analysis. We find that the coherence between intensity fluctuations in the continuum and the wings of the line breaks down at a distance = 0.35 Å from line centre. From this and the r.m.s. intensity contrast as a function of we are led to the following simple model of temperature fluctuation T in the solar photosphere: A lower part (below 50 km, or ₅₀₀₀ > 0.25) with strongly inward increasing T and an upper part (above 50 km) with constant T = 75 K. The two parts are supposed to fluctuate incoherently.Mitteilungen aus dem Kiepenheuer Institut Nr. 166.     

Asteroid rotation: III. 1978 Observations

Photoelectric observations of 32 asteroids observed from Table Mountain Observatory during the second half of 1978 are reported. Rotation periods were obtained for most objects. Absolute magnitudes and phase functions were not determined for any of these asteroids. The geometric mean rotation period of the 32 asteroids observed is 14.2 ± 1.6 hr, as compared to 9.38 ± 0.35 hr for 182 asteroids analyzed in Paper I (A. W. Harris and J. A. Burns, 1979, Icarus 40, 115–144). We attribute this difference to an observational selection effect which favors detection of fast rotation, as discussed in Paper I. If this is true, then the present sample contains the reverse bias, since it is complete in that a period (in some cases very approximate) was obtained for each object observed, but fast rotators are underrepresented due to prior discovery of their rotation properties.     

Shock waves and type II radiobursts in the interplanetary medium

The planetary radio astronomy experiment on the Voyager spacecraft observed several type II solar radiobursts at frequencies below 1.3 MHz; these correspond to shock waves at distances between 20R and 1 AU from the Sun. We study the characteristics of these bursts and discuss the information that they give on shock waves in the interplanetary medium and on the origin of the high energy electrons which give rise to the radioemission. The relatively frequent occurence of type II bursts at large distances from the Sun favors the hypothesis of the emission by a longitudinal shockwave. The observed spectral characteristics reveal that the source of emission is restricted to only a small portion of the shock. From the relation between type II bursts, type III bursts and optical flares, we suggest that some of the type II bursts could be excited by type III burst fast electrons which catch up the shock and are then trapped.