First results from the SOHO ultraviolet coronagraph spectrometer

The SOHO Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer (UVCS/SOHO) is being used to observe the extended solar corona from 1.25 to 10 R-. from Sun center. Initial observations of polar coronal holes and equatorial streamers are described. The observations include measurements of spectral line profiles for H I L alpha and L beta O VI 1032 Angstrom and 1037 Angstrom, Mg x 625 Angstrom, Fe XII 1242 Angstrom and several others. Intensities for Mg x 610 Angstrom Si XII 499 Angstrom, and 520 Angstrom, S x 1196 Angstrom, and 22 others have been observed. Preliminary results for derived H-0, O5+,Mg9+, and Fe11+ velocity distributions and initial indications of outflow velocities for O5+ are described. In streamers, the H-0 velocity distribution along the line of sight (specified by the value at e(-1), along the line of sight) decreases from a maximum value of about 180 km s(-1) at 2 R-.. In polar coronal holes, the O5+ increases with height reaching a value of 150 km s(-1) at 4.7 R-.. In polar coronal holes, the O5+ velocity at e(-1) is about equal to that of H-0 at 1.7 R-. and significantly larger at 2.1 R-.. The O5+ in both streamers and coronal holes were found to have anisotropic velocity distributions with the smaller values in the radial direction.