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At least 433 records · Page 24

Data for Renewable Energy Planning, Policy, and Investment

Reliable, robust, and validated data are critical for informed planning, policy development, and investment in the clean energy sector. The Renewable Energy (RE) Explorer was developed to support data-driven renewable energy analysis that can inform key renewable energy decisions globally. This document presents the types of geospatial and other data at the core of renewable energy analysis and decision making. Individual data sets used to inform decisions vary in relation to spatial and temporal resolution, quality, and overall usefulness. From Data to Decisions, a complementary geospatial data and analysis decision guide, provides an in-depth view of these and other considerations to enable data-driven planning, policymaking, and investment. Data support a wide variety of renewable energy analyses and decisions, including technical and economic potential assessment, renewable energy zone analysis, grid integration, risk and resiliency identification, electrification, and distributed solar photovoltaic potential. This fact sheet provides information on the types of data that are important for renewable energy decision making using the RE Data Explorer or similar types of geospatial analysis tools.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

The eROSITA Final Equatorial-Depth Survey (eFEDS)

The eROSITA Final Equatorial Depth Survey (eFEDS), completed in survey mode during the calibration and performance verification phase of the eROSITA instrument on Spectrum Roentgen Gamma, delivers data at and beyond the final depth of the 4-yr eROSITA all-sky survey (eRASS:8), f 0.5–2 keV = 1.1 × 10 –14 erg s –1 cm –2 , over 140 deg 2 . It provides the first view of normal galaxy X-ray emission from X-ray binaries (XRBs) and the hot interstellar medium at the full depth of eRASS:8. We used the Heraklion Extragalactic Catalogue (HECATE) of galaxies to correlate with eFEDS X-ray sources and identify X-ray detected normal galaxies. This flux-limited X-ray survey is relatively free from selection effects and enables the study of integrated normal galaxy X-ray emission and its relation to galaxy parameters such as the stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), and metallicity. We cross-correlated 32 646 eFEDS X-ray sources to 1181 HECATE normal galaxies and obtained 94 matches. We classified galaxies as star-forming, early-type, composite, and active galactic nuclei (AGN) using Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and Six-degree Field (6dF) optical spectroscopy. The eFEDS field harbours 37 normal galaxies: 36 late-type (star-forming) galaxies and one early-type galaxy. There are 1.9 times as many normal galaxies as predicted by scaling relations via simulations, with an overabundance of late-type galaxies and a dearth of early-type galaxies. When compared with empirical relations, eFEDS dwarf galaxies with a high specific SFR have elevated L X /SFR at a fixed specific SFR and metallicity, indicating an increase in XRB emission due to low metallicity. We expect that eRASS:8 will detect 12 500 normal galaxies, the majority of which will be star-forming, with the caveat that there are unclassified sources in eFEDS and galaxy catalogue incompleteness issues that could increase the actual number of detected galaxies over these current estimates. eFEDS observations detected a rare population of galaxies – the metal-poor dwarf starbursts – that do not follow known scaling relations. eRASS is expected to discover significant numbers of these high-redshift analogues, which are important for studying the heating of the intergalactic medium at high redshift. Further investigation of the hot gas emission from normal galaxies and stochastic effects in the dwarf galaxy population are required to constrain their X-ray output.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Integrated Cloud-based Environmental Data Management System at Los Alamos National Laboratory - 13391

In today's world, instant access to information is taken for granted. The national labs are no exception; our data users expect immediate access to their data. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has collected over ten million records, and the data needs to be accessible to scientists as well as the public. The data span a wide range of media, analytes, time periods, formats, and quality and have traditionally existed in scattered databases, making comprehensive work with the data impossible. Recently, LANL has successfully integrated all their environmental data into a single, cloud-based, web-accessible data management system. The system combines data transparency to the public with immediate access required by the technical staff. The use of automatic electronic data validation has been critical to immediate data access while saving millions of dollars and increasing data consistency and quality. The system includes a Google Maps based GIS tool that is simple enough for people to locate potentially contaminated sites near their home or workplace, and complex enough to allow scientists to plot and trend their data at the surface and at depth as well as over time. A variety of formatted reports can be run at any desired frequency to report the most current data available in the data base. The advanced user can also run free form queries of the data base. This data management system has saved LANL time and money, an increasingly important accomplishment during periods of budget cuts with increasing demand for immediate electronic services. (authors)

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Soil Water Content (m3 m-3) located in the Dominican Republic , February 2013 - December 2016

Daily data that has been processed to monthly. Data represents near-surface soil moisture (depth of 0-10 cm) at a latitude of 17.90 N, and longitude -71.67 E. Data was downloaded from the PBO soil moisture data network and is publicly available. Data from this site is referenced as Dominican Republic (2) in Table 1 and Figure 4 of Solander et al., 2020, The pan-tropical soil moisture response to El Nino, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., in press.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Soil Water Content (m3 m-3) from the Dominican Republic, February 2013 - August 2017.

