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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Evolution of nontrivial Fermi surface features in the band structures of the homologous members Pb 5 Bi 6 Se 14 and Pb 5 Bi 12 Se 23

High-quality single crystals of (PbSe) 5 (Bi 2 Se 3 ) 3m were grown and analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. We report on 77 Se and 207 Pb NMR shifts and nuclear spin-lattice relaxation measurements in the naturally formed heterostructure homology (PbSe) 5 (Bi 2 Se 3 ) 3m with m = 1 (Pb 5 Bi 6 Se 14 ) and m = 2 (Pb 5 Bi 12 Se 23 ). A distinct site-specific contribution has been detected for both nuclei as a function of temperature, which reveals an electronic changeover from a semiconducting (Pb 5 Bi 6 Se 14 ) to a semimetalliclike (Pb 5 Bi 12 Se 23 ) system with nontrivial band structure features near the Fermi level. The temperature dependences of the relaxation rates are dominated by significant changes in the topology of energy dispersions accompanied with band edges and crossings in the region of the Fermi surface. These results, which interrogate nuclear spin interactions from selected atomic sites, clearly expose the effects of the added Bi 2 Se 3 layer on the crystal and electronic structure of (Pb 5 Bi 12 Se 23 ). These findings provide direct microscopic insight into the unconventional and dual nature of the electronic structure of these homologous thermoelectric and topologically nontrivial compounds.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploring the Early Lightning Notification of an Electric Field Mill at the Savannah River Site

At the Savannah River Site (SRS), employees receive automated broadcast notification about lightning only after three strikes have already occurred near the site boundary. To increase employee safety, it is preferential to give employees lead time before lightning strikes occur. We compared measurements from an on-site electric field mill to lightning detection data from the National Lightning Detection Network and the Geostationary Lightning Mapper. Using a difference threshold, we determined that the electric field mill provided a lead time greater than 6 minutes for 95% of lightning events from 2009-2020, with an average lead time of 56 minutes. Detection of events were limited to a 7-mile radius around the field mill. We also identified that the field mill threshold generated many false detections not clearly identified. False detections and detections from only precipitation can be reduced by using a second threshold without creating too many missed detections (Type II errors). The two thresholds used together provide the best information about rapidly changing electric fields and aid in advanced detection necessary to improve the lightning warning system used at SRS.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1976

Apollo 14 and 16 Active Seismic Experiments, and Apollo 17 Lunar Seismic Profiling

Seismic refraction experiments were conducted on the moon by Apollo astronauts during missions 14, 16, and 17. Seismic velocities of 104, 108, 92, 114 and 100 m/sec were inferred for the lunar regolith at the Apollo 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 landing sites, respectively. These data indicate that fragmentation and comminution caused by meteoroid impacts has produced a layer of remarkably uniform seismic properties moonwide. Brecciation and high porosity are the probable causes of the very low velocities observed in the lunar regolith. Apollo 17 seismic data revealed that the seismic velocity increases very rapidly with depth to 4.7 km/sec at a depth of 1.4 km. Such a large velocity change is suggestive of compositional and textural changes and is compatible with a model of fractured basaltic flows overlying anorthositic breccias. 'Thermal' moonquakes were also detected at the Apollo 17 site, becoming increasingly frequent after sunrise and reaching a maximum at sunset. The source of these quakes could possibly be landsliding.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1973

Application of Earth Resources Technology Satellite data to urban development and regional planning: Test site, County of Los Angeles

The author has identified the following significant results. Signigicant results have been obtained from the analyses of ERTS-1 imagery from five cycles over Test Site SR 124 by classical photointerpretation and by an interactive hybrid multispectral information extraction system (GEMS). Photointerpretation has produced over 25 overlays at 1:1,000,000 scale depicting regional relations and urban structure in terms of several hundred linear and areal features. A possible new fault lineament has been discovered on the northern slope of the Santa Monica mountains. GEMS analysis of the ERTS-1 products has provided new or improved information in the following planning data categories: urban vegetation; land cover segregation; manmade and natural impact monitoring; urban design; land suitability. ERTS-1 data analysis has allowed planners to establish trends that directly impact planning policies. For example, detectable grading and new construction sites quantitatively indicated the extent, direction, and rate of urban expansion which enable planners to forecast demand and growth patterns on a regional scale. This new source of information will not only assist current methods to be more efficient, but permits entirely new planning methodologies to be employed.

