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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 433 records · Page 24
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Measurement report: Role of organic coating and chemical composition on ice nucleation potential of atmospheric particles in European Arctic

Understanding the ice nucleation (IN) potential of Arctic aerosols is critical for predicting their influence on cloud formation and water cycles in this vulnerable region. This study investigates the role of particle composition, organic coatings, and aerosol sources in modulating ice nucleating particle (INPs) abundance across five aerosol samples collected at the Gruvebadet Observatory Station in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. The IN potential of Arctic aerosol particles was studied by investigating chemical, morphological, and INP abundance measurements. Single-particle analyses revealed distinct differences in mixing state, organic volume fraction (OVF), and organic coating morphology across samples. OVF distributions were linked to particle origin, with marine-influenced Na-rich particles often exhibiting thin organic coatings, while long-range transported particles showed thicker organic coatings. Biogenic contributions, though variable, were linked to heat-sensitive INPs, suggesting a role for labile biological macromolecules under certain meteorological conditions. Spearman rank correlation analysis between particle composition and immersion-mode INP concentrations at two freezing temperatures indicated that organic-rich and Na-rich particles were positively associated with enhanced INP abundance. However, discrepancies in INP abundance were observed for particles with thicker organic coatings, where the morphological configuration of the organic material may play a role. The results highlight that Arctic INP variability is governed not only by chemical composition but also by the morphological configuration of organic material, which can either enhance or inhibit ice nucleation depending on its abundance, distribution, thickness, and mixing state. These findings underscore the combined influence of source regions, atmospheric processing, and organic–inorganic interactions in shaping Arctic aerosol freezing behavior.

Lata, Nurun Nahar [Pacific Northwest National Labo↗
DOE OSTI2025

Causal relationships of vegetation productivity with root zone water availability and atmospheric dryness at the catchment scale

Abstract. This study explores the causal relationships between catchment water availability, vapor pressure deficit, and gross primary productivity (GPP) across 341 catchments in the contiguous US. Seasonal climatic, hydrological, and vegetation characteristics were represented using the Horton index, ecological aridity index, evaporative fraction index, and carbon uptake efficiency. Statistical methods, including circularity statistics, correlation analysis, and causality tests, were employed to determine the complex interactions between catchment wetness, atmospheric dryness, and vegetation carbon uptake. The results revealed a maximum lag of 2 months in the intra-annual variability of catchment water supply–productivity and atmospheric water demand–productivity relationships, with hysteresis patterns varying with the catchment's hydrological characteristics. In catchments not permanently under water-limited or energy-limited conditions, vegetation experiences hydrological stress during the peak growing period, coinciding with the highest gross primary productivity and carbon uptake efficiency being out of phase with the Horton index and in phase with the evaporative fraction index. Causality analysis highlights strong temporal continuity in GPP seasonal characteristics, with a cause–effect relationship between catchment water supply, atmospheric demand, and vegetation productivity spanning a maximum of 2 months. These findings underscore the need for a comprehensive functional framework that integrates catchment water supply, atmospheric demand, and vegetation productivity to enhance our understanding and predictive capabilities with regard to ecosystem responses to climate change.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1965

Development of high temperature nickel-base alloys for jet engine turbine bucket applications

A program has been initiated to develop a material with superior properties at elevated temperatures for utilization in turbine blade applications. A nickel-base superalloy can provide the necessary high temperature strength by using the maximum capability of the three available strengthening mechanisms - intermetallic gamma prime precipitation (Ni3Al), solid solution strengthening with refractory and precious metals, and stable carbide formations through the addition of strong carbide forming elements. A stress rupture test at 2000 deg F and 15,000 psi was formulated to approximate the desired properties. By adding varying amounts of refractory metals (Mo, W and Ta) it was possible to statistically analyze the effects of each in a basic superalloy composition containing fixed amounts of Co, Cr, C, B, Sr, and Ni at three separate levels of AL and Ta. Metallographic analysis correlated with the mechanical properties of the alloys; those with few strengthening phases were weak and ductile and those with excessive amounts of intermetallic phases present in undesirable morphologies were brittle.

