Recent Advances in Planetary Sciences Posters
Presiding: P Schenk, Lunar and Planetary Institute; R M Nelson, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
P21D-01 0830h
Disintegration of the Solar System, and Implications for the Cohesion of Planetary Systems, Galaxies, and the Universe
The disintegration of the solar planetary system is quantitatively modeled, and the implications for the disintegration of planetary stellar systems, the galaxies, and of the universe are shown. Since their formation, the sun, stars, galaxies, and the Universe have been loosing mass by radiation. The radiative mass loss causes a proportional loss of gravity of these entities, and as a consequence, a loss of cohesion of these systems. Sun, stars, and galaxies, in addition, loose mass by solar wind and equivalent processes. Planetary orbital changes of the solar system are calculated as a function of time using radiative and solar wind mass loss. The calculations predict that Pluto, Earth, and Mercury will separate from the solar system in 1.34, 52.8, and 137.0 billion years (Byr), respectively. Presently these planets are predicted to separate at a rate of 4.42, 2.84E-03, and 4.21E-04 km/yr. This increases the orbital periods of Pluto, Earth, and Mercury by 15.9, 9.09E-04, and 8.35E-05 s/year, which translates for Earth to about 0.9 seconds per thousand years. Results for all planets are presented. Radiative loss of mass and gravity of stellar systems results in the loss of cohesion of galaxies, causing them to expand. The radiative loss of mass and gravity of galaxies reduces their cohesion, and thus reduces the cohesion of the Universe. Consequently, the Universe is predicted to expand due to the radiative mass and gravity loss of its stellar and galactic constituents. The model predicts that the Universe initially expanded at a lower rate than presently, which has been observed experimentally. It is further shown that an initial slow expansion is followed by linear expansion in agreement with the Hubble constant. Einstein's relativistic gravity doubling provides a solution to the problem of the contraction of the universe. This effect is based on the theory of relativity and on experimental observations, which show that, photons carry twice the gravity of the mass from which they originate. Thus, the gravity of the universe is increasing by the radiative decay of mass. Absorption by black holes provides a mechanism for the concentration of the radiation and its associated gravity. It also provides a rational for the eventual collapse of the universe without the necessity of dark matter. Previous models of the Universe hypothesize that its stability and that of its constituents depends on negative and dark energies, dark matter, or interaction with parallel universes. The present model of radiative mass and gravity loss is based on established science and avoids hypothetical and experimentally unconfirmed effects.
P21D-02 0830h
On Disk-Planet Precessional Motions
The secular variations of a planetary system during the dispersal of its precursor disk is a fundamental problem of early solar system history. Secular resonances, i.e., 1:1 commensurabilities between various apsidal and nodal precession rates among the planets can be temporarily generated by the decaying background gravitational potential of the gas disk. There are powerful torques associated with secular resonances that transport angular momentum and lead to significant changes in orbital eccentricities and/or inclinations. Although the importance of secular resonance sweeping has long been recognized, some models that track this event have been incomplete in that the forced motions of the disk were not taken into account. Disk motions can significantly alter the predicted orbital precession rates of the objects orbiting within it and modify the overall response to the secular sweeping mechanism. Examples of this effect will be presented and discussed.
