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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 361 records · Page 20

The auroral oval - A reevaluation.

The auroral oval represents a region of auroral occurrence where particular spectral features have sufficient integrated intensity to exceed all-sky camera thresholds. It has been argued that this is not a good representation of the characteristics of particle precipitation or of energy deposition. Consequently, the auroral oval concept may not be a good one to use to order diverse auroral data on a 24-hour basis. Rather, the precipitation patterns for specific energy classes of protons and electrons should form the basis for the interpretation of high-latitude geophysical measurements.

Eather, R. H.↗

Condensed phase details in the time-independent combustion of AP/composite propellants

The problem of nonmetallized ammonium perchlorate (AP)/composite propellant combustion is studied with the aim of coherently interpreting apparently diverse experimental data. Three fundamental hypotheses are introduced: the extent of propellant degradation at the vaporization step has to be specified through a scientific criterion; condensed phase degradation of AP to vaporizable fragments is the overall rate-limiting reaction; the rate of combustion in the gas phase is controlled by diffusive-mixing processes. Theoretical predictions of the regression rates of AP are seen to match well with experimental observations. Theoretical curves of regression rate are presented for a typical composite propellant. It is seen through analyses that either of the two familiar models for the gas phase (flame sheet approximation and uniform combustion) describes the general behavior adequately, hence de-emphasizing the role of gas phase details in propellant combustion.

Kumar, R. N.↗

System analysis for millimeter-wave communication satellites

Research and development needs for millimeter-wave space communication systems are presented. Assumed propagation fade statistics are investigated along with high data rate diversity link and storage. The development of reliable ferrite switches, and high performance receivers and transmitters is discussed, in addition to improved tolerance of dish and lens fabrication for the antennas. The typical cost for using a simplex voice channel via a high capacity 40/50 GHz satellite is presented.

Holland, L. D.↗

Interchange of electronic design through VHDL and EIS

The need for both robust and unambiguous electronic designs is a direct requirement of the astonishing growth in design and manufacturing capability during recent years. In order to manage the plethora of designs, and have the design data both interchangeable and interoperable, the Very High Speed Integrated Circuits (VHSIC) program is developing two major standards for the electronic design community. The VHSIC Hardware Description Language (VHDL) is designed to be the lingua franca for transmission of design data between designers and their environments. The Engineering Information System (EIS) is designed to ease the integration of data betweeen diverse design automation systems. This paper describes the rationale for the necessity for these two standards and how they provide a synergistic expressive capability across the macrocosm of design environments.

Wallace, Richard M.↗

Incorporating Biological Knowledge into Evaluation of Casual Regulatory Hypothesis

Biological data can be scarce and costly to obtain. The small number of samples available typically limits statistical power and makes reliable inference of causal relations extremely difficult. However, we argue that statistical power can be increased substantially by incorporating prior knowledge and data from diverse sources. We present a Bayesian framework that combines information from different sources and we show empirically that this lets one make correct causal inferences with small sample sizes that otherwise would be impossible.

Chrisman, Lonnie↗

Performance modeling codes for the QuakeSim problem solving environment

The QuakeSim Problem Solving Environment uses a web-services approach to unify and deploy diverse remote data sources and processing services within a browser environment. Here we focus on the high-performance crustal modeling applications that will be included in this set of remote but interoperable applications.

earthquake portal web services stress modeling↗

The NPOESS Preparatory Project Science Data Segment (SDS) Data Depository and Distribution Element (SD3E) System Architecture

The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) Science Data Segment (SDS) will make daily data requests for approximately six terabytes of NPP science products for each of its six environmental assessment elements from the operational data providers. As a result, issues associated with duplicate data requests, data transfers of large volumes of diverse products, and data transfer failures raised concerns with respect to the network traffic and bandwidth consumption. The NPP SDS Data Depository and Distribution Element (SD3E) was developed to provide a mechanism for efficient data exchange, alleviate duplicate network traffic, and reduce operational costs.

