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At least 199 records · Page 11

Interpreting Lidar Measurements to Better Estimate Surface PM2.S in Study Regions of DISCOVER-AQ

The use of satellite AOD data to estimate surface PM2.5 has been broadly studied in various regions. Some showed good results while some showed relatively poor with the simple relationship between AOD and PM2.5. The key factor is the aerosol vertical distribution. Lidar extinction profiles provide insights into the aerosol mixing not only in the boundary layer but also quantifying residual aerosol abundance above boundary layer with e-folding scale height. The normalizing AOD by hazy layer height is proven better in correlating with PM2.5. In other words, extinction measurements near the surface can be a proxy for surface PM2.5. In this study, we will use NASA airborne HSRL (High Spectral Resolution Lidar) during SJV2007 (San Joaquin Valley, February 2007) and surface MPLNet (Micropulse Lidar Network) at GSFC between 2007 and 2010 to characterize the relationship for the DISCOVER-AQ (Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality) field experiments; the first over Baltimore-Washington was conducted in July 2011.

Chu, D. A.↗

Analysis of Salinity Intrusion in the San Francisco Bay-Delta using a GA- Optimized Neural Net, and Application of the Model to Prediction in the Elkhorn Slough Habitat

The San Francisco Bay Delta is a large hydrodynamic complex that incorporates the Sacramento and San Joaquin Estuaries, the Burman Marsh, and the San Francisco Bay proper. Competition exists for the use of this extensive water system both from the fisheries industry, the agricultural industry, and from the marine and estuarine animal species within the Delta. As tidal fluctuations occur, more saline water pushes upstream allowing fish to migrate beyond the Burman Marsh for breeding and habitat occupation. However, the agriculture industry does not want extensive salinity intrusion to impact water quality for human and plant consumption. The balance is regulated by pumping stations located alone the estuaries and reservoirs whereby flushing of fresh water keeps the saline intrusion at bay. The pumping schedule is driven by data collected at various locations within the Bay Delta and by numerical models that predict the salinity intrusion as part of a larger model of the system. The Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary collects, monitors, and archives the data, and the Department of Water Resources provides a numerical model simulation (DSM2) from which predictions are made that drive the pumping schedule. A problem with this procedure is that the numerical simulation takes roughly 16 hours to complete a C:~ prediction. We have created a neural net, optimized with a genetic algorithm, that takes as input the archived data from multiple stations and predicts stage, salinity, and flow at the Carquinez Straits (at the downstream end of the Burman Marsh). This model seems to be robust in its predictions and operates much faster than the current numerical DSM2 model. Because the system is strongly tidal driven, we used both Principal Component Analysis and Fast Fourier Transforms to discover dominant features within the IEP data. We then filtered out the dominant tidal forcing to discover non-primary tidal effects, and used this to enhance the neural network by mapping input-output relationships in a more efficient manner. Furthermore, the neural network implicitly incorporates both the hydrodynamic and water quality models into a single predictive system. Although our model has not yet been enhanced to demonstrate improve pumping schedules, it has the possibility to support better decision-making procedures that may then be implemented by State agencies if desired. Our intention is now to use this model in the smaller Elkhorn Slough complex near Monterey Bay where no such hydrodynamic model currently exists. At the Elkhorn Slough, we are fusing the neural net model of tidally-driven flow with in situ flow data and airborne and satellite remote sensation data. These further constrain the behavior of the model in predicting the longer-term health and future of this vital estuary.

Thompson, David E.↗

Explaining the Asymmetric Line Profile in Cepheus X-4 with Spectral Variation Across Pulse Phase

The high mass X-ray binary Cepheus X-4, during its 2014 outburst, showed evidence for an asymmetric cyclotron line in its hard X-ray spectrum. The 2014 spectrum provides one of the clearest cases of an asymmetric line profile among all studied sources with Cyclotron Resonance Scattering Features (CRSF). We present a phase-resolved analysis of NuSTAR and Suzaku data taken at the peak and during the decline phases of this outburst. We find that the pulse-phased resolved spectra are well-fit by a single, symmetric cyclotron feature. The fit parameters vary strongly with pulse phase: most notably the central energy and depth of the cyclotron feature, the slope of the power-law component, and the absorbing column density. We synthesise a ‘phase averaged’ spectrum using the best-fitting parameters for these individual pulse phases, and find that this combined model spectrum has a similar asymmetry in the cyclotron features as discovered in phase-averaged data. We conclude that the pulse phase resolved analysis with simple symmetric line profiles when combined can explain the asymmetry detected in the phase-averaged data.