P21D-03 0830h
Sulfur Volcanism on Io, Beyond Pele
The Pele plume is one of the largest and most dynamic of the plumes on Io. While elemental sulfur (S2) was long suspected to be a constituent of the Pele plume (McEwen and Soderblom 1980), spectral observations obtained in 1999 were the first to positively identify and quantify the density of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and S2 gas (Spencer et al. 2000) within the plume. The S2 /SO2 ratio derived from this observation provided a critical component necessary for the constraint of the magma chemistry and vent conditions of the Pele plume (Zolotov and Fegley 1998). In February 2003, March 2003 and January 2004 additional Pele plume transmission spectra were obtained during Jupiter transit with Hubble's Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), using the 0.1 arcsec long slit and the G230LB grating. These spectra covered the 2100-3100 Ã… wavelength region and extended spatially along Io's limb both northward and westward of Pele. The S2 and SO2 absorption signatures evident in the newly acquired STIS data indicate that the gas signature at Pele was temporally variable, and that an S2 absorption signature was present at other latitude and longitudes, suggesting the presence of other S2 bearing plumes on Io. Contemporaneous with the spectral data UV and visible-wavelength images of the plume were obtained in reflected sunlight with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) prior to Jupiter transit. The dust scattering recorded in these data provide an additional qualitative measure of plume activity on Io indicating that the degree of dust scattering over Pele varied as a function of the date of observation, and that there were several other dust bearing plumes active just prior to Jupiter transit. We will present constraints on the composition and variability of the gas abundances of the Pele plume as well as other S2 bearing plumes recorded within the STIS data, as a function of time.
P21D-04 0830h
A Theory of the Equilibrium Figure and Gravitational Field of the Galilean Satellite Io: The Second Approximation. The problem of the interpetation of the Galileo gravitational data
We construct a theory of the equilibrium figure and gravitational field of the Galilean satellite Io to within terms of the second order in the small parameter. We show that to describe all effects of the second approximation, the equation for the figure of the satellite must contain not only the components of the second spherical function, but also the components of the third and fourth spherical functions. The contribution of the third spherical function is determined by the Love number of the third order h3,whose model value is 1.6582.Measurements of the third-order gravitational moments could reveal the extent to which the hydrostatic equilibrium conditions are satisfied for Io. These conditions are J3=C32=0 and C31/C33=-6.We have calculated the corrections of the second order of smallness to the gravitational moments J2 and C22 .We conclude that when modeling the internal structure of Io, it is better to use the observed value of k2 than the moment of inertia derived from k2 .The corrections to the lengths of the semiaxes of the equilibrium figure of Io are all positive and equal to about 64.5, 26,and 14 m for the a,b, and c axes, respectively. Our theory allows the parameters of the figure and the third and fourth-order gravitational moments that differ from zero to be calculated.
P21D-05 0830h
Photochemistry of the Martian Atmosphere: Global Model and Seasonal, Latitudinal, and Diurnal Variations
Three types of models have been developed to study Mars' photochemistry. A steady-state model for global-mean conditions is the only way to calculate abundances of the long living species (H2, O2, and CO) and therefore to validate a chosen photochemistry. A steady-state model for local conditions adopts the known abundances of H2, O2, and CO and the photochemistry from the global-mean model to simulate the measured abundances of O3, O2(1Δ), and H2O2 and their variations with local conditions for a diurnal-mean insolation. A time-dependent model for local conditions is for the same purpose but accounts for the local-time variability. The local models were calculated at the conditions of the O3 (Espenak et al. 1991, Clancy et al. 1999), O2(1Δ) (Krasnopolsky 2003), and H2O2 (Clancy et al. 2004, Encrenaz et al. 2004) observations. Input data for the models (temperature profiles, H2O abundances, and dust opacities) are taken from the MGS/TES observations (Smith 2004), simultaneous or made at similar conditions. Comparison of results of the models with the observations favors an effective heterogeneous sink of odd hydrogen on the surface of water ice particles in the clouds and hazes on Mars. This sink reduces the strong anticorrelation between water vapor and ozone which follows from the pure gas-phase models. Results of the modeling and their implications will be discussed.
