01-068

Planetary Atmospheres

Cover Page/Proposal Summary

ROSS-00    NRA 00-OSS-01

Date Due: 4/28/2000

NASA PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING PROPOSALS

This proposal shall be used and disclosed for evaluation purposes only, and a copy of this Government notice shall be applied to any reproduction or abstract thereof. Any authorized restrictive notices that the submitter places on this proposal shall also be strictly complied with. Disclosure of this proposal for any reason outside the Government evaluation purposes shall be made only to the extent authorized by the Government.

Proposal Type: New Proposal

Proposal Category: Aeronomy

Major Equipment Proposal? No

Do you intend to submit an Education/Public Outreach (E/PO) proposal? No

Proposal Title:
Dynamics, Compostion, and Thermal Structure of Titan's Upper Atmosphere

Abbreviated Proposal Title:
Titan's Upper Atmosphere

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Roger Yelle
Physics and Astronomy
Northern Arizona University
Building 19
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6010
Phone: 520-523-7099   Fax: 520-523-1371   E-mail: yelle@physics.nau.edu

SignatureDate
_________________________________________________

Co-Investigators and Collaborators:
Type    Name    Affiliation    E-mail
Sci Co-I   Dr. Michael Mendillo   Boston University   mendillo@buasta.bu.edu
Sci Co-I   Dr. Ingo Muller-Wodarg   Boston University   ingo@apg.ph.ucl.ac.uk
Sci Co-I   Dr. Marina Galand   Boston University   mgaland@sec.noaa.gov
Sci Collab   Dr. Thomas E. Cravens   University of Kansas   cravens@kuphsx.phsx.ukans.edu


Proposal Summary:

This project is a comprehensive investigation of the physical state of Titan's upper atmosphere using a Thermospheric General Circulation Model (TGCM). We will investigate in detail the effects of dynamics on composition to determine the distribution of chemically active species, to determine if light species should show enhancement in nightside densities, to determine if species senstive to photolysis are sequestered in polar regions, and to determine the role of global wind systems in establishing the high eddy diffusion coefficient in Titan's upper atmosphere. We will conduct the first dynamical simulations investigating the role of magnetospheric energy input in driving winds in Titan's thermosphere and will search for observational diagnostics that can differentiate among wind systems driven by solar energy input, magnetospheric energy input, and by winds at the lower boundary. Solar and magnetospheric energy input will be calculated using a state-of-the-art electron transport code; this is a significant improvement over earlier treatments. Finally, we will assess the importance of tides to the momentum and energy budget in the upper atmosphere.



Certification of Compliance with Applicable Executive Orders and U.S. Code


By submitting the proposal identified in this Cover Sheet/Proposal Summary in response to this NRA or AO, the Authorizing Official of the proposing institution (or the individual proposer if there is no proposing institution) as identified below:

  • certifies that the statements made in this proposal are true and complete to the best of his/her knowledge;
  • agrees to accept the obligations to comply with NASA award terms and conditions if an award is made as a result of this proposal; and
  • confirms compliance with all provisions, rules, and stipulations set forth in the three Certifications contained in this NRA [namely, (i) Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters Primary Cover Transactions, (ii) Certification Regarding Lobbying, and (iii) Certification of Compliance with the NASA Regulations Pursuant to Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs].
    Willful provision of false information in this proposal and/or its supporting documents, or in reports required under an ensuing award, is a criminal offense (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001).