Raje, S.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Discovering the Ancient Maya From Space

The Peten region of northern Guatemala contains some of the most significant Mayan archeological sites in Latin America. It was in this region that the Maya civilization began, flourished, and abruptly disappeared. Remote sensing technology is helping to locate and map ancient Maya sites that are threatened today by accelerating deforestation and looting. Thematic Mapper, IKONOS, and QuickBird satellite, and airborne STAR-3i and AIRSAR radar data, combined with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, are successfully detecting ancient Maya features such as sites, roadways, canals, and water reservoirs. Satellite imagery is also being used to map the bajos, which are seasonally flooded swamps that cover over 40% of the land surface. Through the use of various airborne and satellite sensor systems we have been able to detect and map ancient causeways, temples, reservoirs, and land forms, and locate these features on the ground through GPS technology. Recently, we have discovered that there is a strong relationship between a tropical forest vegetation signature in satellite imagery and the location of archeological sites. We believe that the use o f limestone and lime plasters in ancient Maya construction affects the moisture, nutrition, and plant species of the surface vegetation. We have mapped these vegetation signatures in the imagery and verified through field survey that they are indicative of archeological sites. Through the use of remote sensing and GIS technology it is possible to identify unrecorded archeological features in a dense tropical forest environment and monitor these cultural features for their protection.

Sever, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Discovering the Ancient Maya from Space

The Pet6n region of northern Guatemala contains some of the most significant Mayan archeological sites in Latin America. It was in this region that the Maya civilization began, flourished, and abruptly disappeared. Remote sensing technology is helping to locate and map ancient Maya sites that are threatened today by accelerating deforestation and looting. Thematic Mapper, IKONOS, and QuickBird satellite, and airborne STAR-3i and AIRSAR radar data, combined with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, are successfully detecting ancient Maya features such as sites, roadways, canals, and water reservoirs. Satellite imagery is also being used to map the bajos, which are seasonally flooded swamps that cover over 40% of the land surface. Through the use of various airborne and satellite sensor systems we have been able to detect and map ancient causeways, temples, reservoirs, and land forms, and locate these features on the ground through GPS technology. Recently, we have discovered that there is a strong relationship between a tropical forest vegetation signature in satellite imagery and the location of archeological sites. We believe that the use of limestone and lime plasters in ancient Maya construction affects the moisture, nutrition, and plant species of the surface vegetation. We have mapped these vegetation signatures in the imagery and verified through field survey that they are indicative of archeological sites. Through the use of remote sensing and GIS technology it is possible to identify unrecorded archeological features in a dense tropical forest environment and monitor these cultural features for their protection.

Sever, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Airborne optical detection of oil on water.

Airborne measurements were made over controlled oil-spill test sites to evaluate various techniques, utilizing reflected sunlight, for detecting oil on water. The results of these measurements show that (1) maximum contrast between oil and water is in the UV and red portions of the spectrum; (2) minimum contrast is in the blue-green; (3) differential polarization appears to be a very promising technique; (4) no characteristic absorption bands, which would permit one oil to be distinguished from another, were discovered in the spectral regions measured; (5) sky conditions greatly influence the contrast between oil and water; and (6) highest contrast was achieved under overcast sky conditions.

Millard, J. P.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Lidar-Based Safe Site Relative Navigation

Established Safe and Precise Landing–Integrated Capability Evolution (SPLICE) project precision landing requirements necessitate a navigation filter architecture and underlying models developed specifically with these needs in mind. To date, test flights to characterize SPLICE guidance and navigation (GN) system performance have not provided a means to divert from the a priori selected landing site (LS) due to hazardous conditions. With the inclusion of a new sensor type, the Hazard Detection Lidar (HDL) coupled with safe landing site selection algorithms, GN can divert from the originally planned trajectory and navigate relative to the new targeted landing site. This discussion covers the navigation filter developments necessary to perform this estimation and process the resulting HDL measurements to meet project safe landing goals.