Daily data that has been processed to monthly. Data represents near-surface soil moisture (depth of 0-10 cm) at a latitude of 19.76 N, and longitude -70.57 E. Data was downloaded from the PBO soil moisture data network and is publicly available. Data from this site is referenced as Dominican Republic (1) in Table 1 and Figure 4 of Solander et al., 2020, The pan-tropical soil moisture response to El Nino, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., in press.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Estimating SHmax azimuth with P sources and vertical geophones: Use P-P reflection amplitudes or use SV-P reflection times?

We compared two methods for extracting the azimuth of maximum horizontal stress (SHmax) from 3D land-based seismic data generated by a P source and recorded with vertical geophones. In the first method, we used the direct-SV mode that is produced by all land-based P sources. P sources generate SV illumination that radiates in all azimuth directions from a source station and creates SV-P reflections that are recorded by vertical geophones. Unless stratigraphy has steep dip, SV-P raypaths recorded by vertical geophones are the reverse of P-SV raypaths recorded by horizontal geophones. Thus, SV-P data provide the same S-wave sensitivity to stress fields as popular P-SV data do. In the second method, we retrieved P-P reflections and then performed an amplitude-variation-with-azimuth (AVA) analysis of the amplitude-gradient behavior of P-P reflection wavelets. We did this analysis in narrow azimuth corridors to determine the gradient of reflection-wavelet amplitudes as a function of azimuth. This P-P AVA amplitude-gradient method has been of great interest in the reflection seismology community since it was introduced in the late 1990s. Each of these methods, AVA analysis of the gradient of P-P reflection amplitudes and azimuth-dependent arrival times of SV-P reflections, can be used to determine the azimuth of SHmax stress. We compare the results of the two methods with ground truth measurements of SHmax azimuth at a CO 2 sequestration site in the Michigan Basin. SHmax azimuths were determined from P-P and SV-P data at three major boundaries at depths of approximately 3500 ft (1067 m), 5500 ft (1676 m), and 7500 ft (2286 m). Two estimates of SHmax azimuth (one using SV-P data and one using P-P data) were made at each stacking bin inside a 24 mi 2 (62 km 2 ) image space. The result was approximately 98,000 estimates of SHmax azimuth across each of these three boundaries for each of these two prediction strategies. Histogram displays of PP AVA gradient estimates had peaks at correct azimuths of SHmax at all three depths, but the spread of the distributions widened with depth and split into two peaks at the deepest boundary. In contrast, each histogram of SHmax azimuth predicted by azimuth-dependent SV-P traveltimes had a single, definitive peak that was positioned at the correct SHmax azimuth at all three boundary depths.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗

Hypocenter relocation using a fast grid search method and a 3-D seismic velocity model for the Sumatra region

Determination of earthquake hypocenter in Indonesia conducted by the Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (MCGA) has still used a 1-D seismic velocity model. In this research, we have applied a Fast Grid Search (FGM) method and a 3-D velocity model resulting from tomographic imaging to relocate earthquakes in the Sumatran region. The data were taken from the MCGA data catalog from 2009 to 2011 comprising of subduction zone and on land fault earthquakes with magnitude greater than 4 Mw. Our preliminary results show some significant changes in the depths of the relocated earthquakes which are in general deeper than the depths of hypocenters from the MCGA data catalog. The residual times resulting from the relocation process are smaller than those prior to the relocation. Encouraged by these results, we will continue to conduct hypocenter relocation for all events from the MCGA data catalog periodically in order to produce a new data catalog with good quality. We hope that the new data catalog will be useful for further studies.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Surface Meteorology, Barrow, Alaska, Area A, B, C and D, Ongoing from 2012

