Dynamic model of the Earth's upper atmosphere

An initial modification to the MSF/J70 Thermospheric Model, in which the variations due to sudden geomagnetic disturbances upon the Earth's upper atmospheric density structure were modeled is presented. This dynamic model of the geomagnetic variation included is an improved version of one which SAO developed from the analysis of the ESRO 4 mass spectrometer data that was incorporated in the Jacchia 1977 model. The variation with geomagnetic local time as well as with geomagnetic latitude are included, and also the effects due to disturbance of the temperature profiles in the region of energy deposition

A catalog of atmospheric densities from the drag on five artificial satellites

Atmospheric densities from satellite drag dat

Diurnal and seasonal-latitudinal variations in the upper atmosphere

Diurnal and seasonal-latitudinal variations in upper atmospher

Radiation pressure and air drag effects on the orbit of the balloon satellite 1963 30D

Computed orbits of the balloon satellite 1963 30D are given every 2 days over an interval of 456 days near the beginning of the satellite's lifetime and an interval of 824 days near the end of its lifetime. The effects of radiation pressure on the satellite are examined in some detail. It is found that the variations in all the elements can be represented by use of a single parameter to specify the effect of diffuse reflection from the satellite's surface, and that this parameter remains constant, or nearly so, during the entire 7-year lifetime. Success in obtaining a consistent representation of the radiation-pressure effects is ascribed to the inclusion of the effects of terrestrial radiation pressure, using a model for the earth's albedo that includes seasonal and latitudinal variations. Anomalous effects in the orbital acceleration, as well as in the other elements, are represented quite well by including a small force at right angle to the solar direction and by allowing this to rotate about the solar direction. This implies that the satellite is aspherical, that it is rotating, and that the axis of rotation precesses

A survey of the problem and research needs in the coastal zone

Coastal zone oceanography emphasizing pollution and geological processes - bibliograph

A study of the semiannual density variation in the upper atmosphere from 1958 to 1966, based on satellite drag analysis

Semiannual density variation in upper atmosphere from 1958 to 1966 based on satellite drag analysi

A catalog of atmospheric densities from the drag on five balloon satellites

A catalog of atmospheric densities derived for the drag on five balloon satellites is presented. Much of the catalog was based on precisely reduced Baker-Nunn observations and, for that reason, provides much improved time resolution. The effect of direct solar radiation pressure was precisely evaluated, and that of terrestrial radiation pressure was included in every case. The interval covered for each satellite varies between 3.1 and 7.6 years, with the data extending from early 1961 to early 1973

Potential Impact of the Development of Lignite Reserves on Water Resources of East Texas