Navigation↗
NASA NTRS2011

(Ca,Mg)-Carbonate and Mg-Carbonate at the Phoenix Landing Site: Evaluation of the Phoenix Lander's Thermal Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) Data Using Laboratory Simulations

Calcium carbonate (4.5 wt. %) was detected in the soil at the Phoenix Landing site by the Phoenix Lander s The Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer [1]. TEGA operated at 12 mbar pressure, yet the detection of calcium carbonate is based on interpretations derived from thermal analysis literature of carbonates measured under ambient (1000 mbar) and vacuum (10(exp -3) mbar) conditions [2,3] as well as at 100 and 30 mbar [4,5] and one analysis at 12 mbar by the TEGA engineering qualification model (TEGA-EQM). Thermodynamics (Te = H/ S) dictate that pressure affects entropy ( S) which causes the temperature (Te) of mineral decomposition at one pressure to differ from Te obtained at another pressure. Thermal decomposition analyses of Fe-, Mg-, and Ca-bearing carbonates at 12 mbar is required to enhance the understanding of the TEGA results at TEGA operating pressures. The objectives of this work are to (1) evaluate the thermal and evolved gas behavior of a suite of Fe-, Mg-, Ca-carbonate minerals at 1000 and 12 mbar and (2) discuss possible emplacement mechanisms for the Phoenix carbonate.

Sutter, B.↗
NASA NTRS2000

BOREAS RSS-17 Dielectric Constant Profile Measurements

The BOREAS RSS-17 team acquired and analyzed imaging radar data from the ESA's ERS-1 over a complete annual cycle at the BOREAS sites in Canada in 1994 to detect shifts in radar backscatter related to varying environmental conditions. This data set consists of dielectric constant profile measurements from selected trees at various BOREAS flux tower sites. The relative dielectric constant was measured at C-band (frequency = 5 GHz) as a function of depth into the trunk of three trees at each site, Measurements were made during April 1994 with an Applied Microwave Corporation field PDP fitted with a 0.358-cm (0.141-inch) diameter coaxial probe tip. The data are available in tabular ASCII files. The data files are available on a CD-ROM (see document number 20010000884), or from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC).

Hall, Forrest G.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Gas hydrate quantification in Walker Ridge block 313, Gulf of Mexico, from full-waveform inversion of ocean-bottom seismic data

The Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Joint Industry Project Leg 2 logging-while-drilling data in Walker Ridge lease block 313 (WR313) in the GOM detected gas hydrate in coarse- and fine-grained sediments at sites WR313-G and WR313-H. The coarse-grained units are thin ([Formula: see text]) and highly saturated, whereas the fine-grained unit is thick (approximately 200 m) with low saturation and fracture-filling gas hydrate. Unlike its coarse-grained counterpart, the seismic character of the fine-grained unit does not clearly indicate the presence of gas hydrate, which would likely have remained undiscovered in the absence of drilling. In this paper, through frequency-domain acoustic full-waveform inversion (FWI) of ocean-bottom seismometer data along a 2D multichannel seismic transect near sites WR313-G and WR313-H, we detect and quantify gas hydrate in the fine-grained unit. Key results are as follows: First, the base of the gas hydrate stability zone, which is not obvious in the reflection profile, can be discerned in the FWI results. Second, the gas hydrate in the fine-grained unit is mainly confined to the area between two sets of opposite-dipping normal faults implying that the fault architecture may be partially responsible for this gas hydrate accumulation and distribution.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗
NASA NTRS2020

Cluster Analysis of Thermal Icequakes Using the Seismometer to Investigate Ice and Ocean Structure (SIIOS): Implications for Ocean World Seismology

