01-072

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: Dynamics

Major Equipment Proposal? No

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

Proposal Title:
Convection and magnetic field generation in giant and extra-solar planets: Numerical simulations and laboratory experiments

Abbreviated Proposal Title:
Modeling giant and extra-solar planets

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Gary A. Glatzmaier
Earth Sciences Department
University of California
1156 high Street
EMS Building
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Phone: 831-459-5504   Fax: 831-459-3074   E-mail: glatz@es.ucsc.edu

SignatureDate
_________________________________________________

Co-Investigators and Collaborators:
Type    Name    Affiliation    E-mail
Sci Co-I   Dr. Peter L Olson   Johns Hopkins Univ   olson@gibbs.eps.jhu.edu
Sci Collab   Dr. Thomas Clune   Silicon Graphics, Inc.   clune@sgi.com


Proposal Summary:

We propose to study the internal dynamics of giant planets, both those in our solar system and those currently being detected in other planetary systems. Several NASA missions have provided a wealth of observations related to the deep interiors of giant planets that needs to be explained. For example, the origins of their different zonal wind patterns and magnetic field structures are not understood. A better understanding of other planetary systems will also improve our understanding of our solar system planets. More than thirty extra-solar giant planets have been detected over the last couple years. We propose to study the internal dynamics of these gas giants by conducting a series of laboratory experiments in rotating convection and by 3D numerical simulations using modified versions of the Glatzmaier-Roberts dynamo model. The first year we will conduct the laboratory experiments and numerically simulate them to validate the model and to further our understanding of the fundamentals of rapidly rotating convection. During the second year we will construct realistic models of the giant planets by incorporating compressibility, a hydrogen phase transition, and a thin stable atmospheric layer in the model. Magnetic field generation will be included in year three. A successful simulation of Saturn should provide predictions about its global circulation and magnetic field, before Cassini arrives there in 2004.



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).