Bhargave, Yash↗

Search for Hard X-Ray Emission from Aquila X-1: High Energy Emission from Gamma-ray Radio Star 2CG 135+1/LSI 61 305

Several investigations supported by these CCRO grant were completed or are close to completion. The study of EGRET data for the unidentified source 2CG 135+01 was very fruitful. We discovered transient gamma-ray emission by combining several data obtained since 1994 through 1997. It is the first time that time variable emission is established for this enigmatic source, and clearly an interpretation in terms of an isolated radio pulsar (Geminga-like) is disfavored now. Our preferred model is a Galactic source, probably an energetic pulsar (such as PSR129-63) in a binary system producing gamma-rays because of pulsar wind/mass outflow interaction. We also accumulated may data concerning the radio source LSI 61 303, the possible counterpart of 2CG 135+01. We show that a possible anti-correlation between radio and gamma-ray emission exists. This anticorrelation is evident only in the energy range above 100 MeV, as demonstrated by the lack of it obtained from OSSE data. If confirmed, this anti-correlation would prove to be very important for the interpretation of the hundreds of unidentified gamma-ray sources currently discovered by EGRET near the Galactic plane, and would point to a new class of sources in addition to AGNs and isolated pulsars. We also completed the analysis of several time variable gamma-ray sources near the Galactic plane, with the discussion of evidence for transient emission from 2EG J1813-12 and 2EG J1828+01. We completed several investigations regarding gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), including the study of the brightness distribution for different spectral/duration GRB sub-classes, an investigation of acceleration processes and their consequences for GRB afterglow emission [61, the application of the synchrotron shock model of GRBs to X-ray energies.

Tavani, Marco↗

AI-Batt (Autonomous Identification of Battery Life Models) [SWR 21-36]

Autonomous Identification of Battery Life Models (AI-Batt) AI-Batt is a MATLAB code base for developing lifetime models for batteries from accelerated aging data. The code base provides many functions for processing, visualizing, and modeling battery aging data, making the data processing, exploration, and modeling workflow substantially faster. These tools are tailored for working with battery aging data sets, which usually consist of many separate time-series for each cell, with many test conditions and possible replicates at each condition, which makes it difficult to simply process or visualize the data set. Complex modeling tasks, such as cross-validation, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty quantification have been implemented to enable thorough statistical investigation of model predictions. Additionally, several machine-learning algorithms are implemented to autonomously identify suitable models via symbolic regression. Data processing functions automatically cast data from the struct data type, which is commonly used to store experimental data, but is not an acceptable input for most algorithms, to the table data type, which can be easily used as input to any optimization algorithm. Also, the data can be separated into time-invariant and time-variant data tables, which is helpful for exploring the data set as well as developing separate models for time-variant and time-invariant aging mechanisms. For example, in aging tests with constant temperature, temperature is a time-invariant experimental condition. Visualization tools enable plotting of data, model fits, and model simulations possible with single-line function calls, empowering data exploration of complex data sets with both time-varying and time-invariant trends. Plots can be automatically generated for the whole data set, or separated by data group (groups of test replicates) or individual data series. Data points or data series can be automatically colored by the value of a variable with a variety of color maps, and model predictions can also be colored by the value of a fit statistic. Comparisons between data sets and the predictions/simulations of different models on the same data set can be easily plotted as well. Distributions of parameter values from bootstrap resampling can be plotted to visualize the reliability of parameter estimation, or determine any correlations between parameters. Modeling tools handle the complex task of creating and parsing symbolic equations for modeling battery lifetime. Equations are parsed to grab relevant data variables, parameter values, or specified sub-models for input into optimization, evaluation, or simulation functions. Models can be optimized locally (one set of parameters for each data series), bi-level (some parameters shared across the data set), or globally (single set of parameters for all data). Functions implementing symbolic regression algorithms help users to discover effective model equations, even in poorly sampled, high-dimensional data.

