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At least 451 records · Page 25

Quantifying the effects of varietal types × management on the spatial variability of sorghum biomass across US environments

Abstract Regional‐scale estimations of sorghum biomass production allow identification of optimum genotype×environment×management (G×E×M) combinations for bioenergy generation. The objective of this study was to determine the degree of contributions of G, E, and M toward variability in sorghum biomass in the United States. Using the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator in a grid computing platform, biomass was simulated for irrigated and rainfed conditions for 30 years across the United States for four sorghum varietal types (grain—GS, sudangrass—SS, photosensitive—PS, and photo‐insensitive—PI). Simulated biomass was assessed by environments clustered using the sum of intercepted solar radiation ( ir ), mean of temperature stress factor ( tp ) and water stress factor ( sw ). Simulated biomass ranged from 5.8 t ha −1 (GS‐rainfed) to 27.5 t ha −1 (PI‐irrigated). Under high‐temperature environments (mean annual temperature = 25°C), rainfed biomass between 40 and 80 days after planting (DAP) was strongly correlated with sw ( r = 0.64–0.86) and irrigated biomass with ir ( r = 0.68–0.81). Under low‐temperature environments (mean annual temperature = 18°C) after 40 DAP, tp and ir had greater effects than sw ( r = 0.55–0.82). Biomass variance was mainly explained by varietal type (50%–76%) in all environments×irrigation combinations, except in the high‐ and mid‐temperature environments under rainfed conditions where rainfall had the major effect (25%–45%). However, when mean temperature during the growing season decreased from 25°C (high environments) to 18°C (low environments), the contribution of mean temperature to biomass variance increased from 7% to 34% (rainfed) and from 4% to 36% (irrigated). Varietal type had the larger interactions with other factors independently of the environment and irrigation. We demonstrated a need to quantify (i) the main G×E×M drivers of biomass variability based on environmental stress factors and (ii) the variance contribution of these drivers on sorghum biomass. Our regional‐scale estimations are key inputs for future robust biomass projections of energy sorghum genotypes integrating G×E×M under climate change scenarios.

Ojeda, Jonathan J.↗

Air-Sea Interactions in a High-Resolution Ocean-Atmosphere Simulation

During the past few years the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) modeling groups have produced, respectively, global atmosphere-only and ocean-only simulations with km-scale grid spacing. These simulations have proved invaluable for process studies and for the development of satellite and in-situ sampling strategies. Nevertheless, a key limitation of these "nature" simulations is the lack of interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere, which limits their usefulness for studying air-sea interactions and for designing observing missions to study these interactions. We present here results from a coupled GEOS-MIT "nature run" simulation, wherein we have coupled a cubed-sphere-720 (~ 1/8) configuration of the GEOS atmosphere to a lat-lon-cap-1080 (~ 1/12) configuration of the MIT ocean. We compare near-surface diagnostics of this fully coupled ocean-atmosphere simulation to equivalent atmosphere-only and ocean-only simulations. A particular focus of the comparisons is the coupled versus uncoupled differences in interactions between Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and ocean surface wind. We discuss, in particular, a several-day mode of temporal variability in the SST-wind cycle and how it is represented in the different model simulations and in observationally-based products. A mechanism for the cycle, which is driven by SST-wind feedback, is proposed.

Strobach, Ehud↗

An Ocean-Atmosphere Simulation for Studying Air-Sea Interactions

During the past few years the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) modeling groups have produced, respectively, global atmosphere-only and ocean-only simulations with km-scale grid spacing. These simulations have proved invaluable for process studies and for the development of satellite and in-situ sampling strategies. Nevertheless, a key limitation of these "nature" simulations is the lack of interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere, which limits their usefulness for studying air-sea interactions and for designing observing missions to study these interactions. To remove this limitation, we aim to perform a coupled simulation using the km-scale GEOS atmosphere and the km-scale MIT ocean models. The initial attempt at the km-scale coupled simulation resulted in computational issues which will be presented here. As a preliminary step towards the km-scale objective, we present results from a high resolution but not yet km-scale simulation, wherein we have coupled a cubed-sphere-720 (~ 1/8) configuration of the GEOS atmosphere to a lat-lon-cap-1080 (~ 1/12) configuration of the MIT ocean. We compare near-surface diagnostics of this fully coupled ocean-atmosphere set-up to equivalent atmosphere-only and ocean-only simulations. A particular focus of the comparisons is the differences in interactions between Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and ocean surface wind for the coupled and uncoupled simulations. We discuss observed and modeled high temporal variability (~days) SST-wind cycle and how it is represented in the different systems. A mechanism for the cycle, which is driven by SST-wind feedback, is proposed.

