Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-sh8wx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-20T07:29:41.697Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Unusual Chemical Compositions of Noctilucent-Cloud Particle Nuclei

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Curtis L. Hemenway*
Affiliation:
Dudley Observatory and State University of New York at AlbanyAlbany, New York

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

On August 8, 1970, two Pandora sounding rocket payloads were launched from the ESRO range in Kiruna, Sweden during a noctilucent cloud display. Large numbers of sub-micron particles were collected, most of which appear to be made up of a high-density material coated with a low-density material. Typical electron micrographs are shown. Particle chemical compositions have been measured by use of dispersive x-ray analysis equipment attached to a Philips EM 300 electron microscope and have revealed that most of the high-density particle nuclei have atomic weights greater than iron.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © NASA 1971

References

Greenberg, J. M., 1969. A possible inter-relation between interstellar and interplanetary cosmic dust, Space Research IX, 111115.Google Scholar
Hallgren, D. S., and Hemenway, C. L., 1970. Sounding rocket samplings of cosmic dust, Space Research XI, 377381.Google Scholar
Hemenway, C. L., and Hallgren, D. S., 1970. Time variation of the altitude distribution of the cosmic dust layer in the upper atmosphere, Space Research X, 272280.Google Scholar
Hemenway, C. L., Soberman, R. K., and Witt, G., 1964. Sampling of noctilucent cloud particles, Tellus, 16, 8488.Google Scholar
Rauser, P., and Fechtig, H., 1972. Combined dust collection and detection experiment during a noctilucent cloud display above Kiruna, Sweden, Space Research XII, 391402.Google Scholar