SUPERALLOY↗
NASA NTRS1972

The shape of the F-region irregularities which produce satellite scintillations Evidence for axial asymmetry.

Correlation analysis of three-station observations of satellite amplitude scintillations, recorded at London, Canada during the summer of 1968, have been interpreted to give information on the height, size and shape of the ionospheric irregularities. The irregularities had a mean height of 390 km, and when interpreted in terms of the usual axially-symmetric, field-aligned model, had a mean axial ratio of 6.5, and a mean dimension transverse to the magnetic field of 0.7 km. None of these parameters showed any systematic trend with geomagnetic latitude. The data for one of the passes analyzed were inconsistent with axial symmetry, and when examined in terms of a more general model, 3 of 9 passes showed evidence of irregularities which were elongated both along and transverse to the earth's magnetic field, the elongation transverse to the field tending to lie in a north-south direction.

Moorcroft, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Automated cloud tracking using precisely aligned digital ATS pictures.

Discussion of the interactive man-computer system (WIMDCO) for measuring cloud motion from ATS pictures. The multipicture model of ATS navigation is used for consecutive ATS digital picture alignment to provide the required precision in cloud motion measurements by automated tracking techniques. Cloud motion is measured by tracking clouds between two digital pictures with the aid of two-dimensional cross correlation analysis. The fast Fourier transform method and other programming techniques are used for time and cost minimization. Cloud motion vectors were computed over three time intervals in July, 1969. The EW and NS components were reproducible within roughly 2 knots.

Smith, E. A.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The lunar conductivity profile and the nonuniqueness of electromagnetic data inversion.

A review of the theory for the electromagnetic functional used to date to determine the lunar conductivity profile from spectral analyses of lunar magnetometer data. The 'hard' boundary condition used by Sonett et al. (1971) and others appears to be a good approximation for the sunlit lunar hemisphere. The use of the spectral data in conjunction with the functional to find a least squares conductivity profile is examined from the point of view of the nonuniqueness of nonlinear estimation. An unsuccessful search was carried out to find models that were both geophysically reasonable and consistent with the data. It is asserted that the failure to find these models is due to the inadequacy of the functional. Of the models generated, those that best fit the data all have a conductivity peak at a depth of 240 km similar to that of the model discussed by Sonett et al. However, all of these models are quite distinct elsewhere in the profile. It is shown how such models are dependent on both the nature of the functional as well as the initial guess in the least squares procedure. A correlation analysis shows that the only resolvable features from this type of model are a low conductivity crust, a high conductivity peak of limited radial extent, and a low conductivity zone beneath the peak.

Phillips, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Study to determine cloud motion from meteorological satellite data

Processing techniques were tested for deducing cloud motion vectors from overlapped portions of pairs of pictures made from meteorological satellites. This was accomplished by programming and testing techniques for estimating pattern motion by means of cross correlation analysis with emphasis placed upon identifying and reducing errors resulting from various factors. Techniques were then selected and incorporated into a cloud motion determination program which included a routine which would select and prepare sample array pairs from the preprocessed test data. The program was then subjected to limited testing with data samples selected from the Nimbus 4 THIR data provided by the 11.5 micron channel.

Clark, B. B.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Investigation of brightness changes in WZ Cas in photographic and visible light

The results are presented concerning statistical processing of a series of visual and photographic magnitudes for WZ Cas. The light distribution functions were determined, which appeared to be asymmetrical. Theoretical approximating distributions were calculated. The star is predominantly bright in yellow rays and faint in blue ones. The correlative analysis of visual magnitudes shows that the period of WZ Cas is not less than 400 days.

Kheylo, E. S.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Solar rotation as determined from OSO-4 EUV spectroheliograms.