Ho, Evelyn L.↗

The NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) Science Data Segment (SDS) Data Depository and Distribution Element (SD3E) System Architecture

The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS), the U.S. Government's future low-Earth orbiting satellite system, will monitor global weather and environmental conditions. Serving as a risk reduction for NPOESS, the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) will provide remotely sensed atmospheric, land, ocean, ozone, and sounder data that will serve the meteorological and global climate change scientific communities. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) NPP Science Data Segment's (SDS) primary role is to independently assess the quality of the NPP science and environmental data records for their ability to support climate research. The SDS is composed of nine elements; an input element that receives data from the operational agencies and acts as a buffer, a calibration analysis element, five elements devoted to measurement based quality assessment, an element used to test algorithmic improvements, and an element that provides overall science direction. Each element requires a set of sensor specific science data products for their evaluation. There are four NPP sensors that will be flown on the NPP observatory. They are the Visible Infrared Imagining Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), the Cross-Track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), and the Ozone Mapper/Profiler Suite (OMPS). It is estimated that these four sensors combined will make daily data requests for approximately six terabytes of NPP science products from the operational data providers. As a result, issues associated with duplicate data requests, data transfers of large volumes of diverse products, and data transfer failures raised concerns with respect to the network traffic and bandwidth consumption. Therefore, a central data broker system for receiving and buffering data requests and data products for the SDS was developed. The data element for this system is called the SDS Data Depository and Distribution Element (SD3E). It supports science mission data assessment by assuring the timely and validated acquisition and subsequent transfer of the NPP Science Mission data to the SDS Elements and NPP Science Team. The six science elements that interface with the SD3E span across the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and the University of Wisconsin. As the primary communication vehicle for the science elements and science team, the SD3E has an interface to the operational data providers: National Environment Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) Interface Data Processing System (IDPS) and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship system (CLASS) Archive Data System (ADS), that are responsible for product generation and archive and distribution respectively. The SD3E is designed to be a semi-customizable and semi-automated system. This system is designed to provide flexibility and ease of use for the science users in accessing the latest data products by creating a rolling data cache that temporarily stores the products locally before transferring the data to the SDS Measurement based elements for the land, ocean, atmosphere, sounder, and ozone. This paper describes the design and architecture of one of the nine SDS elements, the SD3E, and how this system has provided a mechanism for efficient data exchange, how it has helped in alleviating some of the network traffic and usage, and how it has contributed to reducing operational costs.

Ho, Evelyn L.↗

The Pilot Lunar Geologic Mapping Project: Summary Results and Recommendations from the Copernicus Quadrangle

The first systematic lunar geologic maps were completed at 1:1M scale for the lunar near side during the 1960s using telescopic and Lunar Orbiter (LO) photographs [1-3]. The program under which these maps were completed established precedents for map base, scale, projection, and boundaries in order to avoid widely discrepant products. A variety of geologic maps were subsequently produced for various purposes, including 1:5M scale global maps [4-9] and large scale maps of high scientific interest (including the Apollo landing sites) [10]. Since that time, lunar science has benefitted from an abundance of surface information, including high resolution images and diverse compositional data sets, which have yielded a host of topical planetary investigations. The existing suite of lunar geologic maps and topical studies provide exceptional context in which to unravel the geologic history of the Moon. However, there has been no systematic approach to lunar geologic mapping since the flight of post-Apollo scientific orbiters. Geologic maps provide a spatial and temporal framework wherein observations can be reliably benchmarked and compared. As such, a lack of a systematic mapping program means that modern (post- Apollo) data sets, their scientific ramifications, and the lunar scientists who investigate these data, are all marginalized in regard to geologic mapping. Marginalization weakens the overall understanding of the geologic evolution of the Moon and unnecessarily partitions lunar research. To bridge these deficiencies, we began a pilot geologic mapping project in 2005 as a means to assess the interest, relevance, and technical methods required for a renewed lunar geologic mapping program [11]. Herein, we provide a summary of the pilot geologic mapping project, which focused on the geologic materials and stratigraphic relationships within the Copernicus quadrangle (0-30degN, 0-45degW).

