Analysis of a Long-Distance System Measuring the Concentration of Atmospheric Gaseous Pollutants

A detailed inaccuracy and sensitivity analysis of a long-distance air pollution detection system, using a laser measuring the resonance absorption of polluting molecules, is introduced. The noise and the dynamic range of the radiation detectors used, the atmospheric inhomogeneities, and the atmospheric propagation losses of the electromagnetic radiation are considered. In addition, the best measuring path length as a function of a molecule density and atmospheric transparency and irregularity is discussed.     

Closed-Form Expressions for Noncoherent Radar Integration Gain and Collapsing Loss

Closed-form formulas allow rapid determination of noncoherent integration gain and integration loss when the single-sample IF signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is known. In addition, if the required SNR is known for any number of integrated pulses, the required SNR for any other number is easily determined. A closed-form expression is given for radar collapsing loss, expressed in terms of the equivalent integrated signal-to-noise ratio required to produce a given combination of false-alarm and detection probabilities. Alternatively, the single-sample signal-to-noise ratio of a set of samples may be used together with the closed-form expression for integration gain to get the equivalent integrated signal-to-noise ratio.     

Imaging of the outer planets and satellites

Imaging is the most widely applicable single means of exploring the outer planets and their satellites and also complements other planet-oriented instruments. Imaging generally is more effectively carried out from a three-axis stabilized spacecraft than from a spinning one.Both specific experimental and broader exploratory goals must be recognized. Photography of Jupiter from terrestrial telescopes has revealed features which were neither predictable or predicted. Close-up imaging from fly-bys and orbiters affords the opportunity for discovery of atmospheric phenomena on the outer planets forever beyond the reach of terrestrial laboratories and intuition. On the other hand, a large number of specific applications of close-up imaging to study the giant planets are suggested by experience in photography from Earth and Mars orbit, and by ground-based telescopic studies of Jupiter and Saturn. Photographic observations of horizontal and vertical cloud structure at both global and finer scale, and motions and other time changes, will be essential for the study of atmospheric circulation. Size and composition of cloud particles also is a credible objective of fly-by and orbiter missions carrying both imaging and photo-polarimeter experiments.The satellites of the outer planets actually constitute three distinct classes: lunar-sized objects, asteroidal-sized objects, and particulate rings. Imaging promises to be the primary observational tool for each category with results that could impact scientific thinking in the late 70's and 80's as significantly as has close-up photography of Mars and the Moon in the last 10 yr.Finally, it should be recognized that photography occupies a unique role in the interaction between science and the popular mind. This popular, educational aspect of imaging constitutes a unique aspect of 20th Century culture. Imaging therefore is not only a primary basis for scientific discovery in the exploration of the outer planets, but an important human endeavor of enduring significance.Contribution No. 2163 of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109.This is one of the publications by the Science Advisory Group.     

Radio physics of the outer solar system

The remote sensing of low frequency nonthermal radio emission is the astronomy of field and particle phenomena. Observations conducted from space lead to information about the composition and dynamic processes occurring in planetary magnetospheres as well as within the interplanetary and interstellar medium. The potential of this technique is demonstrated by considering observations obtained from Earth orbit missions.This is one of the publications by the Science Advisory Group.     

Elemental and isotopic abundances of the volatile elements in the outer planets

Certain fundamental scientific problems of a cosmological as well as cosmogonic character, may be solved by the insertion of entry probes into the atmospheres of the outer planets. It is recommended that attempts be made to determine the elemental and isotopic abundances of H, D, He³, He⁴, C, N, O, S, and the rare gas elements. These determinations should cast much light on the processes which participated in the assembly of the giant planets. This would give powerful boundary conditions on theories of the origin of the solar system, and would also give additional experimental information bearing on cosmology.This is one of the publications by the Science Advisory Group.     

Theoretical studies of interplanetary propagation and acceleration

Studies evaluating the transport coefficients for energetic particles in interplanetary space are described in relation to particle data.In position space, the main mode of propagation is along field lines but perpendicular diffusion and drift motion is also possible. Diffusion coefficients based on interplanetary magnetic field data are either derived from quasi-linear, adiabatic theory or this theory corrected for finite scattering near 90° pitch angle or by numerical techniques. Relevant particle data includes solar proton event time profile and anisotropy measurements. In general, when Fokker-Planck transport equation solutions are fitted to particle data, the parallel diffusion coefficients obtained still appear rather larger than those given by theoretical estimates. Perpendicular diffusion is shown to be due to field line wandering and random drift motion effects. The importance of drift motion in cosmic ray modulation theory is mentioned.Although much emphasis is currently placed upon shock acceleration in CIR's, statistical acceleration in interplanetary space must be considered. Energetic particles may gain energy from longitudinal waves and cyclotron resonance interactions. Analytical and numerical estimates of the energy space diffusion coefficients are considered. Some reveal a surprising importance to this statistical acceleration and can explain a variety of data.Presented at the Fifth International Symposium on Solar-Terrestrial Physics, held at Ottawa, Canada, May 1982.     

Solar cycle variations of cosmic ray intensity and large-scale structure of the heliosphere

This review summarizes some of the recent results obtained by ground-based detectors recording cosmic-ray intensity at high energies (>1 GeV) for almost five decades. The long-term changes observed in the isotropic and anisotropic components of cosmic-ray intensity are presented. It is noted in particular that significant changes occurred in the characteristics of cosmic-ray modulation after the 1969–70 period. Most of these are definitively related to the reversal of the solar poloidal field; their characteristics are described with a view to relate these with the heliospheric configuration. Anomalies in the variational characteristics of both isotropic and anisotropic parts of cosmic ray intensity, noticed particularly during the period of very high speed solar wind streams, are discussed in detail. Phenomena with periodicities of 11 and 22 years occur simultaneously; their relative importance is derived and related to interplanetary variables. Suggestions for further studies, as needed, are also incorporated.Presented at the Fifth International Symposium on Solar-Terrestrial Physics, held at Ottawa, Canada, May 1982.     

IMF control of the Earth's magnetosphere

We review recent progress in the understanding of the IMF control on the Earth's magnetosphere through the reconnection process. Major points include, (1) the identification of the magnetopause structure under the southward IMF polarity to be the rotational discontinuity and the resulting inference that the reconnection line is formed in the equatorial region, and (2) the confirmation from several observational aspects that under the northward IMF the reconnection takes place in the polar cusp. The point (1) is consistent with the observed correlations of geomagnetic indices with IMF but raises an important theoretical issue, and the point (2) is accompanied by an interesting issue of explaining why the polar cap electron precipitation is more energetic under such IMF conditions. Critical studies have reaffirmed the view that the energy supplied by reconnection is partly transported directly to the ionosphere to drive the DP-2 type current system but at the same time it is partly stored in the magnetic field of the tail to be unloaded 0.5 1 hr later to produce the expansion phase of substorm.Presented at the Fifth International Symposium on Solar-Terrestrial Physics, held at Ottawa, Canada, May 1982.     

Changes in the amino acid code.

The genetic code is characterized by a pattern arising from "wobble-pairing" between codons and anticodons, so that one nucleotide in the first anticodon position can pair with more than one nucleotide in the third position of a codon. Earlier codes may have existed in which there were fewer anticodons than at present, so that these earlier codes contained fewer amino acids. The universal code was formerly thought to be the only currently existing code used by terrestrial species. It is now known that differences exist from the universal code in mitochondrial coding systems, and also that mitochondrial systems differ from each other. These findings lend support to the proposal that archetypal codes preceded the present universal code. Such archetypal codes may have had some resemblances to mitochondrial codes.