Smith, Kandler [National Renewable Energy Lab. (NR↗

The silicon citizen naturalist

Smartphone-wielding citizen scientists and an AI called FLORIST are transforming ecology at the continental scale. Here, in this issue of Cell, when Tibbs-Cortes et al. pair the crowdsourced data with controlled genetics, they discover how switchgrass times its flowering to outwit both frost and heat, depending on latitude.

Hudson, Matthew E. [University of Illinois at Urba↗

Subsurface Energy Systems Mapping Inquiry Tool (MapIT)

The Subsurface Energy Systems Mapping Inquiry Tool (MapIT) is an online web mapping tool designed to help users discover available public-sourced data to facilitate data exploration for subsurface energy exploration and characterization efforts for resource identification (e.g. critical minerals, hydrocarbons, geothermal) as well as injection of geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide (e.g. enhanced oil recovery, saline storage, etc.). Modules within the tool curate data related to geology, faults, fractures, injection and confining zones, hydrologic information, groundwater, groundwater wells, geomechanical and petrophysical data, and geochemical data. User documentation on how to use the tool is also provided. Data have been collected from authoritative national, state, and local sources and made available in this tool. The data is also available as a data catalog and Esri Geodatabase at: https://edx.netl.doe.gov/dataset/mapit-database Disclaimer: There is no guarantee of completeness or appropriateness for individual user’s requirements. Use of this tool is solely at the discretion of the user. See full Federal Disclaimer for further information (https://netl.doe.gov/home/disclaimer). This project was funded by the United States Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, in part, through a site support contract. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, nor the support contractor, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. https://www.netl.doe.gov/home/disclaimer

Carbon Sequestration↗

Carbon Storage Site Mapping Inquiry Tool (MapIT)

The Carbon Storage Site Mapping Inquiry Tool (MapIT) is an online web mapping tool designed to help users discover available public-sourced data to facilitate data exploration in support of Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Class VI Well Site permitting for the geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide.

Pantaleone, Scott↗

Neotectonics of the San Andreas fault system: Basin and range province juncture

Several new details regarding the surficial patterns of neotectonic activity of the Eastern Transverse Ranges and vicinity were discovered. Additionally a number of data display and analysis techniques were developed. These findings will be useful both in the continued development of neotectonic models for southern California and for the future application of remote sensing methodologies elsewhere.

Estes, J. E.↗

The central engine of quasars and active galactic nuclei Hadronic interactions of shock-accelerated relativistic protons

The detailed dynamics are presented of a model for AGNs and QSOs based on spherically symmetric accretion onto a black hole and dissipation of the accretion energy in a collisionless shock. The basic assumptions and equations relevant for the model are presented, and the relations between the physical parameters are given in terms of the shock parameters. The latter are calculated for varying Mach numbers, and the resulting scaling laws are discussed and compared to the data, in particular the recently discovered correlations between luminosity and mass. The model can naturally produce ultrarelativistic electrons with flat spectra, a feature which, when coupled with e(+)-e(-) pair production, can account for the observed continuum radiation from these objects over essentially the whole electromagnetic spectrum. The model also predicts the emission of high-energy neutrinos with a luminosity roughly equal to that of the photons.

Kazanas, D.↗

Psychological tools for knowledge acquisition

Knowledge acquisition is said to be the biggest bottleneck in the development of expert systems. The problem is getting the knowledge out of the expert's head and into a computer. In cognitive psychology, characterizing metal structures and why experts are good at what they do is an important research area. Is there some way that the tools that psychologists have developed to uncover mental structure can be used to benefit knowledge engineers? We think that the way to find out is to browse through the psychologist's toolbox to see what there is in it that might be of use to knowledge engineers. Expert system developers have relied on two standard methods for extracting knowledge from the expert: (1) the knowledge engineer engages in an intense bout of interviews with the expert or experts, or (2) the knowledge engineer becomes an expert himself, relying on introspection to uncover the basis of his own expertise. Unfortunately, these techniques have the difficulty that often the expert himself isn't consciously aware of the basis of his expertise. If the expert himself isn't conscious of how he solves problems, introspection is useless. Cognitive psychology has faced similar problems for many years and has developed exploratory methods that can be used to discover cognitive structure from simple data.