P21D-06 0830h
Comparing Time Domain Electromagnetics (TEM) and Early-Time TEM for Mapping Highly Conductive Groundwater in Mars Analog Environments
Introduction: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of (diffusive) Time Domain Electromagnetics (TEM) for sounding of subsurface water in conductive Mars analog environments. To provide a baseline for such studies, I show data from two field studies: 1) Diffusive sounding data (TEM) from Pima County, Arizona; and 2) Shallower sounding data using the Fast-Turnoff TEM method from Peña de Hierro in the Rio Tinto region of Spain. The latter is data from work conducted under the auspices of the Mars Analog Research and Technology Experiment (MARTE). Pima County TEM Survey: A TEM survey was carried out in Pima County, Arizona, in January 2003. Data was collected using 100 m Tx loops and a ferrite-cored magnetic coil Rx antenna, and processed using commercial software. The survey used a 16 Hz sounding frequency, which is sensitive to slightly salty groundwater. Prominent features in the data from Arizona are the ~500 m depth of investigation and the ~120 m depth to the water table, confirmed by data from four USGS test wells surrounding the field area. Note also the conductive (~20-40 ‰ m) clay-rich soil above the water table. Rio Tinto Fast-Turnoff TEM Survey: During May and June of 2003, a Fast-Turnoff (early time) TEM survey was carried out at the Peña de Hierro field area of the MARTE project, near the town of Nerva, Spain. Data was collected using 20 m and 40 m Tx loop antennae and 10 m loop Rx antennae, with a 32 Hz sounding frequency. Data from Line 4 (of 16) from this survey, collected using 40 m Tx loops, show ~200 m depth of investigation and a conductive high at ~90 m depth below Station 20 (second station of 10 along this line). This is the water table, matching the 431 m MSL elevation of the nearby pit lake. The center of the "pileup" below Station 60 is spatially coincident with the vertical fault plane located here. Data from Line 15 and Line 14 of the Rio Tinto survey, collected using 20 m Tx loops, achieve ~50 m depth of investigation and show conductive highs at ~15 m depth below Station 50 (Line 15) and Station 30 (Line 14), interpreted as subsurface water flow under mine tailings matching surface flows seen coming out from under the tailings, and shown on maps. Conclusions: Results from the Pima County TEM survey were in good agreement with control data from the four USGS test wells located around the field area. This survey also achieved very acceptable 500+ m depths of investigation. Both of the interpretations from Rio Tinto data (Line 4, and Lines 15 & 14) were confirmed by preliminary results from the MARTE ground truth drilling campaign carried out in September and October 2003. Drill Site 1 was moved ~50 m based on recommendations built on data from Line 15 and Line 14 of the Fast-Turnoff TEM survey.
http://joern.jernsletten.name/myself/hfk6lkj2kjdf7jgf/files.html
P21D-07 0830h
Topographic Profiles of Terrestrial Alluvial Fans in Southwestern California: An Analog for `Mojave' Crater Fans on Mars
In the Xanthe Terra region of Mars, unique fan-shaped landforms are observed associated with the walls of 60-km diameter `Mojave' Crater in high-resolution Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) images. These 500-m radial length fans have many morphologic attributes consistent with formation of fans by water and gravity-driven alluvial sedimentation. The purpose of this investigation is to obtain precise topographic measurements of terrestrial alluvial fans that will provide constraints for further evaluating hypothesized formation processes (debris versus fluvial flows) of the `Mojave' Crater fans. Longitudinal and transverse profiles for six alluvial fans in southwestern California were acquired to compare with similarly-scaled fan-shaped landforms found at `Mojave' Crater. The fans surveyed represent a continuum of formation processes: fluvial-dominated alluvial fans, composite fans and debris cones. Five of the fans are located on the eastern side of Soda Mountains, near Zzyzx, CA, while a sixth fan is on the eastern flank of Eagle Mountain south of Death Valley Junction, CA. Topographic data was acquired using a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). The Trimble 4800 Total Station and roving receiver yields topographic data with <4 cm horizontal and vertical accuracy. Several potentially useful attributes of fan morphology were observed. The radial slope of fans where debris flow processes dominated is constant while a concave-upward is associated with fluvially-fed fans. Several thousand years may be needed for fluvial modification of a composite fan to generate a weak concavity. The length of the fan radii and the fan surface gradient are inversely correlated. In these examples, shorter fans (<200 m) resulted from debris flows and have a steeper average fan slope (>15 degrees) relative to longer (>400 m), shallower (<7 degrees) fans formed via fluvial flow. Convex transverse profiles indicative of a semi-conical form were typically observed for end-member fans (fluvial or debris-flow dominated), whereas composite fans were characterized by irregular profiles.
