Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics--1991 (1991) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
2 Status of Discipline
2 Status of Discipline
Pages 2-21
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 2... ...
DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC ISSUES Solar Physics REPORT MENU The three major aspects involved in scientific studies of the Sun -- the Sun NOTICE as a source of energy for the heliosphere, and in particular, for the Earth; the Sun MEMBERSHIP as a star; and the Sun as a laboratory for the study of basic physical FOREWORD processes -- are included in this assessment. The principal scientific goals of the SUMMARY solar physics program are as follows: CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 Understanding the physical origin and effects of solar and stellar CHAPTER 3 activity.
|
From page 3... ...
Because such a variation in the Sun would cause global climate changes on Earth with catastrophic social consequences, understanding the drivers of solar luminosity changes has been given very high priority. Flying in a fully sunlit orbit and carrying five major instruments to study the full temperature range of the solar atmosphere at high angular resolution, OSL is the most comprehensive and intensive solar physics mission ever developed.
|
From page 4... ...
Helioseismology and solar neutrino studies are also progressing. The principal problem areas are the extraordinarily long delay in achieving a new start for the Orbiting Solar Laboratory, multiyear gaps in irradiance measurements, and lack of a funded plan for U.S.
|
From page 5... ...
How does the stream structure imposed at the Sun and the global morphology of the heliospheric magnetic-field shape the solar wind and influence its interaction with the local interstellar medium? Understanding fundamental microscopic and macroscopic plasma processes, including the evolution of turbulence in the solar wind, the acceleration and transport of energetic particles, and the pickup of ions in the solar wind.
|
From page 6... ...
Current concerns include advanced development of technology required for future missions, oversubscription of Deep Space Network tracking support, and the decline in support for ground-based radio observations of the solar corona and solar wind. Cosmic Ray Physics The Field committee report (AMPS, 1983)
|
From page 7... ...
cosmic rays Spectra of high-energy electrons, positrons, and antiprotons Low-energy cosmic rays in the interstellar medium Acceleration, propagation, and composition of solar energetic particles Some of the highlights of cosmic ray physics in the 1980s were the Voyager and Pioneer observations of the solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays, further study of anomalous cosmic rays, and better understanding of the mass spectrum of solar cosmic rays. At the same time, progress in cosmic ray physics was limited by the cancellation of a Spacelab experiment to study high energy interactions and of re-flights of two experiments to measure cosmic ray nuclei.
|
From page 8... ...
In addition, a Heavy Nuclei Collector (HNC) , which would measure cosmic ray abundances of the heaviest elements in the periodic table, was conditionally selected for Space Station.
|
From page 9... ...
The second area is the investigation of particles accelerated within, or at the boundary of, the heliosphere. The most significant of these is the so-called "anomalous" cosmic ray component, apparently an accelerated sample of the neutral interstellar medium.
|
From page 10... ...
The Krimigis report recommended a coordinated program of multisatellite observations aimed at providing simultaneous information from the six critical regions as recommended in the Kennel report. In essence, this was the ISTP program.
|
From page 11... ...
Increased annual funding, continued support for mission operations and data analysis, technology development, coordinated campaigns, and a continuing suborbital program were to form a basis for studies of the thermosphere, middle atmosphere, and global electric circuit. Support for the Middle Atmosphere Program (MAP)
|
From page 12... ...
Progress has been made toward quantifying the relationship between lightning flash rate and the Maxwell current output above thunderstorms and into the global electric circuit. Atmospheric electric fields and ion mobilities have been measured using balloons and rockets.
|
From page 13... ...
Therefore, the NRC recommendations formed in the early 1980s are as valid today as then. Major gaps that still remain in previously recommended scientific studies include solar variability and its impact on weather and climate, and the global electric circuit and its role in the solar-terrestrial coupling process.
|
From page 14... ...
This positive response, however, has been negated by delays in implementation, program restructuring, and inattention to a number of recommendations. The net result is that the earlier scientific recommendations remain valid and will not be implemented until more than a decade after their formulation.
|
From page 15... ...
recommended a reorganization of the NASA Office of Space Science and Applications (OSSA) calling for the establishment of a separate Space Physics Division.
|
From page 16... ...
In addition, the report recommended that the funding agencies offer incentives to encourage researchers to provide useful and appropriate data sets and that projects identify resources needed for data archiving at project initiation. Finally, the report recommended the formation of data archival groups consisting of discipline specialists to review archival activities and to help search for useful but non-archived data collections.
|
From page 17... ...
As the above progress indicates, NASA has been generally responsive to the recommendations from NRC reports, and this important program has indeed been revitalized. Unfortunately, cost overruns in the current Explorer program continue to cause delays, and it now appears that the first of the new Delta-class Explorers will not be launched until more than 10 years after it was proposed.
|
From page 18... ...
This section briefly addresses some of the issues specific to solar and space physics. Theory and Modeling A major review of the field of space plasma physics by the SSB in the late 1970s Space Plasma Physics: The Study of Solar System Plasma, (National Academy of Sciences, 1978 -- the Colgate report)
|
From page 19... ...
The current program supports a larger number of groups with roughly twice the original total funds covering the full scope of the Space Physics Division, but with an average award of ~$275K. This is a good deal less than the original level of support when 11 years of inflation is taken into account.
|
From page 20... ...
2. The NSF Internet and NASA Space Physics Analysis Network (SPAN)
|
From page 21... ...
Overall, however, the Rocket program declined in the 1980s because inflation was not covered from 1987 through 1989, active experiments were removed from the program, and Rocket program money was spent on development of a fine-pointing capability for the Spartans. The Spartan program was designed to provide relatively long flights (~40 hours)
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.