Desmognathus folkertsi

Number of Pages: 3Integrative BiologyGeological Science

Overview of NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center's program on knowledge of atmospheric processes

The Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is charged with the responsibility to enhance aviation safety through improving understanding of various atmospheric phenomena. A brief discussion is presented concerning the tasks and work being accomplished by MSFC. The tasks are defined as follows: (1) to determine and define the turbulence and steady wind environments induced by buildings, towers, hills, trees, etc., (2) to identify, develop, and apply natural environment technology for the reconstruction and/or simulation of the natural environment for aircraft accident investigation and hazard identification, (3) to develop basic information about free atmosphere perturbations, (4) to develop and apply fog modification mathematical models to assess candidate fog modification schemes and to develop appropriate instrumentation to aquire basic data about fog. To accomplish these tasks MSFC has developed a program involving field data acquisition, wind tunnel studies, theoretical studies, data analysis, and flight simulation studies

Two-dimensional structure in a generic model of triangular proteins and protein trimers

Motivated by the diversity and complexity of two-dimensional crystals formed by triangular proteins and protein trimers, we have investigated the structures and phase behavior of hard-disk trimers. In order to mimic specific binding interactions, each trimer possesses on `attractive' disk which can interact with similar disks on other trimers via an attractive square-well potential. At low density and low temperature, the fluid phase mainly consists of tetramers, pentamers, or hexamers. Hexamers provide the structural motif for a high-density, low-temperature periodic solid phase, but we also identify a metastable periodic structure based on a tetramer motif. At high density there is a transition between orientationally ordered and disordered solid phases. The connections between simulated structures and those of 2D protein crystals -- as seen in electron microscopy -- are briefly discussed.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Plethodon petraeus

Number of Pages: 2Integrative BiologyGeological Science

B-57B gust gradient program

Analysis of data obtained from the Joint Airport Weather Studies Flights 6 and 7 is underway. Data from Flight 7 indicate that the B-57B encountered the upper portion of an outflow feature (microburst) at an altitude of 400 meters above ground level. Horizontal wind vector plots along the flight path have provided clues concerning the meteorological setting of the flights. In addition to suspected outflow features, wavelike variations of the horizontal wind vectors were observed. Statistical studies of gust gradients were undertaken with the goal of fitting probability density functions to the data. As expected, the density functions were highly non-Gaussian. Spectral analyses are proceeding and several spectral models for the gust gradient data are being investigated

Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Workshop on Meteorological and Environmental Inputs to Aviation Systems

The proceedings of a workshop held at the University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, Tennessee, March 28-30, 1978, are reported. The workshop was jointly sponsored by NASA, NOAA, FAA, and brought together many disciplines of the aviation communities in round table discussions. The major objectives of the workshop are to satisfy such needs of the sponsoring agencies as the expansion of our understanding and knowledge of the interactions of the atmosphere with aviation systems, as the better definition and implementation of services to operators, and as the collection and interpretation of data for establishing operational criteria, relating the total meteorological inputs from the atmospheric sciences to the needs of aviation communities

NASA/MSFC FY-83 Atmospheric Research Review

Atmospheric research conducted at the Marshall Space Flight Center in FY 1983 is discussed. Clear air turbulence, gusts, and fog dispersal near airports is discussed. The use of Doppler Lidar signals in discussed, as are low level flow conditions that are hazardous to aircraft

Significant events in low-level flow conditions hazardous to aircraft

Atmospheric parameters recorded during high surface winds are analyzed to determine magnitude, frequency, duration, and simultaneity of occurrence of low level flow conditions known to be hazardous to the ascent and descent of conventional aircraft and the space shuttle. Graphic and tabular presentations of mean and extreme values and simultaneous occurrences of turbulence (gustiness and a gust factor), wind shear (speed and direction), and vertical motion (updrafts and downdrafts), along with associated temperature inversions are included as function of tower height, layer and/or distance for six 5 sec intervals (one interval every 100 sec) of parameters sampled simultaneously at the rate of 10 speeds, directions and temperatures per second during an approximately 10 min period

The maxometer-dynamic and static tests

The ability to withstand extreme environmental conditions, such as the high flow velocities and extreme temperatures associated with the launch of aerospace vehicles, was considered in the developement of two maxometer models which are capable of measuring extremely high wind speeds (130 m/sec) and retaining a record of the peak speed over any given time period. The dynamic and static tests of these models are reported, along with pertinent results