P21D-08 0830h
Variations in Mars' Gravitational Field as Computed From the NASA/Ames General Circulation Model.
The NASA-Ames General Circulation Model has been used to compute time series for the variations in the Stokes coefficients expressing Mars' gravitational field in spherical harmonics. The sources of the variations are changes in the mass distribution of the atmosphere and changes in the planetary ice caps. The latter are due mainly to the condensation and sublimation of CO2 on the surface of Mars. Variations were obtained for coefficients up to degree and order 40, which is the maximum allowed by the spatial definition of the model. The time series covered a period of a full Martian year of 669 sols with a time step of 1.5 hours. The time series were analyzed by means of fast Fourier transforms. The largest variations occur in C10 corresponding to a 27.5 mm. displacement of the center of mass in the z-direction. Other geoidal variations are C30 (17.7mm.), C20 (11.4 mm.) and C50 (10.0 mm.). The main harmonics are annual, (1/2)-annual and (1/3)-annual. Most of the power is due to ice caps variations. Mars Global Surveyor trajectory runs with and without the above orbit perturbations yield RMS differences in total position of 4.8 meters over a seven day arc. A seven-day simulated tracking data least-squares solution in which some level of the perturbations is absorbed into initial state parameters yields RMS differences of 0.36 meters in total position.
P21D-09 0830h
Elastic Thickness Estimates for the Northern Lowlands of Mars
The northern hemisphere lowlands of Mars cover approximately one-third of the surface of the planet. While crustal remnant magnetization is very strong in much of the Martian highlands, in contrast only a few low amplitude anomalies occur in the lowlands [Acuna et al., 1999]. The scarcity of magnetic anomalies in the lowlands remains unexplained. Crater counts for the northern lowlands basement based on analyses of high-resolution MOLA maps show that they are comparable in age to the southern highlands [Frey, 2004]. Since the basement age is so similar, it seems unlikely that the dynamo could have been active during formation of the highlands but not the lowlands. Topography and gravity measured by the Mars Global Surveyor have enabled the determination of elastic thickness (Te) estimates in the highlands [e.g. McGovern et al., 2002]. However, there have been no successful estimates in the Northern lowlands with the exception of Utopia basin [Zuber et al., 2002]. The failure is assumed due to insufficient power in the topography. Although the northern plains have clearly been eroded, we find that for selected Northern lowland regions, the power in the topography is smaller but comparable to areas of the southern highlands, previously used to obtain Te estimates. Previously, inversions based on isostatic response methods using eroded topography yielded incorrect results [Forsyth, 1985]. McKenzie and Fairhead [1997] find that Forsyths method can only be used to estimate Te where the power of the gravity from the uncompensated topography is comparable to that of the observed gravity at short wavelengths. If this condition is not satisfied, because the short-wavelength gravity is dominated by sub-surface loads and not by the topography, the estimated value of Te provides an upper bound. We use a multi-taper approach that has been successful at minimizing this bias for eroded cratons on Earth [Swain & Kirby, 2003]. In this study we perform detailed modeling of the admittance for the northern lowlands of Mars in order to estimate elastic thickness and better constrain the timing of formation of the northern lowlands. An upper bound on the elastic thickness in the northern lowlands provides insight into the timing of formation or reheating of the northern plains, which appear to have occurred after cessation of the dynamo.
P21D-10 0830h
Investigation of the Nature of Two Meteorite-like Objects that Landed in Goronyo and Jobe, Nigeria.