Meteorological data are being collected at several points within four intensive study areas in Barrow. These data assist in the calculation of the energy balance at the land surface and are also useful as inputs into modeling activities. (https://doi.org/10.5440/1164893). Measurements at AREA A (all heights listed are relative to the land surface): Location of the Site A station: N71* 16.888', W156* 36.647' * Air temperature at three heights: 1.4 meters, 2.0 meters, 3.5 meters * Relative Humidity / Dew Point at two heights: 1.4 meters, 3.5 meters * Wind Speed at two heights: 1.3 meters, 3.5 meters * 4 Component Net Radiation @ 1.2 meters ** Upwelling & Downwelling Shortwave Radiation ** Upwelling & Downwelling Longwave Radiation * Summer Precipitation Site A is located on polygonal permafrost and co-located with continuous snow depth measurements and subsurface measurements. Measurements at AREA B (all heights listed are relative to the land surface): Location of the Site B station: N71* 16.785', W156* 36.211' * Air temperature at three heights: 1.4 meters, 2.0 meters, 3.5 meters * Relative Humidity / Dew Point at two heights: 1.4 meters, 3.5 meters * Wind Speed at two heights: 1.3 meters, 3.5 meters * 4 Component Net Radiation @ 1.2 meters ** Upwelling & Downwelling Shortwave Radiation ** Upwelling & Downwelling Longwave Radiation * Summer Precipitation Site B is located on polygonal permafrost and co-located with continuous snow depth measurements and subsurface measurements. ------------------------------------------------- Measurements at AREA C (all heights listed are relative to the land surface): Location of the Site C station: N71* 16.804', W156* 36.072' * Air temperature at three heights: 1.4 meters, 2.0 meters, 3.5 meters * Relative Humidity / Dew Point at two heights: 1.4 meters, 3.5 meters * Wind Speed at two heights: 1.3 meters, 3.5 meters * 4 Component Net Radiation @ 1.2 meters ** Upwelling & Downwelling Shortwave Radiation ** Upwelling & Downwelling Longwave Radiation * Summer Precipitation * Barometric Pressure Site C is located on polygonal permafrost and co-located with continuous snow depth measurements and subsurface measurements. ------------------------------------------------- Measurements at AREA D (all heights listed are relative to the land surface): Location of the Site D station: N71* 16.927', W156* 36.036' * Air temperature at one height: 1.2 meters * Relative Humidity / Dew Point at one height: 1.2 * Wind Speed at one height: 1.2 meters * 4 Component Net Radiation @ 1.0 meters ** Upwelling & Downwelling Shortwave Radiation ** Upwelling & Downwelling Longwave Radiation Site D is located on polygonal permafrost and co-located with continuous snow depth measurements and subsurface measurements. Data are in ASCII files, with columns separated by commas: ','

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

3D sorghum reconstructions from depth images identify QTL regulating shoot architecture

Dissecting the genetic basis of complex traits is aided by frequent and nondestructive measurements. Advances in range imaging technologies enable the rapid acquisition of three-dimensional (3D) data from an imaged scene. A depth camera was used to acquire images of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), an important grain, forage, and bioenergy crop, at multiple developmental time points from a greenhouse-grown recombinant inbred line population. A semiautomated software pipeline was developed and used to generate segmented, 3D plant reconstructions from the images. Automated measurements made from 3D plant reconstructions identified quantitative trait loci for standard measures of shoot architecture, such as shoot height, leaf angle, and leaf length, and for novel composite traits, such as shoot compactness. The phenotypic variability associated with some of the quantitative trait loci displayed differences in temporal prevalence; for example, alleles closely linked with the sorghum Dwarf3 gene, an auxin transporter and pleiotropic regulator of both leaf inclination angle and shoot height, influence leaf angle prior to an effect on shoot height. Furthermore, variability in composite phenotypes that measure overall shoot architecture, such as shoot compactness, is regulated by loci underlying component phenotypes like leaf angle. As such, depth imaging is an economical and rapid method to acquire shoot architecture phenotypes in agriculturally important plants like sorghum to study the genetic basis of complex traits.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Resolution of Qualification Issues for Existing Structural Materials