Strobach, Ehud↗

An Ocean-Atmosphere Simulation for Studying Air-Sea Interactions

During the past few years the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) modeling groups have produced, respectively, global atmosphere-only and ocean-only simulations with km-scale grid spacing. These simulations have proved invaluable for process studies and for the development of satellite and in-situ sampling strategies. Nevertheless, a key limitation of these "nature" simulations is the lack of interactivity between the ocean and the atmosphere, which limits their usefulness for studying air-sea interactions and for designing observing missions to study these interactions. To remove this limitation, we aim to couple the km-scale GEOS atmosphere simulation to the km-scale MIT ocean simulation.

Strobach, Ehud↗

Parallel diffusion operator for magnetized plasmas with improved spectral fidelity

Diffusive transport processes in magnetized plasmas are highly anisotropic, with fast parallel transport along the magnetic field lines sometimes faster than perpendicular transport by orders of magnitude. This constitutes a major challenge for describing non-grid-aligned magnetic structures in Eulerian (grid-based) simulations. Here, the present paper describes and validates a new method for parallel diffusion in magnetized plasmas based on the anti-symmetry representation [Halpern and Waltz, Phys. Plasmas 25, 060703 (2018)]. In the anti-symmetry formalism, diffusion manifests as a flow operator involving the logarithmic derivative of the transported quantity. Qualitative plane wave analysis shows that the new operator naturally yields better discrete spectral resolution compared to its conventional counterpart. Numerical simulations comparing the new method against existing finite difference methods are carried out, showing significant improvement. In particular, we find that combining anti-symmetry with finite differences in diagonally staggered grids essentially eliminates the so-called “artificial numerical diffusion” that affects conventional finite difference and finite volume methods.

Anisotropic diffusion↗

Challenges for Implementing FAIR Digital Objects with High Performance Workflows

New types of workflows are being used in science that couple traditional distributed and high-performance computing (HPC) with data-intensive approaches, and orchestrate ensembles of numerical simulations and artificial intelligence (AI) models. Such workflows may use AI models to supplement computation where numerical simulations may be too computationally expensive, to automate trivial yet time consuming operations, to perform preliminary selections among intractable numbers of combinations in domains as diverse as protein binding, fine-grid climate simulations, and drug discovery.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

WRF restart files for a LASSO-CACTI simulation

The restart files from a Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) simulation from the Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Symbiotic Simulation and Observation (LASSO) deep-convection scenario for the Cloud, Aerosol, and Complex Terrain Interactions (CACTI) field campaign. The LASSO-CACTI simulations span grid spacings from 7.5 km to 100 m through the use of four nested domains, labeled d1 through d4. Restarts are available for the LES domains, i.e., d3 and d4. The simulations are of convection near the Sierras de Córdoba mountain range, roughly centered on the ARM Mobile Facility. More information can be found at https://www.arm.gov/capabilities/modeling/lasso. The restart files are output every 30 minutes in netCDF format as output by the WRF model, i.e., the “wrfrst” files, with the files renamed for archival purposes.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Verification and validation of atmospheric transport models with the UF Training Reactor

The University of Florida Training Reactor (UFTR) is a 100-kW ARGONAUT type reactor with a unique design such that a large volume of air passes through the core, producing and releasing significant quantities of 41 Ar. Once released, the radioargon is dispersed throughout the atmosphere and decays by a 1294 keV gamma ray emission. This quantified, validated, and controlled 41 Ar plume can be utilized to verify and validate atmospheric transport models (ATMs). This is accomplished by coupling an ATM with MCNP and comparing the results to experimental measurements. For this study, an in-house developed Gaussian dispersion model and the EPA approved Gaussian model AERMOD were coupled with MCNP to simulate the results of a six hour measurement taken on May 8th, 2018. For the measurements and simulations, a grid of seven NaI detectors were placed in four different rooftop locations near the UFTR plume stack. With easterly winds dominating during the morning and early afternoon, both the measurement results and simulations displayed a higher 41 Ar photon count rate on the detectors west of the plume stack throughout the day. Overall, the AERMOD simulations produced better results when compared to the in-house model, particularly for the detectors placed east and west of the plume stack. While some of the AERMOD data showed a strong correlation with the measurements, the results remain inconsistent. Here, due to the varying accuracy of the simulation results, it is theorized that the relationship between measurement results and simulations will improve with the use of localized weather information or the utilization of non-Gaussian dispersion models.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