Skinner, J. A., Jr.↗

Direct Probe of Dark Energy Interactions with a Solar System Laboratory: NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) - Phase 1 Final Report

In this NIAC (NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts) study, we embrace the challenge of direct detection of the galileon dark energy field in the Vainshtein model. We developed a mission concept to directly measure the galileon field using the solar system as a laboratory. The experiment scheme involves precise measurements of the trace of the total scalar force gradient tensor. A tetrahedral constellation off our spacecraft measures the "local" traces while orbiting about 1 AU (Astronomical Unit) away from the Sun and faraway from planets (Figure 1). The trace measurement is insensitive to the much stronger gravity field which satisfies the inverse square law and thus is traceless. Atomic test masses and atom interferometer measurement techniques are used as precise drag-free inertial references while laser ranging interferometers are employed to connect among atom interferometer pairs in spacecraft for the differential gradient force measurements. We conclude that such a mission is scientifically and technologically feasible. We show that a mission of 3-year measurement time would be able to provide high confidence statements (over 3 standard deviations) about the existence and strength of the cubic galileon field of the Sun. In addition, such a mission would also provide rich and diverse scientific data for testing any gravitational theory in general beyond the Newtonian gravity, hunting for ultra-light fields of dark matter, and detecting gravitational waves in the mid-frequency band between those of LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) and LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna). For these reasons, we will term the mission concept Gravity Observation and Dark energy Detection Explorer in the Solar System (GODDESS).

Dark Energy↗

Co-developing a SAR for Disasters Reference Guide for the International Applications Community

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data are widely applicable for disaster monitoring, especially in Central and South America where atmospheric effects are a frequent obstacle for disaster monitoring. There is a growing interest in the application of SAR data to diverse disasters, ranging from landslides to volcanic eruptions and floods. With this interest comes a growing need for user-friendly guides that facilitate the integration of SAR into existing workflows. A joint effort between AmeriGEO, university networks in the Americas, NASA SERVIR’s Science Coordination Office (SCO), and the NASA Earth Science Disasters Program, culminated in the “SAR for Disasters” Guide. The guide is modeled after the one-page informational sheets created for SERVIR’s SAR Handbook, with the aim to succinctly communicate the key considerations needed to apply relevant analyses using SAR. Developed with contributors from diverse backgrounds, this guide is designed to be a useful reference for experienced technical users and beginners alike.

SAR↗

ThermoBase: A Database of the Phylogeny and Physiology of Thermophilic and Hyperthermophilic Organisms

Thermophiles and hyperthermophiles are those organisms which grow at high temperature (> 40°C). The unusual properties of these organisms have received interest in multiple fields of biological research, and have found applications in biotechnology, especially in industrial processes. However, there are few listings of thermophilic and hyperthermophilic organisms and their relevant environmental and physiological data. Such repositories can be used to standardize definitions of thermophile and hyperthermophile limits and tolerances and would mitigate the need for extracting organism data from diverse literature sources across multiple, sometimes loosely related, research fields. Therefore, we have developed ThermoBase, a web-based and freely available database which currently houses comprehensive descriptions for 1238 thermophilic or hyperthermophilic organisms. ThermoBase reports taxonomic, metabolic, environmental, experimental, and physiological information in addition to literature resources. This includes parameters such as coupling ions for chemiosmosis, optimal pH and range, optimal temperature and range, optimal pressure, and optimal salinity. The database interface allows for search features and sorting of parameters. As such, it is the goal of ThermoBase to facilitate and expedite hypothesis generation, literature research, and understanding relating to thermophiles and hyperthermophiles within the scientific community in an accessible and centralized repository. ThermoBase is freely available online at the Astrobiology Habitable Environments Database (AHED; https://ahed.nasa.gov), at the Database Center for Life Science (TogoDB; http://togodb.org/db/thermobase), and in the S1 File.