We carried out analysis of a 20kg meteorite-like objects that fell at Achi-Ado hamlet in Goronyo Local government Area, Sokoto State of Nigeria. These events took place in November 2001 and August 2004 in Jobe. Atomatic Absorption Spectrometer was used to determine the elements in the object as well as its class. The response of the meteorites to magnetic field was also observed. This enabled us to confirm the class of the meteorites. The report of analysis of the same material sent to Harvard Smisthonian Centre for Astrophysics, USA for confirmation is also given in this paper.
P21D-11 0830h
Addressable Reconfigurable Technology (ART) for Building Sustainable Moon Bases
NASA's Exploration Initiative requires approaches and tools to support of near future human activities on the lunar surface. A sustainable infrastructure and tools to support such activities must be developed using currently available ElectroMechanical Systems (EMS). Architecture based on Addressable Reconfigurable Technology (ART), which we are already developing for small rovers, should be well suited to this task. ART structures are highly addressable arrays of robust nodes interconnected by highly reconfigurable struts that, along with tethers and surfaces are autonomously and reversibly deployable. The basic building unit in this architecture is a tetrahedron, the most efficient space-filling form, consisting of nodes interconnected with struts that can be reversibly and/or partially deployed or stowed to allow the tetrahedron to change its size and shape on command in real-time. Tetrahedral units are interlinked in one (linear), two (planar), or three (space-filling) dimensions to create conformable objects. As more tetrahedra are interconnected, the degrees of freedom are increased and motions evolve from simple to complex, from stepped to continuous. This design allows movement to change shape and/or location revolutionizing the architecture for space structures by epitomizing portable `form follows function' at every level. Although the 3D network of actuators and structural elements is composed of nodes that are addressable as are pixels in an LCD screen. The full functionality of such a system requires fully autonomous operation, and will ultimately be realized through a neural basis function (NBF) we are currently developing, which possesses the capability for actuator-level autonomic response and heuristic-level decision-making. Two EMS level ART-based concepts are designed for sustainable autonomous operation on the Moon. The Autonomous Lunar Investigator (ALI) would consist of one or more 12tetrahedral walkers capable of rapid locomotion with the many degrees of freedom necessary to navigate the relatively inaccessible and thus largely unexplored rugged terrains where lunar resources are likely to be found: the farside, the edges of basins, the poles. The Smart Architecture for Infrastructure on the Lunar Surface. (SAILS) would provide reusable, multi-functional, efficient, and thus cost-effective architecture for robust yet transformable structures to provide the controllable physical plant for lunar bases: shelter, transportation, communication, and production facilities.
http://ants.gsfc.nasa.gov
P21D-12 0830h
A Dynamic Fountain Model for Dust in the Lunar Exosphere
From the Apollo era there is much evidence to show that lunar horizon glow observed at the terminator is caused by sunlight scattered by dust grains originating from the surface. The dust grains and lunar surface are electrically charged by the moon's interaction with the local plasma environment and the photoemission of electrons due to solar UV and X-rays. This causes the like-charged surface and dust particles to repel each other, and creates a near-surface electric field. Previous models have explained dust observations at ~10 cm above the surface, by suggesting that charged grains "levitate" in the local electric field; however this does not explain observations at ~1 km altitude. In order to explain the high-altitude dust observations, we propose a dynamic "fountain" model in which charged dust grains follow ballistic trajectories, subsequent to being accelerated upwards through a narrow sheath region by the surface electric field. The affect of different surface electric field profiles and adhesion of grains to the surface is also investigated. These dust grains will affect the optical quality of the lunar environment for astronomical observations and interfere with exploration activities.
