Ion signatures of reconnection at the magnetopause

For a rotational MHD discontinuity the bulk flow is Alfvénic in the de Hoffmann-Teller frame. Using AMPTE/IRM data, we present ion distribution functions during three crossings of the dayside low-latitude magnetopause. For these crossings a well defined de Hoffmann-Teller frame can be found, but the field-aligned bulk flow is always slower than the Alfvén speed. Nevertheless, we find signatures in the distribution functions that provide clear evidence for magnetic reconnection: solar wind ions reflected off the magnetopause, “D-shaped” solar wind ion distributions in the boundary layer, and counterstreaming of solar wind ions and ionospheric ions in the boundary layer.     

The electrolytical processes in dirty ices: implications for origin and chemistry of minor bodies and related objects.

Many moonlike bodies (M approximately or = 1 Moon) beyond the Martian orbit contain large amounts of dirty ice (approximately 50%) forming thick mantle with the solid phase thermal convection. When a body moves through the inter- or nearplanetary magnetized plasma, electric current is generated in the body and its environment. The current passing through a dirty ice containing up to 10% of organic admixtures produces a lot of electrochemical effects which have a profound impact on its composition. At this stage one can hardly say something definite concerning changes experienced by organics. The changes must occur inevitably and can be of a rather unexpected and far-reaching nature, so deserving a close study. Another obvious effect is a volumetric electrolysis of ice containing alien inclusions. The electrolysis products accumulate in ice in the form of a solid solution which is capable of detonation at 15-20 wt.% of 2H2 + O2. If M > or = 1 Moon (Galilean satellites, Titan), the body loses in explosion a part of its mass in the form of vapor and ice fragments (=short-period comet nuclei), whereas if M < or = 0.2 Moon, the body breaks up totally (the Main Belt asteroids origin approximately 3.9 Byr ago). 2H2 + O2 containing cometary nuclei are capable of burning or suffer new explosions when receiving an additional energy. The combustion in the sublimation products containing also light organics and 2H2 + O2 explains unexpected energetics and nearnuclear chemistry of Comet P/Halley (e.g. great abundances of negative and positive ions, atomic carbon, CO over CO2, origin of CHON particles etc) and its distant outbursts correlated, possibly, with the Solar activity. Thus the electrochemical processes in the dirty ice with organics, along with its subsequent thermal, radiative etc. processing, open up new potentials for explanation and prediction of quite unexpected discoveries.     

Evaluation of JGM 2 geopotential errors from Geosat, TOPEX/Poseidon and ERS-1 crossover altimetry

World-ocean distribution of the crossover altimetry data from Geosat, TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) and the ERS 1 missions have provided strong independent evidence that NASA's/CSR's JGM 2 geopotential model (70 × 70 in spherical harmonics) yields accurate radial ephemerides for these satellites. In testing the sea height crossover differences found from altimetry and JGM 2 orbits for these satellites, we have used the sea height differences themselves (of ascending minus descending passes averaged at each location over many exact repeat cycles) and the Lumped Latitude Coefficients (LLC) derived from them. For Geosat we find the geopotential-induced LLC errors (exclusive of non-gravitational and initial state discrepancies) mostly below 6 cm, for TOPEX the corresponding errors are usually below 2 cm, and for ERS 1 (35-day cycle) they are generally below 5 cm. In addition, we have found that these observations agree well overall with predictions of accuracy derived from the JGM 2 variance-covariance matrix; the corresponding projected LLC errors for Geosat, T/P, and ERS 1 are usually between 1 and 4 cm, 1 – 2 cm, and 1 – 4 cm, respectively (they depend on the filtering of long-periodic perturbations and on the order of the LLC). This agreement is especially impressive for ERS 1 since no data of any kind from this mission was used in forming JGM 2.

The observed crossover differences for Geosat, T/P and ERS 1 are 8, 3, and 11 cm (rms), respectively. These observations also agree well with prediction of accuracy derived from the JGM 2 variance-covariance matrix; the corresponding projected crossover errors for Geosat and T/P are 8 cm and 2.3 cm, respectively. The precision of our mean difference observations is about 3 cm for Geosat (approx. 24,000 observations), 1.5 cm for T/P (approx. 6,000 observations) and 5 cm for ERS 1 (approx. 44,000 observations). Thus, these “global” independent data should provide a valuable new source for improving geopotential models. Our results show the need for further correction of the low order JGM 2 geopotential as well as certain resonant orders for all 3 satellites.     

Ionospheric effects caused by barium releases

Results of experimental studies of the ionospheric effects produced by CRRES barium releases are considered. The experimental observations of HF spectral characteristics by Doppler method are made by a network of long distance radio paths intersecting the L-shell of releases. The time dependence of their occurrence relative to the moment of release and the character of changes of spectral parameters produces signal effects (SE) which may be classified as: the unique burst, the quasiperiodic group of bursts, the regular changes of spectral parameters and wave processes. Observed types of SE are analogous to those seen when the releases were produced at the heights from 140 to 160 km. The result of experimental observations testify that there are special geophysical phenomena produced by barium releases.     