Thermophiles↗

Municipal Adaptation to Changing Curbside Demands: Findings from Semi-Structured Interviews with Ten U.S. Cities

Emerging mobility services (e.g. ride-hailing, e-commerce, micro-mobility, etc.), are generating novel and rapidly growing demands to use curbside space, with potentially large impacts on mobility, energy consumption, and related outcomes. This presents both opportunities and challenges to municipal agencies responsible for managing this interface between the road network and adjacent land uses, as legacy practices require updating. In this study, we employ a semi-structured interviewing approach to establish how municipalities are adapting to these new pressures on their curbside. We interviewed senior staff responsible for curbside policy of ten large U.S. municipalities, with populations ranging from ~250,000 to ~5,000,000 (and the majority of which are the central city of their metropolitan region). We document a trend of organizational restructuring to more formally include curbside management teams, with the majority of interviewees also reporting increased staffing. Respondents reported that operational failures at their curbside (e.g. demand in excess of capacity) have impacts on safety, capacity, and emergency vehicle mobility, with impacts highly concentrated spatially and temporally (e.g. late evenings in nightlife districts). We document a diversity of data flows between ride-hailing operators (e.g. Uber, Lyft) and municipalities, with some cities reporting obtaining types of data that other cities report not receiving, despite requesting such data. Finally, respondents consistently expressed a desire for new data streams and methodologies to help manage the curbside of the future. It is hoped that establishing the state of practice in this rapidly changing context will be of use to practitioners facing similar pressures as those of our interviewees.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

TriC: Distributed-memory Triangle Counting by Exploiting the Graph Structure

Graph analytics has emerged as an important tool in the analysis of large scale data from diverse application domains such as social networks, cyber security and bioinformatics. Counting the number of triangles in a graph is a fundamental kernel with several applications such as detecting the community structure of a graph or in identifying important vertices in a graph. The ubiquity of massive datasets is driving the need to scale graph analytics on parallel systems. However, numerous challenges exist in efficiently parallelizing graph algorithms, especially on distributed-memory systems. Irregular memory accesses and communication patterns, low computation to communication ratios, and the need for frequent synchronization are some of the leading challenges. In this paper, we present TriC, our distributed-memory implementation of triangle counting in graphs using the Message Passing Interface (MPI), as a submission to the 2020 GraphChallenge competition. Using a set of synthetic and real-world inputs from the challenge, we demonstrate a speedup of up to 90x relative to previous work on 32 processor-cores of a NERSC Cori node. We also provide details from distributed runs with up to8192 processes along with strong scaling results. The observations presented in this work provide an understanding of the system-level bottlenecks at scale that specifically impact sparse-irregular workloads and will therefore benefit other efforts to parallelize graph algorithms.

Halappanavar, Mahantesh↗

Transforming Energy Through Computational Excellence: Advanced Scientific Visualization Reveals Energy Insights

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's world-class researchers and analysts, along with the Insight Center (our state-of-the-art scientific visualization facility) make data immersion a reality, allowing users to step into and explore their data. With the rise of large, diverse, and distributed data sets, scientific visualization is now critical to the process of scientific discovery and to managing and analyzing data and extracting insights. NREL provides visualization capabilities and facilities that are supported by state-of-the-art equipment, leading-edge techniques, and expert staff.

data science↗

Architecture for Web-Based Visualization of Large-Scale Energy Domains: Preprint

With the growing penetration of inverter-based distributed energy resources and increased loads through electrification, power systems analyses are becoming more important and more complex. Moreover, these analyses increasingly involve the combination of interconnected energy domains with data that are spatially and temporally increasing in scale by orders of magnitude, surpassing the capabilities of many existing analysis and decision-support systems. We present the architectural design, development, and application of a high-resolution web-based visualization environment capable of cross-domain analysis of tens of millions of energy assets, focusing on scalability and performance. Our system supports the exploration, navigation, and analysis of large data from diverse domains such as electrical transmission and distribution systems, mobility and electric vehicle charging networks, communications networks, cyber assets, and other supporting infrastructure. We evaluate this system across multiple use cases, describing the capabilities and limitations of a web-based approach for high-resolution energy system visualizations.

grid modernization↗