Rueter, Henry H.↗

Automatic classification of spectra from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS)

A new classification of Infrared spectra collected by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) is presented. The spectral classes were discovered automatically by a program called Auto Class 2. This program is a method for discovering (inducing) classes from a data base, utilizing a Bayesian probability approach. These classes can be used to give insight into the patterns that occur in the particular domain, in this case, infrared astronomical spectroscopy. The classified spectra are the entire Low Resolution Spectra (LRS) Atlas of 5,425 sources. There are seventy-seven classes in this classification and these in turn were meta-classified to produce nine meta-classes. The classification is presented as spectral plots, IRAS color-color plots, galactic distribution plots and class commentaries. Cross-reference tables, listing the sources by IRAS name and by Auto Class class, are also given. These classes show some of the well known classes, such as the black-body class, and silicate emission classes, but many other classes were unsuspected, while others show important subtle differences within the well known classes.

Cheeseman, Peter↗

Antenna pattern control using impedance surfaces

During this research period, we have effectively transferred existing computer codes from CRAY supercomputer to work station based systems. The work station based version of our code preserved the accuracy of the numerical computations while giving a much better turn-around time than the CRAY supercomputer. Such a task relieved us of the heavy dependence of the supercomputer account budget and made codes developed in this research project more feasible for applications. The analysis of pyramidal horns with impedance surfaces was our major focus during this research period. Three different modeling algorithms in analyzing lossy impedance surfaces were investigated and compared with measured data. Through this investigation, we discovered that a hybrid Fourier transform technique, which uses the eigen mode in the stepped waveguide section and the Fourier transformed field distributions across the stepped discontinuities for lossy impedances coating, gives a better accuracy in analyzing lossy coatings. After a further refinement of the present technique, we will perform an accurate radiation pattern synthesis in the coming reporting period.

Balanis, Constantine A.↗

Experimental verification of Theodorsen's theoretical jet-boundary correction factors

Prandtl's suggested use of a doubly infinite arrangement of airfoil images in the theoretical determination of wind-tunnel jet-boundary corrections was first adapted by Glauert to the case of closed rectangular jets. More recently, Theodorsen, using the same image arrangement but a different analytical treatment, has extended this work to include not only closed but also partly closed and open tunnels. This report presents the results of wind-tunnel tests conducted at the Georgia School of Technology for the purpose of verifying the five cases analyzed by Theodorsen. The tests were conducted in a square tunnel and the results constitute a satisfactory verification of his general method of analysis. During the preparation of the data two minor errors were discovered in the theory and these have been rectified.

Schliestett, George Van↗

The origin of chromitic chondrules and the volatility of Cr under a range of nebular conditions

We characterize ten chromatic chondrules, two spinelian chondrules andd one spinel-bearing chondrule and summarize data for 120 chromitic inclusions discovered in an extensive survey of ordinary chondrites. Compositional and petrographic evidence suggests that chromitic chondrules and inclusions are closely related. The Cr/(Cr + Al) ratios in the spinal of these objects range from 0.5 to 0.9 and bulk Al2O3 contents are uniformly high (greater than 10 wt%, except for one with 8 wt%). No other elements having comparable solar abundances are so stongly enriched, and alkali feldspar and merrillite are more common than in normal chondrules. The Cr/Mg ratios in chromitic chondrules are 180-750 times the ratios in the bulk chondrite. With the possible exception of magnetic clumping of chromite in the presolar cloud, mechanical processes cannot account for this enrichment. Examination of nebular equilibrium processes shows that 50%-condensation temperatures of Cr at pH2/pH2O of 1500 are several tens of degrees below those of Mg as Mg2SiO4; the condensation of Cr is primarily as MgCr2O4 dissolved in MgAl2O4 at nebular pressures of 10(exp -4) atm or below. At pH2 = 10(exp -3) atm condesation as Cr in Fe-Ni is favored. Making the nebula much more oxidizing reduces the difference in condensation temperatures but Mg remains more refractory. We conclude that nebular equilibrium processes are not responsible for the enhanced Cr/Mg ratios. We propose that both Cr and Al became enriched in residues formed by incomplete evaporation of presolar lumps. We suggest that spinals remained as solid phases when the bulk of the silicates were incorporated into the evaporating melt; vaporization of Al and Cr were inhibited by the slow kinetics of diffusion. Subsequent melting and crystallization of these residues fractionated Cr from Al. The resulting materials constituted major components in the precursors of chromitic chondrules. Our model implies that chromitic chondrules and inclusions preserve the Cr isotopic record of presolar sources.