P21D-13 0830h
NASA's New Millennium ST6 Project
NASA's New Millennium Program is intended to validate advanced technologies in space and thus lower the risk for the first mission user. The New Millennium ST6 project has developed two advanced, experimental technologies for use on spacecraft of the future. These technologies are the Autonomous Sciencecraft Experiment and the Inertial Stellar Compass. These technologies will improve a spacecraft's ability to: 1) Make intelligent decisions on what information to gather and send back to the ground 2) Determine its own attitude and adjust its pointing. The significance of these technologies is in making the space missions less dependent on operators on the ground and shift the decision making to the spacecraft itself. Future missions using these technologies will be able to reduce the size of the ground crew lowering the mission cost or allowing to deploy resources on other aspects of the mission. Autonomous pointing and science gathering will also allow the spacecraft to react to ephemeral events that otherwise could not be detected in time due to long communication times from deep space. Sciencecraft technology involves feature and change detection, continuous planning technology, and robust execution. It is equipped with software that checks spacecraft performance and has resources to prevent errors. The Inertial Stellar Compass will enable a spacecraft to continuously determine its attitude and recover its orientation after a temporary malfunction or power loss. This is done by the "marriage" of a miniaturized star camera and gyro system. Compass technology uses an active pixel sensor in a star-tracking camera and a three-axis system of microelectromechanical gyros. These technologies will revolutionize future NASA spacecraft and allow mission resources to focus on science goals. This work done at JPL under contract with NASA
P21D-14 0830h
NASA's New Millennium ST-9 Project
NASA's New Millennium Program (NMP), will soon announce the final concept for the Space Technology 9 (ST9) mission, an integrated system validation project. This is the latest of a series of in-space technology validation activities that began in 1996 with Deep Space 1. The New Millennium Program identifies the technological capabilities needed for future space science missions and the technology advances that will help provide those capabilities. The ST-9 mission will validate one of five technology capabilities that NASA Associate Administrator has selected as candidates for flight validation. The five technology capabilities under consideration are of great relevance to the full breadth of the NASA's Space Science endeavor and are based on input from the space science community for guidance and concurrence. After careful review NASA is preparing a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) soliciting proposals for technology advances to provide needed capability for the following technology capability areas: 1) Solar sail capability-design metrics, scaling, deployment, propulsion and attitude control. 2) Large Space Telescope-structure and control dynamics, materials, structures, actuators, controls for fabrication, packaging and deployment, optical correction and active figure control, thermal control at cryogenic temperatures. 3) Formation Flying- autonomous operations, intersatellite communications, spacecraft formation control, and relative position estimation. 4) Aerocapture- system and performance modeling, aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics, thermal protection systems and structures, and guidance, navigation, and control. 5)Pinpoint Landing and Hazard Avoidance-sensors/algorithms for guidance and navigation, aerodynamic/propulsive maneuvering system options, terrain sensing and hazard recognition systems, and terrain sensors. It is expected that NASA will issue the NRA for technology providers for each capability area in 2003 and that at least one these five technologies capability areas will be subsequently selected for the New Millennium ST-9 technology validation experiment.
P21D-15 0830h
Advances in Instrumental Techniques for Investigating Planetary Regolith Microstructure
Introduction: The Opposition Effect (OE) is the non-linear increase in the intensity of light scattered from a surface as phase angle approaches 0o. It is seen in laboratory experiments and in remote sensing observations of planetary surfaces. Understanding the OE is a requirement to fitting photometric models which will produce meaningful results about regolith texture. Previously we have reported measurements from the JPL long arm goniometer and we have shown that this instrument enables us to distinguish between two distinct processes which create the opposition surges, Shadow Hiding (SHOE) and Coherent Backscattering (CBOE)(Hapke et al., 1993; Nelson, et al. 2000; 2002). SHOE arises because, as phase angle approaches zero, shadows cast by regolith grains on other grains become invisible to the observer. CBOE results from constructive interference between rays traveling the same path but in opposite directions. Our instrument was able to measure the phase curve using linearly and circularly polarized light which enabled us to distinguish between the singly and multiply scattered components in the reflected radiation. We were able to measure to angles as small at 0.05 degrees but our results were limited to maximum measurements of only 5 degrees. In the last year, we have extensively renovated the instrument so that measurements can be made from phase angles as small at 0.05 degrees to 20 degrees. This permits us to study the reflectance phase curve and the linear and circular polarization phase curves for phase angles at which important changes occur depending principally