This report gives a detailed assessment of several key technical issues that needs resolution for the existing structural materials with emphasis on application in liquid metal reactors (LMRs), in particular, sodium cooled fast reactors. The work is a combined effort between Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) with ANL as the technical lead, as part of Advanced Structural Materials Program for the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) Reactor Campaign. The report is the second deliverable in FY09 (M2505050201) under the work package “Advanced Materials Code Qualification”. The overall objective of the Advanced Materials Code Qualification project is to evaluate the key technical requirements for the qualification of currently available and future advanced materials for application in sodium reactor systems and the resolution of issues that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has raised in the past on structural materials in support of the design and licensing of the LMR. Advanced materials are a critical element in the development of sodium reactor technologies. Enhanced materials performance not only improves safety margins and provides design flexibility, but also is essential for the economics of future advanced sodium reactors. Qualification and licensing of advanced materials are prominent needs for developing and implementing advanced sodium reactor technologies. However, the development of sufficient database and qualification of these materials for application in LMRs require considerable amount of time and resources. In the meantime, the currently available materials will be used in the early development of fast reactors. Nuclear structural component designs in the U.S. comply with the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III (Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components) and the NRC grants licensing. As the LMR will operate at higher temperatures than the current light water reactors (LWRs), the design of elevated-temperature components must comply with ASME Section III Subsection NH (Class 1 Components in Elevated Temperature Service). Assessment of materials performance issues and high temperature design methodology issues pertinent to the LMR were presented in an earlier report (Natesan et al. 2008). In a subsequent report (Majumdar et al. 2009), we addressed the needs in high temperature methodologies for design of various high temperature components in sodium cooled fast reactor. The present report addresses several key technical issues for the currently available structural materials such as Type 304 and 316 austenitic stainless steels and ferritic steels such as 2.25Cr-1Mo and modified 9Cr-1Mo. The 60-year design life for the LMR presents a significant challenge to the development of database, extrapolation/prediction of long-term performance, and high temperature structural design methodology. The current Subsection NH is applicable to the design life only up to 34 years. No experimental data contain test durations of 525,000 hours, and it is impractical to conduct such long-term tests in any types of testing. So far the longest creep tests for Grade 91 and Grade 92 steels have run up to 100,000 hours. It has been noted that there is a large drop in creep rupture strength in long-term tests for these high-Cr creep-resistant steels, which may result in overestimation of the long-term creep strength and allowable stress. The report addresses in detail the need for a mechanistic understanding of the structural materials, from the standpoint of the effects of thermal aging, creep deformation, creep fracture, fatigue and creep-fatigue, creep-fatigue predictive models, fatigue and creep crack growth, and fracture toughness. Based on an in-depth assessment of the available data and mechanistic understanding, key technical issues are identified and discussed for each of the property areas. Furthermore, we have proposed viable approaches to resolve the issues and prioritized our recommendations.

Natesan, K.↗

Source Characterization of the Declared North Korean Nuclear Tests From Regional Distance Coda Wave Spectral Ratios

Abstract Seismic observations of underground nuclear explosions provide crucial data on source yield and depth that cannot easily be estimated from other geophysical methods. However, it is difficult to obtain reliable yield estimates for test sites for which we do not have direct seismic calibration experiments. To obtain source information from uncalibrated sites and paths, local and regional seismic records of six, proximal, declared underground nuclear explosions in North Korea are used to compute spectral ratios of narrow‐band waveform envelopes of body‐wave coda that remove path and site effects to reveal precise, relative source moment. The yields of these explosions are obtained from the observed source ratios by simultaneously fitting the classical source model of Mueller and Murphy (1971), https://doi.org/10.1785/bssa0610061675 to all event pairs. The source model provides an impressive fit to the observations considering that the P phase coda derived source spectral ratios did not require a prior knowledge of the source or regionally calibrated corrections to be applied to the data. However, the observed corner frequencies from S wave coda spectral ratios are lower than the source model predictions, but are well fit by models calculated using the corner frequency consistent with the Fisk conjecture. The results presented here provide novel constraints on the spectral distributions of the energy radiated by the sources of the DPRK test series, and allows for an independent evaluation of existing estimated source model parameters.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

SU-E-T-198: Comparison Between a PTW MicroDiamond Dosimeter and a Markus Chamber in a 62 MeV/n Carbon Ion Beam