Krot, Alexander↗

Lunar Basins: New Evidence from Gravity for Impact-Formed Mascons

The prominent gravity highs (mascons) associated with uncompensated mass anomalies in lunar mare basins are a dramatic expression of the present-day rigidity of the lunar lithosphere. First discovered in Lunar Orbiter tracking data, these about 350-mGal gravity highs have been redetermined from the analysis of Clementine and historical tracking. These highs coincide with topographic lows, indicating nonisostatic support. One of the rediscoveries of this analysis is the encirclement of the highs by substantial negative anomalies over topographic highs. Recent gravity fields are providing the increased resolution necessary to determine the causes of this unique mascon signature. The compensation of the basin anomalies remains controversial. The mascon highs have long been interpreted as the result of mare loading, subsequent to the decay of residual stresses resulting from the impact. Substantially more mare fill is required to produce mascon highs than has been inferred on geological grounds, and the amount of near-surface mass deficit required to produce a gravity most exceeds bounds inferred from terrestrial examples. This problem is most acute for the youngest basin, Orientale. Recent gravity fields from Lunar Prospector have suggested mascon highs associated with nonmare basins such as Mendel-Rydberg, or minimally filled basins like Humboldtianum, further calling this explanation into question. We suggest that the mascon gravity signal is produced by a combination of crustal thickness changes, manifested by central mantle uplift, outward displacement of crust, and downward flexure of the lithosphere under mare loading. The mantle uplift is superisostatic, maintained by residual stresses resulting from the process of impact cratering and modification. In particular, the process of crater collapse and mantle rebound terminates abruptly, leaving the mantle plug in a non-equilibrium state, surrounded by a ring of thickened crust. Viscous relaxation over geological timescales has erased some but not all of the signature of the impact process. Mantle uplift inferred from gravity modeling is inversely correlated with age. While the oldest basins such as South Pole Aitken are mainly compensated isotatically, the younger basins appear to have been in a state of superisostatic loading prior to mare emplacement. If this is true, this places an important constraint on the impact process at basin scales. The idea that rebound of the transient crater via acoustic fluidization may freeze substantial stresses imcomplete to this day, may be tested by examining the gravity signatures of major basins on terrestrial bodies. The moon provides the clearest resolved examples to date, but uncertainty in gravity knowledge remains problematic.

Neumann, Gregory A.↗

Spectroscopy and Photometry of the Earth Grazer 2002 NY40

The near Earth asteroid 2002 NY40 was discovered on July 14, 2002 by the LINEAR survey. The object was predicted to make a close pass by the Earth on August 18, which led to observations at a large range of wavelengths, including radar. The combination of visible and near infrared spectroscopy/spectrophotometry gives some indication of the composition. Thermal emission in the 3 micron spectral region gives constraints on the albedo, which is consistent with the spectral type and with the available size from the radar measurements. The lightcurve was well measured by a large number of observers, which helps to determine the rotation phase of the observations at the various wavelengths. The favorable observing conditions and rapid dissemination of the astrometry have led to a good physical characterization of this object, which is relatively rare for a newly discovered near Earth asteroid. The data sets reported in this abstract are shown.

Rivkin, A. S.↗

Photodynamical Analysis of the Triply Eclipsing Hierarchical Triple System EPIC 249432662

Using Campaign 15 data from theK2mission, we have discovered a triply eclipsing triple star system: EPIC 249432662. The inner eclipsing binary system has a period of 8.23 d, withshallow∼3 per cent eclipses. During the entire 80-d campaign, there is also a single eclipse event of a third body in the system that reaches a depth of nearly 50 per cent and has a total duration of 1.7 d, longer than for any previously known third-body eclipse involving unevolved stars. The binary eclipses exhibit clear eclipse timing variations. A combination of photodynamical modeling of the light curve, as well as seven follow-up radial velocity measurements, has led to a prediction of the subsequent eclipses of the third star with a period of 188 d. A campaign of follow-up ground-based photometry was able to capture the subsequent pair of third-body events as well as two further 8-d eclipses. A combined photo-spectro-dynamical analysis then leads to the determination of many of the system parameters. The 8-d binary consists of a pair of M stars, while most of the system light is from a K star around which the pair of M stars orbits.

Close binaries↗