LES ARM Symbiotic Simulation and Observation Scenario for CACTI

The Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Symbiotic Simulation and Observation (LASSO) deep-convection scenario for the Cloud, Aerosol, and Complex Terrain Interactions (CACTI) field campaign. The LASSO-CACTI scenario consists of a library of mesoscale and LES simulations spanning grid spacings from 7.5 km to 100 m for convection near the Sierras de Córdoba mountain range, roughly centered on the ARM Mobile Facility. Supporting skill scores and observation comparisons complement the simulations in addition to subsets of the model output for various categories of model output variables. More information can be found at https://www.arm.gov/capabilities/modeling/lasso.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Numerical Simulations of Crystal Growth of an Alloy Under Microgravity Conditions

The directional solidification of a dilute binary alloy (Bi-1.0 at.%Sn)is investigated. Results are obtained at a gravity level of I pg. Computations are performed in two dimensions with a fixed, non-uniform grid. The simulation involves a solution of the species concentration equation (modified to account for solute rejection at the interface) and energy equation (modified to account for phase-change) for both the solid and liquid phases, in addition to the constitutive equations for describing convective flow in the melt. The effects of conductive heat transfer in the ampoule and in a capillary tube in the sample are included. To gauge the effects of including this growth capillary tube in the apparatus, simulations both with and without the capillary tube are presented and compared. Fully transient simulations have been performed; no simplifying steady-state approximations are used, however, the influence of solute on the melting temperature at the interface is not included. Both thermal and solutal convective cells are seen to form. Convective velocities are significantly damped inside the capillary, causing less segregation due to convection. As solidification proceeds beyond the capillary tube, longitudinal segregation arises as a result of the change in cross-sectional area of solidifying material. The magnitudes of the velocities in this cell increase significantly once the solid/liquid front passes beyond the end of the capillary tube; this causes a corresponding increase in the level of radial solute segregation in the solidified material.

Simpson, James E.↗

Wall-Resolved Large-Eddy Simulations of Transonic Shock-Induced Flow Separation

Wall-resolved large-eddy simulations of shock-induced flow separation over an axisymmet- ric bump for a Mach number of 0.875 and a chord-based Reynolds number of 2.763 million are performed. The incoming boundary layer has a momentum-thickness Reynolds number of 6600 at 1.5 chords upstream of the bump. The calculations, which employ up to 24 billion grid points, simulate the experimental model of Bachalo and Johnson (AIAA Journal, Vol. 24, No. 3, 1986), except that the tunnel walls are ignored and free air is assumed. The effects of domain span and grid resolution are examined along with the main flowfield features. The predicted shock position as well as separation and reattachment locations agree well with the experiment. Grid convergence is observed in the attached region well upstream of separation. Two-point azimuthal correlations suggest that a span of at least 20 degrees is needed in the attached region, while a 120-degree span might be barely large enough in the separated region. Computed root-mean-square surface pressure fluctuations at the shock foot reach about 5 percent of ambient pressure and the level at reattachment location drops to about half of the primary peak. Simulations reveal evidence of the low-frequency shock unsteadiness; however, a much longer statistical sample is needed to investigate this phenomenon.

Uzun, Ali↗

DRIVING OUTFLOWS WITH RELATIVISTIC JETS AND THE DEPENDENCE OF ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS FEEDBACK EFFICIENCY ON INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM INHOMOGENEITY

We examine the detailed physics of the feedback mechanism by relativistic active galactic nucleus (AGN) jets interacting with a two-phase fractal interstellar medium (ISM) in the kpc-scale core of galaxies using 29 three-dimensional grid-based hydrodynamical simulations. The feedback efficiency, as measured by the amount of cloud dispersal generated by the jet-ISM interactions, is sensitive to the maximum size of clouds in the fractal cloud distribution but not to their volume filling factor. Feedback ceases to be efficient for Eddington ratios P{sub jet}/L{sub edd} {approx}< 10{sup -4}, although systems with large cloud complexes {approx}> 50 pc require jets of Eddington ratio in excess of 10{sup -2} to disperse the clouds appreciably. Based on measurements of the bubble expansion rates in our simulations, we argue that sub-grid AGN prescriptions resulting in negative feedback in cosmological simulations without a multi-phase treatment of the ISM are good approximations if the volume filling factor of warm-phase material is less than 0.1 and the cloud complexes are smaller than {approx}25 pc. We find that the acceleration of the dense embedded clouds is provided by the ram pressure of the high-velocity flow through the porous channels of the warm phase, flow that has fully entrained the shocked hot-phase gas it has swept up, and is additionally mass loaded by ablated cloud material. This mechanism transfers 10% to 40% of the jet energy to the cold and warm gas, accelerating it within a few 10 to 100 Myr to velocities that match those observed in a range of high- and low-redshift radio galaxies hosting powerful radio jets.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Simulation of Fluid Flow and Collection Efficiency for an SEA Multi-element Probe