Planetary rings: 2–23 centuries of nearly total ignorance, 4 years of information explosion

Saturn lies at nearly twice Jupiter's distance from the Sun and nearly all parts of its system are characterized by much smaller scales than those which are important in the case of Jupiter. This appears in the structures of the planet's atmosphere, in the sizes of classical satellites other than Titan vis-à-vis those of the Galilean satellites, in the plethora of small Saturnian satellites, especially Lagrangian co-orbiters, in the structure of Saturn's F-Ring as contrasted with that of Jupiter's Ring and finally in the highly structured detail in Saturn's Rings, much finer than seriously considered in past theoretical discussions. Uranus' Rings were unknown until five years ago. The discovery and observation of these rings have revived contributions to theory originally intended for application to Saturn's Rings. Models have also been generated for eccentric rings for application to Uranus' Rings which also apply to those of Saturn. These two classes of model are reviewed in the present paper along with the first tentative steps made down the road to unravelling the complexity of Saturn's Rings.     

Corotating interplanetary streams and associated ionospheric disturbances at Venus and Earth

During the summer of 1979, solar coronal structure was such that a sequence of recurrent regions produced a corresponding sequence of corotating solar wind streams, with pronounced downstream signatures. One of these stream events passed Earth on July 3, and was observed later at Venus late on July 11th, with similar characteristics. Corresponding in-situ measurements at Earth from the Atmospheric Explorer-E satellite and at Venus from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter are examined for evidence of comparable perturbations of the planetary ionospheres. The passage of the stream shock front is found to be associated with pronounced fluctuations in n(0⁺) which appear as pronounced local depletion of ion concentrations in both ionospheres. The ionosphere disturbances appear to be closely associated with large variations in the solar wind momentum flux. The implied local ionospheric depletions observed at each planet are interpreted to be the consequence of plasma redistribution, rather than actual depletions of plasma.     

Effects of heavy ion radiation on the brain vascular system and embryonic development.

Using neonatal rats as a model system, we investigated the response of the brain vascular system to ionizing radiation and found that distinct petechial hemorrhages developed in the cerebral cortex within a few hours after irradiation, reached a maximum about 13 to 24 hours, and decreased exponentially with time. No brain hemorrhage was found in neonatal rats 12 days after irradiation. Our experimental results indicate that a dose of a few hundred rad of X rays can induce a significant number of hemorrhages in the brain, and the number of lesions increases exponentially with dose. Heavy ions induce more hemorrhages than X rays for a given dose, and the RBE for 670 MeV/u neon particles ranges from about 2.0 for low doses to about 1.4 for high doses. A histological study of the hemorrhages indicates that a large number of red blood cells leak from the blood vessels. The radiation-induced hemorrhages may be a result of some capillary membrane damages or reproductive death of some blood vessel epithelial cells. The fast onset of hemorrhage after irradiation suggest that some membrane damage may be involved. The effect of heavy-ion radiation on the embryonic development was studied with energetic iron particles. Pregnant mice were whole-body irradiated with 600 MeV/u iron particles on day 6 of gestation and were sacrificed 12 days after irradiation. Various physical abnormalities were observed, and embryos irradiated with 1 rad iron particles showed retardation of body development.     

Flute or trio: Different approaches to optical arrays in space

FLUTE and TRIO are two versions of a proposed optical interferometer, intended as a first step towards large optical arrays. The two apertures of FLUTE are linked by solid members, while TRIO relies totally upon active stabilization techniques to maintain optical coherence with three satellites serving as array components. The feasibility of utilizing solar radiation pressure for fine control is studied.A natural and periodic variation of baseline spacing can be achieved by certain orbital configurations. Thus, skin panels having a tunable reflectivity suffice to obtain the fine corrections needed. Preliminary modelling indicates adequate controllability for such “chameleon” satellites. If suitable panel types can be developed, a TRIO system employing them would be preferred to FLUTE type structures. The longer (1 to 10 km) baselines achievable are of particular interest and the cost is probably lower.     

Model calculations of the dayside ionosphere of Venus

Model calculations of the dayside ionosphere of Venus are presented. The coupled continuity and momentum equations were solved for O₂⁺, O⁺, CO₂⁺, C⁺, N⁺, He⁺, and H⁺ density distributions, which are compared with measurements from the Pioneer Venus ion mass spectrometer. The agreement between the model results and the measurements is good for some species, such as O⁺, and rather poor for others, such as N⁺, indicating that our understanding of the dayside ion composition of Venus is incomplete. The coupled heat conduction equations for ions and electrons were solved and the calculated temperatures compared with Pioneer Venus measurements. It is shown that fluctuations in the magnetic field have a significant effect on the energy balance of the ionosphere.     

Comparative analysis of Venusian ionosphere dual-frequency radio soundings with the satellites Venera-9, 10 and Pioneer-Venus

A comparison of the Venusian ionosphere electron density profiles obtained by the dual-frequency radio occultation method for the satellites Venera-9,10 (1975) and the Pioneer-Venus orbiter (1978–1979) has been carried out. It is shown that the general nature of the profiles, the main maximum heights and electron densities, the ionopause height positions determined with the satellites Venera-9, 10 on the one hand and Pioneer-Venus orbiter on the other hand are in good agreement. This fact testifies to the reliability of the experimental dual-frequency radio occultation data. An attempt to compare the radio occultation data with the direct measurements points out the essential contradictions between them, which need detailed analysis and discussion.