on the albedo, the particle size and the single scattering phase function of the material under investigation. We report the results from the first series of measurements of the refurbished instrument. The Experiment: We measured the angular scattering properties of 13 mixtures of Aluminum Oxide powders of the different particle size (0.1 to 30 microns). Along with the reflectance phase curve we measured the circular polarization ratio (CPR)-the ratio of the intensity of the light returned with the same helicity as the incident light to that with the opposite helicity. An increase in CPR with decreasing phase angle indicates increased multiple scattering and is consistent with CBOE (Hapke, 1993). Our results extended to a phase angle of 20 degrees are consistent with our earlier investigations which were limited to phase angles less than 5 degrees. We are also able to measure important parts of the linear and circular polarization phase curve which we had previously been unable to measure. Acknowledgement: This work was done at JPL and Pitt and was supported by NASA's PGG program. References: Hapke, 1993, Theory of Reflectance and Emittance Spectroscopy, Cambridge Hapke, B.W., R.M. Nelson, and W.D. Smythe, 1993, Science, 260, 509-511. Nelson, et al. 2000. Icarus, 147, 545-558. Nelson, et al., 2002, Planetary and Space Science, 50, 849-856.
P21D-16 0830h
Visualizing Earth Science Data for Environmental Monitoring and Decision Support in Mesoamerica: The SERVIR Project
In 2002 and 2003 NASA, the World Bank and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) joined with the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD) to develop an advanced decision support system for Mesoamerica (named SERVIR). Mesoamerica - composed of the seven Central American countries and the five southernmost states of Mexico - makes up only a small fraction of the world's land surface. However, the region is home to approximately eight percent of the planet's biodiversity (14 biosphere reserves, 31 Ramsar sites, 8 world heritage sites, 589 protected areas) and 45 million people including more than 50 different ethnic groups. Mesoamerica's biological and cultural diversity are severely threatened by human impact and natural disasters including extensive deforestation, illegal logging, water pollution, slash and burn agriculture, earthquakes, hurricanes, drought, and volcanic eruption. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA/MSFC), together with the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and the SERVIR partners are developing state-of-the-art decision support tools for environmental monitoring as well as disaster prevention and mitigation in Mesoamerica. These partners are contributing expertise in space-based observation with information management technologies and intimate knowledge of local ecosystems to create a system that is being used by scientists, educators, and policy makers to monitor and forecast ecological changes, respond to natural disasters, and better understand both natural and human induced effects. The decision support and environmental monitoring data products are typically formatted as conventional two-dimensional, static and animated imagery. However, in addition to conventional data products and as a major portion of our research, we are employing commercial applications that generate three-dimensional interactive visualizations that allow data products to be viewed from multiple angles and at different scales. One of these is a 15 meter resolution mosaic of the entire Mesoamerican region. This paper gives an overview of the SERVIR project and its associated visualization methods.
http://servir.nsstc.nasa.gov
P21D-17 0830h
Towards a Balanced Power Budget for Earth
Probable mechanisms that produce or absorb power for Earth and the amount of power they individually produce or absorb are enumerated. Power-producers include radiogenic heat from the core, mantle, and crust; latent heat of crystallization from the growing inner core; gravitational heat from the thermal contraction of Earth due to its cooling; and gravitational heat from the growing crust. Generation of mantle plumes is also taken to be a power producer. The lifetime of the inner core must be consistent with the power produced in the core. I use the preferred model of Nimmo et al. (2004) in which the power produced by the core is augmented by 2.1 terawatts (TW) of potassium-produced radiogenic energy, giving a total power of 7.1~TW flowing from the core to the mantle. The chief difficulty in making the power balance is to find the value of the mantle's radiogenic power. I do this by enumerating the nonradiogenic power of the mantle excluding the lithosphere, but including the power from the core. This enumeration includes power from mantle convection, from mantle plumes, and nonradiogenic power arriving from the core, the sum of which crosses the basal plane boundary of the lithosphere. Since this sum must equal Earth's total heat loss (44.3 TW) less the mantle's radiogenic power, I find the mantle's radiogenic power to be 23.5 ± 1.5~TW. This is lower than mantle radiogenic power estimates from Turcotte and Schubert (2002) and greater than from Stacey (1992). The power budget for the lithosphere and the crust is taken from Turcotte and Schubert (2002), except that it is modified to include the power loss from tidal dissipation (4 TW), which Verhoogen (1980) recommends be taken into account. Expenditures in the lithosphere are tidal dissipation, continental radiogenic heating, basal heating of the lithosphere and subduction of the lithosphere. Within the error limits set by the various mechanisms, the power income of Earth is found to equal its power expenditure and also equal its measured power loss (44.3 TW).