Ocean Worlds are of high interest to the planetary community due to the potential habitability of their subsurface oceans. Over the next few decades several missions will be sent to ocean worlds including the Europa Clipper, Dragonfly, and possibly a Europa lander. The Dragonfly and Europa lander missions will carry seismic payloads tasked with detecting and locating seismic sources. The Seismometer to Investigate Ice and Ocean Structure (SIIOS) is a NASA PSTAR funded project that investigates ocean world seismology using terrestrial analogs. The goals of the SIIOS experiment include quantitatively comparing flight-candidate seismometers to traditional instruments, comparing single-station approaches to a small-aperture array, and characterizing the local seismic environment of our field sites. Here we present an analysis of detected local events at our field sites at Gulkana Glacier in Alaska and in Northwest Greenland approximately 80 km North of Qaanaaq, Greenland. Both field sites passively recorded data for about two weeks. We deployed our experiment on Gulkana Glacier in September 2017 and in Greenland in June 2018. At Gulkana there was a nearby USGS weather station which recorded wind data. Temperature data was collected using the MERRA satellite. In Greenland we deployed our own weather station to collect temperature and wind data. Gulkana represents a noisier and more active environment. Temperatures fluctuated around 0°C, allowing for surface runoff to occur during the day. The glacier had several moulins, and during deployment we heard several rockfalls from nearby mountains. In addition to the local environment, Gulkana is located close to an active plate boundary (relative to Greenland). This meant that there were more regional events recorded over two weeks, than in Greenland. Greenland’s local environment was also quieter, and less active. Temperatures remained below freezing. The Greenland ice was much thicker than Gulkana (~850 m versus ~100 m) and our stations were above a subglacial lake. Both conditions can reduce event detections from basal motion. Lastly, we encased our Greenland array in an aluminum vault and buried it beneath the surface unlike our array in Gulkana where the instruments were at the surface and covered with plastic bins. The vault further insulated the array from thermal and atmospheric events.

Marusiak, A. G.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Time-Lapse Gravity Monitoring of CO2 Migration Based on Numerical Modeling of a Faulted Storage Complex

In this study, the performance of both surface and borehole time-lapse gravity monitoring to detect CO2 leakage from a carbon storage site is evaluated. Several hypothetical scenarios of CO2 migration in a leaky fault, and thief zones at different depths at the Kimberlina site (California, USA) constitute the basis of the approach. The CO2 displacement is simulated using the TOUGH2 simulator applied to a detailed geological model of the site. The gravity responses to these CO2 plumes are simulated using forward modeling with sensors at ground surface and in vertical boreholes. Results of inversion on one scenario are also presented. The surface-based gravity responses obtained for the different leakage scenarios demonstrate that leakage can be detected at the surface in all the scenarios but the time to detection is highly variable (10 to 40 years) and dependent on the detection threshold considered. Borehole measurements of the vertical component of gravity provide excellent constrains in depth when they are located in proximity of the density anomaly associated with the presence of CO2, thus discriminating multiple leaks in different thief zones. Joint inversion of surface and borehole data can bring valuable information of the occurrence of leakages and their importance by providing a reasonable estimate of mass of displaced fluids. This study demonstrates the importance of combining multiphase flow simulations with gravity modeling in order to define if and when gravity monitoring would be applicable at a given storage site.

Time-lapse gravity monitoring, leak detection, CCS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Bicarbonate is a key regulator but not a substrate for O2 evolution in Photosystem II

Abstract Photosystem II (PSII) uses light energy to oxidize water and to reduce plastoquinone in the photosynthetic electron transport chain. O 2 is produced as a byproduct. While most members of the PSII research community agree that O 2 originates from water molecules, alternative hypotheses involving bicarbonate persist in the literature. In this perspective, we provide an overview of the important roles of bicarbonate in regulating PSII activity and assembly. Further, we emphasize that biochemistry, spectroscopy, and structural biology experiments have all failed to detect bicarbonate near the active site of O 2 evolution. While thermodynamic arguments for oxygen-centered bicarbonate oxidation are valid, the claim that bicarbonate is a substrate for photosynthetic O 2 evolution is challenged.

