Secular brightness increases of Titan,Uranus, and Neptune, 1972–1976

The brightnesses of Titan, Uranus, and Neptune in b (4718 ÅA) and y (5508 ÅA) have increased linearly since 1972 at rates ranging from 0.005 to 0.025 mag yr^?1. The observations were made differentially on a number of nights each season with respect to a network of comparison stars whose relative magnitudes were determined by independent measurements. Solar phase coefficients were derived for each object, and all observations have been normalized to zero solar phase angle and mean heliocentric distances. No explanation for the changes has been found, but a possible influence of solar activity upon planetary albedo is suggested by the fact that all of the objects observed have brightened during the declining half of the solar cycle.     

Coherent amplification and pulsar phenomena

A modification of the rotating-star model has been developed to interpret the periodic energy bursts from pulsars. This new configuration involves -directed oscilltion modes in the stellar atmosphere or magnetosphere, and most aspects of the typical pulse characteristics are well accounted for. Gain is provided by resonant interactions with particles trapped in the stellar magnetic field. The most significant feature is the fact that highly directional beaming of the output energy results as a natural consequence of coherence between the radiation fields emerging from various locations about the pulsar; and a localized radiation origin is not required.     

Solar particle propagation from 1 to 5 AU

A statistical analysis of solar particle events, observed by the GSFC-UNH charged particle detector on board Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 from March 1972 to December 1974 (from 1 to 5 AU for each spacecraft), is carried out with the goal of experimentally determining the statistical average interplanetary propagation conditions from 3 to 30 MeV. A numerical propagation model is developed that includes diffusion with a diffusion coefficient of the form k _r =k _o r , convection, adiabatic deceleration, and a variable coronal injection profile. The statistical analysis is carried out by individually analyzing each of five parameters (t _max, (t_max), t ₅, ) that are uniquely defined in a solar particle event. Each of the five parameter data sets were analyzed in terms of both a spacecraft-solar flare connection longitude 50°, and a numerical model that employed a variable exponential decaying coronal injection profile.The five individual parameter analyses are combined with the results that the statistical average radial interplanetary diffusion coefficient from 1 to 5 AU is given by k _r = (1.2 ± 0.4) × 10²¹ cm² s^-1 with = 0.0± 0.3 for 3.4 to 5.2 MeV protons and k _r = (2.6 ± 0.6) × 10²¹ cm² s^-1 with () = 0.0± 0.3 for 24 to 30 MeV protons. Using the classical relationship for the radial scattering mean free path _r, i.e. k _r = _r/3, we obtain _r = 0.09 ± 0.03 AU and 0.075 ± 0.020 AU for the low and high energy data, respectively. These results show, from 1 to 5 AU and from 3 to 30 MeV, that _r is both independent of radial distance and approximately independent of rigidity (for _r~P , where P = rigidity, = -0.15 ± 0.20).The above diffusion coefficients are inconsistent With both the predictions of the diffusion coefficient from present theoretical transport models and with the diffusion coefficient used in modulation studies at low energies.     

Plasmasphere response to the onset of quiet magnetic conditions: Plasma convection patterns

A whistler study has been made of plasma convection within the plasmasphere during a transition from steady moderate geomagnetic activity to quiet conditions. Continuous whistler data recorded at Sanae, Antarctica (L= 3.98) for the period 0400 UT, 10 July to 0400 UT, 11 July 1973 have been analyzed in 15 min intervals.This study has revealed two distinct bulges in the plasmasphere centred on 1700 and 0100 UT. The bulges appear to result from the outward flow of plasma rather than the addition of new plasma. We tentatively interpret the late bulge at 0100 UT as being the duskside bulge of earlier studies rotated into the midnight region. In this bulge, plasma above L = 3.8 appears to convect outwards to form the bulge whereas plasma at lower L-values is relatively undisturbed. For the early bulge (1700 UT) the plasma convection pattern is similar over all observable L-values and closely reflects the shape of the estimated plasmapause in that region. Comparison of the bulges, with those obtained by Carpenter (1966) suggests that the onset of quiet conditions results in a general displacement of the bulges in an eastward direction by about 3 hr.     

