Laboratory evaluation and application of microwave absorption properties under simulated conditions for planetary atmospheres. Annual Status report, 1 February-31 October 1989

Technical Report · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:6982298

Steffes, P G

Radio absorptivity data for planetary atmospheres obtained from spacecraft radio occultation experiments and earth-based radio astronomical observations can be used to infer abundances of microwave absorbing atmospheric constituents in those atmospheres, as long as reliable information regarding the microwave absorbing properties of potential constituents is available. Work performed has shown that laboratory measurements of the millimeter-wave opacity of ammonia between 7.5 mm and 9.3 mm and also at the 3.2 mm wavelength require a different lineshape to be used in the theoretical prediction for millimeter-wave ammonia opacity than was previously used. The recognition of the need to make such laboratory measurements of simulated planetary atmospheres over a range of temperatures and pressures which correspond to the altitudes probed by both radio occultation experiments and radio astronomical observations, and over a range of frequencies which correspond to those used in both radio occultation experiments and radio astronomical observations, has led to the development of a facility at Georgia Tech which is capable of making such measurements. It has been the goal of this investigation to conduct such measurements and to apply the results to a wide range of planetary observations, both spacecraft and earth-based, in order to determine the identity and abundance profiles of constituents in those planetary atmospheres.

• Research Organization: Georgia Inst. of Tech., Atlanta, GA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6982298
• Report Number(s): N-90-15025; NASA-CR--185916; SA-SR--12; NAS--1.26:185916
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTIVITY
AMMONIA
ATMOSPHERES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DATA
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NUMERICAL DATA
OPACITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
PROGRESS REPORT
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SIMULATION
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
THEORETICAL DATA