P21D-18 0830h
The Nebular Hypothesis - A False Paradigm Misleading Scientists
Science has reached a turning point in history after being misled for 250 years by Immanuel Kant's nebular hypothesis, the most fundamental assumption in science. The nebular hypothesis assumes all nine planets were created 4.5 billion years ago (Ga) as molten bodies that cooled with the same size and chemical composition they have today. Reevaluation of the nebular hypothesis proves it has been wrong since its inception. The proof has lain in plain sight for centuries-coal beds that could not have existed at the assumed time of creation because they formed on Earth's surface after creation of the planet when forests and swamps were exposed to solar energy. The coal beds were subsequently buried under overburden accreted in later millennia, steadily increasing Earth's mass and diameter. The coal beds and layers of overburden are proof Earth was not created 4.5 Ga but is growing and expanding by accretion of extraterrestrial mass and core expansion-a process termed "Accreation" (creation by accretion). Each process accelerates over time, but internal expansion exceeds the rate of external accretion. Because the nebular hypothesis is erroneous researchers assumed Earth's diameter never changes, and, faced with the possibility the Earth might be expanding after the Atlantic basin was discovered to be widening, this assumption led to the unworkable concept of subduction to maintain a constant diameter Earth. Subduction will prove to be one of the greatest errors in the history of science. Nullification of the nebular hypothesis also nullifies subduction and rejuvenates Carey's earth expansion theory. Accreation provides Carey's missing energy source and mechanism of expansion. Expansion is proved by morphologic evidence today's continents were once a single planetary landmass on a smaller Earth when today's oceans, covering 70% of the planet, did not exist 200-250 Ma. Despite hundreds of tons of meteorites and dust known to accrete daily, its cumulative effect has been ignored in the belief this comparatively small volume is insignificant relative to Earth's total mass and gravity. This misconception led to outdated gravitational constants and trajectories for "slingshotted" space missions that approached Earth closer than anticipated because the daily increase in mass increases Earth's gravitational pull. Today's philosophy assumes comets, meteoroids, asteroids and planets are different types of objects because of their varied sizes and appearances, but when all solar bodies are arranged by size they form a continuum from irregular meteoroids (remnants of comets) to spherical asteroids and planets. When meteoroids reach diameters of 500-600 kilometers, they become spherical-the critical threshold at which gravity can focus total molecular weight of any body omnidirectionally onto its exact center to initiate compressive heating and melting of originally cold rock core, producing magma, H2O and other gases. The Accreation concept assumes all solar bodies are different-sized objects of the same species, each having reached its present size and chemical composition by amalgamation and accretion. Each is at a different stage of growth but destined to become larger until it reaches the size of another sun (star). This is universal planetary growth controlled by gravity, but initiated by the trajectory imparted at its supernova birth and chance capture by some larger body elsewhere in the Universe. Like the paradigm shift from geocentrism to heliocentrism sparked by Copernicus in 1543, the time has come for a new paradigm to put scientific research on a more productive course toward TRUTH. The new concept of Accreation (creation by accretion) is offered as a replacement for the now defunct nebular hypothesis.
http://www.expanding-earth.org