Magnetic properties of x-ray bright points

Using high resolution KPNO magnetograms and sequences of simultaneous S-054 soft X-ray solar images we have compared the properties of X-ray bright points (XBP) and ephemeral active regions (ER). All XBP appear on the magnetograms as bipolar features, except for very newly emerged or old and decayed XBP. We find that the separation of the magnetic bipoles increases with the age of the XBP, with an average emergence growth rate of 2.2 ± 0.4 km s^–1. The total magnetic flux in a typical XBP living about 8 hr is found to be 2 x 10¹⁹ Mx. A proportionality is found between XBP lifetime and total magnetic flux, equivalent to 10²⁰ Mx per day of lifetime.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Auroral ion velocity distributions for a polarization collision model

We have calculated the effect that convection electric fields have on the velocity distribution of auroral ions at the altitudes where the plasma is weakly-ionized and where the various ion-neutral collision frequencies are much smaller than the ion cyclotron frequencies, i.e. between about 130 and 300 km. The appropriate Boltzmann equation has been solved by expanding the ion velocity distribution function in a generalized orthogonal polynomial series about a bi-Maxwellian weight factor. We have retained enough terms in the series expansion to enable us to obtain reliable quantitative results for electric field strengths as large as 90 mV m^?1. Although we have considered a range of ion-neutral scattering mechanisms, our main emphasis has been devoted to the long-range polarization interaction. In general, we have found that to lowest order the ion velocity distribution is better represented by a two-temperature or bi-Maxwellian distribution than by a one-temperature Maxwellian, with there being different ion temperatures parallel and perpendicular to the geomagnetic field. However, the departures from this zeroth-order bi-Maxwellian distribution become significant when the ion drift velocity approaches (or exceeds) the neutral thermal speed.     

The Jovian surface condition and cooling rate

A theory which is almost fully analytic is used to investigate Jupiter's cooling rate. We find that a simple model of contraction with adiabatic interior structure gives a total cooling time to the present which is in good agreement with the age of the solar system. The interplay between the surface condition and the cooling rate is exhibited and discussed. The current rate of change of the effective temperature is calculated to be ?1°K/0.145×10⁹ yr. Discrepancies with fully numerical investigations of the Jovian age and cooling rate are noted.     

High spectral resolution ground-based observations of Venus in the 450- to 1250-cm−1 region

Ground-based observations of Venus were made with a 5-cm drive Michelson interferometer during December 1970 and December 1973. The thermal emission spectrum of the central portion of the apparent disk was recorded from 450–1250 cm^?1 with an apodized spectral resolution of 0.25 cm^?1. All statistically significant sharp line absorption features in the spectrum have been identified with gaseous CO₂. Comparison between the observed spectrum and a synthetic spectrum computed from a model atmosphere, assuming gaseous CO₂ and a sulfuric acid haze as opacity sources, indicates good agreement. A broad diffuse absorption feature associated with the sulfuric acid haze is evident in the 870- to 930 cm^?1 region. With the exception of the rotational lines of the 927-cm^?1 CO₂ band, the above feature appears as a continuum down to 0.25 cm^?1 resolution. In the 750- to 1250-cm^?1 range, the spectrum exhibits moderate thermal contrast with maximum brightness temperatures of 234–238°K occurring near 825 cm^?1. These temperatures are in general agreement with previous measurements.     

A model for inferring canopy and underlying soil temperatures from multi-directional measurements

Thermal emission is modeled from a canopy/soil surface, where the soil and the leaves are at different temperatures,T _g andT _c respectively. The temperatureT _m corresponding to a radiometer reading is given by $$B_\lambda (T_m ) = \chi B_\lambda (T_g ) + (1 - \chi )B_\lambda (T_c ) ,$$ whereB _λ denotes the Planck blackbody function at wavelength λ, χ specifies the fraction of the field of view occupied by the soil at a given view direction, and an emissivity of 1.0 is assumed for the plants and the soil. The dependence of the soil-fraction χ on the view direction and the structure is expressed by the viewing-geometry parameter, which allows for concise and simple formulation. We observe from our model that at large view zenith angles, only the plants are effectively seen (that is, χ tends to zero), and thereforeT _c can be determined from observations at large zenith angles, to the extent that such observations are practical. Viewing from the zenith, χ = exp(-L _hc), whereL _hc is the projection of the canopy leaf-area (per unit surface area) on a horizontal plane. For off-zenith observations, the soil-fraction χ depends on the distribution in the azimuth of the projected areas of various leaf categories, in addition to the dependence on the sum total of these projections,L _hc.L _hc, rather than the leaf-area index, emerges as the parameter characterizing the optical thickness of the canopy. Inferring bothT _c andT _g from observations from the zenith and from large zenith angles is possible ifL _hc is known from other measurements. Drooping of leaves under water-stress conditions affects the observed temperatureT _m in a complicated way because a leaf-inclination change produces a change inL _hc (for the same leaf area) and also a change in the dependence of χ on the view direction. Water stress can produce an increase of the soil-fraction χ and thus tends to produce an exaggerated increase in the observed temperature compared to the actual increase in canopy temperature. These effects are analyzed for a simulated soybean canopy.