Purpose: To investigate the linear energy transfer (LET) dependence of a PTW Freiburg microDiamond dosimeter, we compared its response to the response of a plane-parallel Markus chamber in a 62 MeV/n mono-energetic carbon ion beam. Methods: The response of both detectors has been studied as a function of depth in graphite by adding or removing graphite plates in front of the detectors. To account for fluctuations of the beam, we used two setups with different monitor chambers. The depth of the effective point of measurement of both detectors has been converted into a graphite equivalent depth using ICRU Report 73 data. As recommended by IAEA TRS-398, the response of the Markus chamber has been corrected for temperature, pressure, polarity effects and ion recombination. The latter required an additional experiment; to quantify the effect of volume recombination and initial recombination, measurements have been performed at different voltages and different dose rates. Results: As expected, the dominant process leading to ion recombination for carbon ion beam is the initial recombination. At the entrance, the ion recombination correction equals 1.1% and the value is approximately constant in the plateau region. Due to the increase of the LET in the Bragg peak region, we observe a strong increase of the ion recombination correction, up to 6.1% at the distal edge. Comparison between the microDiamond response and the Markus chamber response shows good agreement in the plateau region. However, we observe a 13.6% under response of the microDiamond in the Bragg peak. Conclusion: Increasing between 1% and 6%, the depth dependent ion recombination correction has to be applied to the Markus response. The comparison between the microDiamond and the Markus chamber indicates that there is an under-response of the microDiamond in the vicinity of the Bragg peak due to the increased LET.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Direct Observation of the Depth of Active Groundwater Circulation in an Alpine Watershed

Abstract The depth of active groundwater circulation is a fundamental control on stream flows and chemistry in mountain watersheds, yet it remains challenging to characterize and is rarely well constrained. We collected hydraulic conductivity, hydraulic head, temperature, chemical, noble gas, and 3 H/ 3 He groundwater age data from discrete levels in two boreholes 46 and 81 m deep in an alpine watershed, in combination with chemical and age data from shallow groundwater discharge, to discern groundwater flow rates at different depths and directly observe active and inactive groundwater. Vertical head gradients are steep (average of 0.4) and thermal profiles are consistent with typical linear conductive continental geotherms. Groundwater deeper than ∼20 m is distinct from shallow groundwater and creek water in its chemistry, noble gas signature, and age (dominantly >65 years compared to <9 years). Together these results suggest low vertical groundwater flow velocities and a relatively shallow active circulation depth of ∼20 m. This hypothesis is tested with a simple 2‐D numerical fluid flow and heat transport model representing a hillslope transect through the two boreholes. The modeling indicates that the subhorizontally bedded sedimentary rocks underlying the basin are highly anisotropic with low vertical hydraulic conductivity, and at most ∼10% of bedrock recharge (equivalent to <2% of stream baseflow) flows below a depth of 20 m. The study demonstrates the considerable value of discrete‐depth hydrogeologic, chemical, and age data for determining active circulation depth, and illustrates an approach for maximizing the utility of individual boreholes drilled for mountain bedrock aquifer characterization.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Spreader Bar Radiation Detection Project Data Collection Report

A feasibility assessment of spreader-bar radiation detection (SBRD) systems was commissioned by NA-22 in the summer of 2009. To validate modeling results and allow performance to be based on actual measurements, a full-scale mockup of a SBRD system was built. The full-scale mockup consists of an actual spreader instrumented with 32 sodium iodide gamma detectors. Two sets of data collections were performed using the SBRD mockup. The first set measured the uniformity of radiation detection throughout the Inter-Modal Cargo Container (IMCC). The second set of data collections measured the response of the system to shielded sources. Plywood was used as the simulated cargo (shielding) material and sources were placed at varying depths within it. Both sets of data collections were performed using a forty-foot and a twenty-foot IMCC. In all, over 8700 spectra were collected during the October 2011 through December 2011 time period. This effort is a partnership between Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Sandia was responsible for design and construction of the SBRD mockup and collection of the data. PNNL was responsible for design of the data collection plan and analysis of the collected data.

Kallenbach, Gene Anthony↗

SU-E-T-601: Patient Specific QA Check for Radiotherapy with Carbon Beam at SAGA HIMAT

Purpose: To verify a patient specific QA for a prescribed dose per monitor unit (MU) and range check of carbon ion radiotherapy with a beam wobbling method at SAGA HIMAT. Methods: The dose distribution in a water phantom was recalculated with a treatment plan made by XiO-N (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Tokyo). The depth dose distributions at central axis were compared with measurements using pinpoint ionization chamber (PTW31014). Measured data were analyzed for dose and distance difference with criteria of 3% and 2mm. To check for the MU and range, analysis data were used at center and distal end of a spread out bragg peak (SOBP) depth, respectively. Results: Treatment plan of 1400 beams in 500 patients were used for analysis. The pass rate of the MU and range was about 98% and 74%, respectively. The rate of both was 73%. The plan data passed only the MU check were verified depth dose profile. The data passed only the range and failed of both were compared depth dose distributions at off axis. If it was failed, we discussed with physicians. Conclusion: Most of patient specific QA check for a prescribed MU and range check at SAGA HIMAT were passed.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