Vinyard, David J.↗
DOE OSTI2026

A machine learning pipeline for identifying infiltration managed aquifer recharge locations from satellite imagery in the San Joaquin Valley, California

This study focuses on an agricultural region in California’s Central Valley, USA, where Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is widely implemented to mitigate groundwater depletion under increasing water demand and climate variability. A deep learning and machine learning framework was developed to identify infiltration-MAR locations using satellite imagery and environmental data. The framework integrates surface water detection from Sentinel-2 imagery, geospatial delineation of water bodies, spatiotemporal tracking of water body dynamics, and supervised classification using meteorological, environmental, and topographic variables. The framework was applied to a 2379 km² study area southwest of Fresno, where 765 water bodies were detected, including 139 identified MAR sites based on publicly available datasets and expert knowledge. The classification model achieved an accuracy of 0.94 and an F1 score of 0.85. Feature importance analysis indicates that cropland, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and evaporation are among the most influential predictors for infiltration-MAR. Notably, the framework suggests that engineered water management in infiltration-MAR systems can disrupt or even reverse the expected positive correlation between surface water extent and precipitation. These findings provide physically interpretable insights into the characteristics of existing infiltration-MAR facilities and demonstrate the potential of the proposed framework as a reproducible, interpretable, and potentially transferable tool for data-driven infiltration-MAR identification and inventory development under growing climatic and hydrological uncertainty.

Classification↗
DOE OSTI2020

High Voltage Mg-Ion Battery Cathode via a Solid Solution Cr–Mn Spinel Oxide

We discuss how lattice Mg 2+ in a tailored solid solution spinel, MgCrMnO 4 , is electrochemically utilized at high Mn-redox potentials in a nonaqueous electrolyte. Complementary evidence from experimental and theoretical analyses supports bulk Mg 2+ (de)intercalation throughout the designed oxide frame where strong electrostatic interaction between Mg 2+ and O 2- exists. Mg/Mn antisite inversion in the spinel is lowered to similar to 10% via postannealing at 350 degrees C to further improve Mg 2+ mobility. Spinel lattice is preserved upon removal of Mg 2+ without any phase transformations, denoting structural stability at the charged state at a high potential similar to 3.0 V (vs Mg/Mel. Clear remagnesiation upon first discharge, harvesting up to similar to 180 Wh/kg at 60 degrees C is shown. In the remagnesiated state, insertion of Mg 2+ into interstitial sites in the spinel is detected, possibly resulting in partial reversibility which needs to be addressed for structural stability. The observations constitute a first clear path to the development of a practical high voltage Mg-ion cathode using a spinel oxide.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Spectroscopic Characterization of Highly Active Fe–N–C Oxygen Reduction Catalysts and Discovery of Strong Interaction with Nafion Ionomer

Scaling up clean-energy applications necessitates the development of platinum group metal (PGM)-free fuel cell electrocatalysts with high activity, stability, and low cost. Here, X-ray absorption (XAS) at the Fe K-edge and Fe K β X-ray emission (XES) spectroscopies were used to study the electronic structure of Fe centers in highly active Fe–N–C oxygen reduction catalysts with significant commercial potential. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analysis has shown that the majority (>95%) of Fe centers are in the Fe 3+ oxidation state, while extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) detected a mixture of single site Fe–N 4 centers (>95%) and centers with short (~2.5 Å) Fe–Fe interactions of Fe metal and/or Fe-carbide nanoparticles (<5%) featuring the Fe o oxidation state. Surprisingly, addition of Nafion, the most widely used ionomer, resulted in pronounced changes in the XAS spectra, consistent with a strong catalyst–ionomer interaction where long Fe–Fe interactions at ~3.1 Å were shown to be a feature of Fe 3+ ions bound with the Nafion. We conclude that exposure to Nafion during the device formulation has a different effect from the aggressive acid leaching typically used in the preparation of Fe–N–C catalysts. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that the polymer interacts with single sites’ Fe 3+ centers, as well as with graphene layers protecting the Fe o nanoparticles, and extracts some Fe ions into the Nafion matrix.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