This study was conducted for the Office of Water Resources Research and Technology in the U.S. Department of the Interior by the Texas Engineering Experiment Station at Texas A&M University. The project was concerned with identifying potential adverse effects of lignite strip mining and lignite utilization on the hydrology and water quality of the area. Both field and desk studies were conducted to evaluate the potential impact of lignite development on water resources of the area. Field studies included (1) monthly water sampling for a one-year period of streams, lakes and wells near the strip-mined areas at Fairfield and Rockdale and at control stations located away from the lignite development; (2) leaching studies of the lignite and overburden at Fairfield and Rockdale; (3) precipitation samples collected under the airborne waste plume from the lignite-fueled electric generating plant at Fairfield; and (4) a limited trace element enrichment study in the soils around the plant at Fairfield. Potential lignite reserves, as defined by the Bureau of Economic Geology, include about 41 percent of the outcrop area of the Wilcox Aquifer. Strip mining can change the hydrologic characteristics of the area and full development of the near-surface lignite reserves in east and east central Texas could have a significant impact on the groundwater resources of the region. Changes in the recharge rate of the Wilcox aquifer should be considered when identifying new lignite deposits for development. Also hydrologic characteristics should be considered when developing reclamation plans for the spoil area. Lignite-fired power plants cause environmental modifications of considerable magnitude and consume a significant quantity of water. During the 35-year expected life of a l,000-megawatt, lignite-fired power plant, about 21,000 acres of land would typically be strip mined. Approximately 25 percent of the identified near-surface lignite deposits are committed to existing and presently planned lignite-fired power plants in Texas. The Development of deep-basin lignite deposits in the near future appear inevitable. Lignite can contain elevated concentrations of certain trace elements and power plants tend to concentrate these elements. A l,OOO-megawatt plant requires approximately six million tons of lignite per year. When the lignite is fired at the plant some trace metals are concentrated in the fly ash (arsenic, iron, manganese and lead), while others are discharged from the stack primarily as a vapor (mercury and selenium). Improper handling and disposal of fly ash could result in pollution of water supplies. Precipitation samples collected at Fairfield under the airborne waste plume from the Big Brown plant had elevated concentrations of chromium, iron, manganese, selenium and phosphate when compared to background precipitation samples. A trace element enrichment study of the soils around the plant should be conducted to monitor the concentrations of those elements that could adversely affect the plant and animal life of the area. Small surface streams near Rockdale and Fairfield had elevated levels of zinc, selenium, manganese and sulfate as compared to other surface waters observed in the study. Strip mining or power generation was probably not the primary source of the elevated levels of these parameters. A water quality study should be initiated to accurately identify the source of these elevated parameters. Water quality in the cooling lakes at the Alcoa plant near Rockdale and the Big Brown plant near Fairfield was generally good. Highest observed values of many of the surface water quality parameters were in the spoil lake in the strip-mined area at Alcoa. Since there appears to be a direct hydraulic connection between water in the spoil lake and the shallow groundwater aquifer in the area, poor water quality in the lake could adversely affect the groundwater. Additional groundwater studies were recommended for both the Rockdale area and the Fairfield area

Isotopic Variability of Mercury in Ore, Mine-Waste Calcine, and Leachates of Mine-Waste Calcine from Areas Mined for Mercury

The isotopic composition of mercury (Hg) was determined in cinnabar ore, mine-waste calcine (retorted ore), and leachates obtained from water leaching experiments of calcine from two large Hg mining districts in the U.S. This study is the first to report significant mass-dependent Hg isotopic fractionation between cinnabar ore and resultant calcine. Data indicate that δ202Hg values relative to NIST 3133 of calcine (up to 1.52‰) in the Terlingua district, Texas, are as much as 3.24‰ heavier than cinnabar (−1.72‰) prior to retorting. In addition, δ202Hg values obtained from leachates of Terlingua district calcines are isotopically similar to, or as much as 1.17‰ heavier than associated calcines, most likely due to leaching of soluble, byproduct Hg compounds formed during ore retorting that are a minor component in the calcines. As a result of the large fractionation found between cinnabar and calcine, and because calcine is the dominant source of Hg contamination from the mines studied, δ202Hg values of calcine may be more environmentally important in these mined areas than the primary cinnabar ore. Measurement of the Hg isotopic composition of calcine is necessary when using Hg isotopes for tracing Hg sources from areas mined for Hg, especially mine water runoff

The Atlantic Ocean at the last glacial maximum: 1. Objective mapping of the GLAMAP sea-surface conditions

Recent efforts of the German paleoceanographic community have resulted in a unique data set of reconstructed sea-surface temperature for the Atlantic Ocean during the Last Glacial Maximum, plus estimates for the extents of glacial sea ice. Unlike prior attempts, the contributing research groups based their data on a common definition of the Last Glacial Maximum chronozone and used the same modern reference data for calibrating the different transfer techniques. Furthermore, the number of processed sediment cores was vastly increased. Thus the new data is a significant advance not only with respect to quality, but also to quantity. We integrate these new data and provide monthly data sets of global sea-surface temperature and ice cover, objectively interpolated onto a regular 1°x1° grid, suitable for forcing or validating numerical ocean and atmosphere models. This set is compared to an existing subjective interpolation of the same base data, in part by employing an ocean circulation model. For the latter purpose, we reconstruct sea surface salinity from the new temperature data and the available oxygen isotope measurements