Soil Temperature and Moisture, Council Road Mile Marker 71, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, beginning 2016

Daily averages of soil temperature and moisture measured once every hour at different heights, as well as daily averages of hourly measured snow depths located at Intensive Monitoring Stations at Council Road Mile Marker 71 site. Deployed at each site is an Onset HOBO U30 data logger with five smart temperature sensors and three smart soil moisture sensors (10HS). Three sites (CN_IS_4, CN_IS_6A, CN_IS_7) are equipped with a snow depth sensor. Data are retrieved annually since 2016. Contains 53 *.CSV files including a file inventory list by year. Data files have header rows, NaN fields indicate invalid or missing data, and negative vertical offsets are above ground. The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), was a research effort to reduce uncertainty in Earth System Models by developing a predictive understanding of carbon-rich Arctic ecosystems and feedbacks to climate. NGEE Arctic was supported by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research. The NGEE Arctic project had two field research sites: 1) located within the Arctic polygonal tundra coastal region on the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) and the North Slope near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska and 2) multiple areas on the discontinuous permafrost region of the Seward Peninsula north of Nome, Alaska. Through observations, experiments, and synthesis with existing datasets, NGEE Arctic provided an enhanced knowledge base for multi-scale modeling and contributed to improved process representation at global pan-Arctic scales within the Department of Energy's Earth system Model (the Energy Exascale Earth System Model, or E3SM), and specifically within the E3SM Land Model component (ELM).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Biogenic Aerosols – Effects on Climate and Clouds. Cloud Optical Depth (COD) Sensor Three-Waveband Spectrally-Agile Technique (TWST) Field Campaign Report

This report describes the data collected by the Three-Waveband Spectrally-agile Technique (TWST) sensor deployed at Hyytiälä, Finland from 16 July to 31 August 2014 as a guest on the Biogenic Aerosols Effects on Climate and Clouds (BAECC) campaign. These data are currently available from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Data Archive website and consists of Cloud Optical Depth (COD) measurements for the clouds directly overhead approximately every second (with some dropouts described below) during the daylight periods. A good range of cloud conditions were observed from clear sky to heavy rainfall.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

MO-FG-303-02: BEST IN PHYSICS (THERAPY): Cherenkov Emission Dosimetry: Feasibility for Electron Radiotherapy

Purpose: To investigate from first principles, corroborated by Monte Carlo simulations and experimental measurements, the feasibility of developing a relative Cherenkov emission (CE) dosimetry protocol for electron beam radiotherapy. Methods: Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of mono-energetic electrons incident on water were carried out in Geant4. Percent depth Cherenkov emission (PDCE) and dose (PDD) distributions were scored for incidence energies of 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 MeV. PDCE-to-PDD analytical conversion models were developed from least-squares data fits generated for PDD as a function of PDCE at the same depth and at different depths. Experimental techniques for validation of these models are examined. Results: Same-depth PDD versus PDCE data fits indicate that although the relationship is linear to first order (correlation r > 0.9 for all energies), it is much more accurately approximated by separate linear and quadratic models for the build-up and drop-off regions, respectively (r > 0.999), which is theoretically underpinned. To understand the source of this relationship and its basis for developing robust conversion models, an approximate quadratic first-principles model was derived and found in agreement with MC/measured data (20% deviation at worst). Conversely, data fits of PDD versus different-depth PDCE unveiled a depth-invariant effective point of measurement of 1.5–2.1 mm downstream with 4–18 MeV incidence, respectively (r > 0.999 in the drop-off region). We present an analytical first-principles justification for this shift. This method led to errors of <1% in drop-off region PDD (<2% for PDD<20% with 4 MeV incidence) and <0.2 mm in practical range prediction. Conclusion: We present robust quantitative prediction models, derived from first-principles and supported by simulation and measurement, for relative dose from Cherenkov emission by high-energy electrons. This constitutes a major step towards development of protocols for routine clinical quality assurance as well as real-time in vivo Cherenkov dosimetry in radiotherapy. The authors acknowledge partial support by Fonds de recherche du Quebec - Nature et technologies (FRQNT), CREATE Medical Physics Research Training Network grant of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), CREATE Integrated Sensor Systems grant of NSERC, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and NSERC.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