Spectroheliograms obtained in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lines and the Lyman continuum are used to determine the rotation rate of the solar chromosphere, transition region, and corona. A cross-correlation analysis of the observations indicates the presence of differential rotation through the chromosphere and transition region. The rotation rate does not vary with height. The average sidereal rotation rate is given by omega (deg/day) = 13.46-2.99 sin squared B where B is the solar latitude. This rate agrees with spectroscopic determinations of the photospheric rotation rate, but is slower by about 1 deg/day than rates determined from the apparent motion of photospheric magnetic fields and from the brightest points of active regions observed in the EUV. The corona does not clearly show differential rotation as do the chromosphere and transition region.

Dupree, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Eleven-years inversion of the green corona emission

A cross correlation analysis of coronal green line intensity (5303A) and interplanetary magnetic field polarity for the period 1947-1970 shows that the coronal features are organized in a constant pattern with respect to the 4-sector structure through the solar cycle. A sudden inversion of the coronal pattern with respect to the sector structure takes place at the solar minima. The high emission regions of the green corona are located near the solar magnetic sector boundaries having polarities (-,+), (+,-), (-,+) during cycles 18, 19, 20 respectively in the Northern Hemisphere, and (+,-), (-,+), (+,-) in the Southern Hemisphere.

Antonucci, E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Modulation of auroral electron fluxes in the frequency range 50 kHz to 10 MHz

A sounding rocket-borne electron detector of high time resolution is used to search for modulation of auroral electron fluxes in the frequency range 50 kHz to 10 MHz and energy range 5-7 keV. Data were telemetered to ground via a 93-kHz subcarrier. A cross-correlation analysis of the data collected indicates low-level modulation near the detection threshold of the instrument. Two U-1 events are observed which are interpreted as indications of modulation. The two modulation events occur during a period of increasing flux for a region marking the boundary between two current sheets detected by the payload magnetometer. The strongest argument against interference contamination is the lack of any observable modulation at times other than those mentioned in the study.

Spiger, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Fracture control of H-O engine components

An investigation was made to obtain the material characterization and fatigue crack propagation data necessary to establish the salient characteristics of a Ti-6Al-2.5Sn(ELI) alloy fuel pump impeller to be used in a cryogenic service environment. Testing variables considered were: coupon orientation, frequency, load range ratio, and temperature. Data analysis correlated crack propagation data from conventional laboratory coupons with data from a parallel sided rotating disk used to model rotor stresses. Four major design recommendations when bore regions of fuel pump impellers to be operated in cryogenic environments are to be relatively highly stressed are discussed.

Ryder, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Parametric dependence of ion temperature and relative density in the NASA Lewis SUMMA facility

Further hot-ion plasma experiments were conducted in the SUMMA superconducting magnetic mirror facility. A steady-state ExB plasma was formed by applying a strong radially inward dc electric field between cylindrical anodes and hollow cathodes located near the magnetic mirror maxima. Extending the use of water cooling to the hollow cathodes, in addition to the anodes, resulted in higher maximum power input to the plasma. Steady-state hydrogen plasmas with ion kinetic temperatures as high as 830 eV were produced. Functional relations were obtained empirically among the plasma current, voltage, magnetic flux density, ion temperature, and relative ion density. The functional relations were deduced by use of a multiple correlation analysis. Data were obtained for midplane magnetic fields from 0.5 to 3.37 tesla and input power up to 45 kW. Also, initial absolute electron density measurements are reported from a 90 deg Thomson scattering laser system.

Snyder, A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Evidence for CO in Jupiter's atmosphere from airborne spectroscopic observations at 5 microns

High-altitude (12.4 km) spectra of Jupiter recorded at the Kuiper Airborne Observatory are analyzed for the presence of CO absorption lines. A line-by-line comparison of Jupiter's spectrum with that of carbon monoxide is presented, as well as a correlation analysis that includes the influence of other gases present in Jupiter's atmosphere (CH4, NH3, H2O, PH3, and GeH4). The resulting evidence points strongly to the presence of carbon monoxide in Jupiter's atmosphere, thus strengthening Beer's evidence for it. Possible explanations for the existence and observability of Jovian CO, including convection from hotter, deeper layers or decomposition of organic molecules, are explored. A recent suggestion that the Jovian CO is restricted to stratospheric levels is not supported by the observations.

Larson, H. P.↗