Thermal and thermosolutal convective effects in bridgman solidification: Effect of orientation relative to gravity

A concentrated binary system (Ge-Si) and a dilute one (Ge-Ga) have been solidified at 1 g, in a new vertical Bridgman furnace where radial thermal gradients have been minimized. Very different solutal boundary layer extents (δ_Ge-Si = 3 cm, δ_Ge-Ga = 2.5 mm) obtained for both systems solidified in the same thermal conditions are explained by simple analytical hydrodynamic models. It is demonstrated that :1. The convective transport of Ga in the Ge-Ga system is due to the unavoidable residual horizontal thermal gradients associated with discontinuity of thermal properties at the solid-liquid interface.2. The larger boundary layer extent observed for Ge-Si and the corresponding pure diffusive transport is the result of the stabilizing effect of the longitudinal solutal gradient in this system.Thus, in the case of dilute systems, convective effects can only be cancelled through a reduction of the gravity level. On the opposite, pure diffusive solute transport can be achieved in the vertical configuration a 1 g in the case of concentrated systems where a stabilizing solutal effect is operating.     

Radio aurora magnetic and streaming aspect sensitivities on 6 simultaneous links at 50 MHz

During August 1981, a 50 MHz c.w. radar system was operated in central Canada to measure auroral scatter amplitudes and Doppler spectra from a scattering region centered near 66° magnetic invariant latitude (L ≈ 6.0). Narrow beams from 3 transmitters, differing in frequency by 1 KHz, were directed to cover a common volume of the ionosphere over a ground location at 56.3°N, 103.5°W. The scattered signals were received on narrow beam antennas at two receiving sites, and recorded in analog form on magnetic tape under the control of an AIM65 microcomputer. The analog tapes were digitized later and FFT-processed to obtain Doppler spectra and amplitudes.The 6 transmission paths were designed to provide several magnetic aspect angles varying by 1.5°-7° from perpendicularity with the earth's field B and two streaming aspect angles differing by ～38°. The objective was to employ controlled geometric factors to study the functional dependency of signal amplitudes and Doppler shifts on magnetic and streaming aspect angles. Several hundred hours of excellent data were obtained in continuous operation during the month of August 1981. Preliminary results will be reported.     

Analysis of gravity-wave induced instabilities and turbulence viscosity parameters from optical emissions

The effects of gravity waves on OH and 5577 0I emissions have been used to investigate (1) the possible production of “secondary” waves or “ripples” by a “primary” wave; (2) the possible application of such observed optical emissions for computing atmospheric parameters such as turbulence viscosity in the mesospheric regions.     

Sea surface temperature measurement from satellites: Validation and accuracy

A review of the latest published results concerning the accuracy of satellite derived sea surface temperature (SST) estimation is presented. Two types of platforms are considered : orbiting satellites and geosynchronous satellites and the accuracies that may now be expected from such systems are reported. This review emphasizes the impressive improvement in global mapping of SST obtained from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on NOAA's operational polar satellites. Tests of the AVHRR SST's against a high reliability data set consisting of buoys, bathythermographs and research ship reports indicate biases of < 0.1°C and RMS differences of < 0.75°C (McClain [1]). Particular attention is also paid to a method adding along track scanning capability to the present multichannel AVHRR technique. This method is demonstrated owing to the coupling of an orbiting satellite (TIROS-N) and a geosynchronous satellite (METEOSAT). Another type of coupling of two such platforms is also presented in connection with the advent of geostationary satellites equipped with a vertical sounding capability, such as GOES-4.     

Physical characteristics of the upper layers of Saturn's atmosphere

Analysis of polarimetric observations of Saturn was carried out. In the long wave-length spectral range (λ > 0.5μm) polarimetric observations do not contradict the model of spherical or irregular randomly oriented particles. In the short wave-length spectral interval (λ < 0.5μm) it is necessary to take into account the scattering by oriented particles.     

Empirical models of the thermosphere and requirements for improvements

The different types of variation in the thermosphere are briefly examined and the solar-activity effect is singled out for special attention. To this day, empirical models have made use of the decimetric solar flux F_10.7 as an index of the variable XUV radiation from the sun. To account for the change in the relative intensity of the different types of emissions in the course of the solar cycle, F_10.7 is made to perform double duty: The daily values are used to represent the day-to-day and “27-day” variations, while its averages over several solar rotations are used to represent the variations with the 11-year cycle. The availability of direct solar XUV data should eventually eliminate the need for such a make-shift procedure. Accuracy and continuity requirements of XUV intensity measurements are discussed and a strategy is outlined for sorting out the relevant features from the observational material and putting them to practical use in thermospheric modeling. It is suggested that future models of the diurnal and the geomagnetic variation use as a guide theoretical models which have achieved considerable success in qualitatively representing the observed phenomena.     

Diamagnetic aspects of the coronal transient phenomenon

If a magnetic structure emerges into the solar atmosphere containing a preexisting magnetic field, the preexisting field must be moved aside to allow space for the emerging flux. Under these conditions, provided the ambient field strength decreases outward with radial distance, the ambient field may tend to pinch off the emerging field through magnetic reconnection and expell it outward. Here, a model is developed to demonstrate this effect and to evaluate its relevance to the coronal transient phenomenon. In particular, we argue that, if magnetic reconnection can be initiated in such a configuration, the upward force produced by the ambient field is enhanced and, depending upon the internal conditions of the configuration, a coronal transient could be initiated in this manner.     

The waves observed in the ARAKS-East experiment

Experimental results of the Wave measurements over frequency range 0.1–5.0 MHz during the second launch of the ARAKS Experiment (15.02.75) are reported. The differences between the results of the first and the second launches are discussed.