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Essay
The Time to Prevent Shortfalls in Critical Materials Is Now
China's domination of the rare earth market is a matter of economic and national security concern. Existing plans to diversify the market and help the United States break its reliance on China likely don't go far enough or fast enough, and the clock is running.
Mar 20, 2023
Commentary
Why Not Space Mirrors?
Space mirrors can reflect solar radiation away from Earth, potentially helping to address the effects of climate change. But decisionmakers need more information about this technology to determine if it's a viable option.
Oct 19, 2022

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Report
The Effects of Nuclear War on the Weather and Climate
A study of the possible effects of energy, debris, and radioactivity from nuclear detonations on weather and climate.
Aug 1, 1966
Report
The Difference Between Weather Forecasters and Weather Advisors
A discussion of techniques by which the meteorologist can communicate weather information more directly to those who benefit from it.
May 1, 1965
Report
Predicting the State of the Upper Atmosphere.
The principal methods for predicting upper atmosphere conditions are contrasted with the methods of forecasting employed in tropospheric meteorology. Standard model atmospheres can be considered analogous to synoptic weather maps, but the principal ...
Jan 1, 1965
Report
Numerical results for the auxiliary equation of radiative transfer
A basic problem in astrophysics, meteorology, and neutron transport theory is the determination of the internal intensity produced when uniform parallel rays illuminate a slab of finite thickness which both absorbs and scatters radiation isotropicall...
Jan 1, 1965
Report
Weather Information: Its Uses, Actual and Potential
A study of ways of comparing the cost of planned atmospheric research with the value of the benefits derived. The authors find in this Memorandum that no aggregation of all resulting socioeconomic values is meaningful.
May 1, 1964
Report
A Case Study in the Economics of Information and Coordination: The Weather Forecasting System
An application of the economics of information and coordination to problems involving the dissemination, use, and evaluation of weather information.
Sep 1, 1963
Report
Anomalous Sounds and Electromagnetic Effects Associated with Fireball Entry
Discussion of the nature and origin of anomalous sounds and electromagnetic effects associated with the entry of bright fireballs into the atmosphere.
Jul 1, 1963
Report
Flight Regimes in the Atmospheres of Venus and Mars
Preliminary estimates of the flight parameters to be encountered on Mars and Venus. Although considerable qualitative information is available, there are few quantitative data that contribute to an understanding of the atmospheres.
Jul 1, 1963
Report
Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of the Upper Atmosphere (Part I of an Examination of the Application to Satellite Meteorology of Various Segments of the Electromagnetic Spectrum).
A survey of the middle and vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy of the upper atmosphere. The various physical and chemical processes involved in the interaction of radiation with the atoms and molecules of the upper atmosphere are reviewed, and the ultra...
Jan 1, 1963
Report
Estimates of Flight Regimes in the Venus Atmosphere
A study of the aerodynamic flight regions that may be encountered during entry into the atmosphere of Venus, and an estimate of the gross aerodynamic behavior of objects entering that atmosphere.
Jan 1, 1963
Report
The Thermodynamic Properties and Shock-Wave Characteristics of a Model Venus Atmosphere
The development of a model for the atmosphere of Venus that consists of 85 percent carbon dioxide and 15 percent nitrogen by volume.
Nov 1, 1962
Report
The Study of Planetary Atmospheres by Stellar Occultation
The theory and applications of the techniques of studying a planetary atmosphere by the light of a star passing behind the planet. Several specific applications are presented, as well as a review of the history of the technique.
Oct 1, 1962
Report
A Method of Computing the Distribution Function of Radioactive Doses from Multiple Nuclear Detonations
A computational method, applicable to a small geographical area, that will account for the overlapping of fallout patterns encountered in a variety of wind conditions. This method is applied to a typical target system.
Sep 1, 1962
Report
Invariant Imbedding and Noncoherent Scattering in a Finite, Inhomogeneous Atmosphere.
Part of a broader investigation concerned with the diffuse reflection in an inhomogeneous layer of atmosphere. Such problems are of current interest in the fields of meteorology and astrophysics, and the detection of nuclear blasts. This memorandum...
Jan 1, 1962
Journal Article
Reply
The author responds to a letter critique of a co-written paper on Utility of Weather Forecasts to the Raisin Industry.
Jan 1, 1962
Report
Recalculations of Cloud Electrification Based on a General Charge-Separation Mechanism
A rederivation of the field growth equation along the same general lines given in P-2121, but considering the field E to vary with time in the computation of the volume charge density.
Jun 9, 1961
Report
Correlation of Rock Properties by Statistical Methods
A statistical approach for correlating physical properties of rocks. Geological considerations are minimized, and the approach is based on a comparison of fourteen physical properties of rocks (i.e., apparent specific gravity, per cent porosity, scle...
Jan 1, 1961
Journal Article
Daytime and Nighttime Atmospheric Properties Derived from Rocket and Satellite Observations
Upper air densities obtained by means of rockets and satellites in the region from 100 to about 800 km are presented.
Jan 1, 1961
Journal Article
Geometric Projections of the Sphere and the Spheroid
Geometric projections have become increasingly important for the purpose of processing geographic (locational) data.
Jan 1, 1961
Journal Article
Reply to Some Comments by Malville Concerning the Midnight Auroral Maximum
Movement of geomagneticall trapped radiation toward lower latitudes on the night side of the earth.
Jan 1, 1961

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RAND Topic:
Earth Sciences

Topic Synonyms:
Geochemistry;
Geosciences

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Susan A. Resetar

Senior Operations Researcher

Susan Resetar (she/her) is a senior operations researcher with over 25 years of public policy research at the RAND Corporation, working in the areas of strategic planning, climate and environmental policy, disaster management and recovery, climate change risks to critical infrastructure and…
Joseph C. Chang

Senior Physical Scientist

Joseph Chang is a senior physical scientist at RAND. He has more than 30 years of experience in diverse technical areas, including border security, immigration, chemical security, transportation security, infrastructure protection, risk assessment, operational analysis, analysis of alternatives,…

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