Numerical simulations of fluid flow and collection efficiency for a Science Engineering Associates (SEA) multi-element probe are presented. Simulation of the flow field was produced using the Glenn-HT Navier-Stokes solver. Three-dimensional unsteady results were produced and then time averaged for the heat transfer and collection efficiency results. Three grid densities were investigated to enable an assessment of grid dependence. Simulations were completed for free stream velocities ranging from 85-135 meters per second, and free stream total pressure of 44.8 and 93.1 kilopascals (6.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch absolute). In addition, the effect of angle of attack and yaw were investigated by including 5 degree deviations from straight for one of the flow conditions. All but one of the cases simulated a probe in isolation (i.e. in a very large domain without any support strut). One case is included which represents a probe mounted on a support strut within a finite sized wind tunnel. Collection efficiencies were generated, using the LEWICE3D code, for four spherical particle sizes, 100, 50, 20, and 5 micron in diameter. It was observed that a reduction in velocity of about 20% occurred, for all cases, as the flow entered the shroud of the probe. The reduction in velocity within the shroud is not indicative of any error in the probe measurement accuracy. Heat transfer results are presented which agree quite well with a correlation for the circular cross section heated elements. Collection efficiency results indicate a reduction in collection efficiency as particle size is reduced. The reduction with particle size is expected, however, the results tended to be lower than the previous results generated for isolated two-dimensional elements. The deviation from the two-dimensional results is more pronounced for the smaller particles and is likely due to the reduced flow within the protective shroud. As particle size increases differences between the two-dimensional and three dimensional results become negligible. Taken as a group, the total collection efficiency of the elements including the effects of the shroud has been shown to be in the range of 0.93 to 0.99 for particles above 20 microns. The 3D model has improved the estimated collection efficiency for smaller particles where errors in previous estimates were more significant.

Water Content↗

Load Shifting with Space Conditioning Heat Pumps During Heating Season in the Pacific Northwest

Ductless mini- and multi-split heat pumps are commonly deployed in Pacific Northwest residences, which historically have inefficient space heating and no space cooling. Heat pumps provide these residences with more energy-efficient space heating in the winter and space cooling for increasingly warm summer periods. For many of these applications, heat pumps add a new electrical load at the residence, compelling regional utilities to seek to understand their impacts on the electrical grid and opportunities for load management. In coordination with regional utilities, this study examined the winter load-shifting potential of residential multi-split heat pumps with variable capacity technology. The study included nine residential sites with a total of 20 ductless indoor units, which underwent simulated smart grid control. Grid control functionality was provided through the CTA-2045 communication protocol and included offsetting temperature setpoints for individual indoor units in the study. Field data collection included whole-house and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning electrical power consumption; indoor zone temperatures; occupant surveys; and CTA-2045 curtailment data for both baseline and simulated load-shifting events by site. This paper provides an overview of the load-shifting strategies and aggregated results from winter data collection.

ASHRAE, Heat pump, energy effciency, residential b↗

Development of multi-hierarchy simulation model with non-uniform space grids for collisionless driven reconnection

A multi-hierarchy simulation model aimed at magnetic reconnection studies has been developed, in which macroscopic and microscopic physics are solved self-consistently and simultaneously. In this work, the previous multi-hierarchy model by these authors is extended to a more realistic one with non-uniform space grids. Based on the domain decomposition method, the multi-hierarchy model consists of three parts: a magnetohydrodynamics algorithm to express the macroscopic global dynamics, a particle-in-cell algorithm to describe the microscopic kinetic physics, and an interface algorithm to interlock macro and micro hierarchies. For its verification, plasma flow injection is simulated in this multi-hierarchy model and it is confirmed that the interlocking method can describe the correct physics. Furthermore, this model is applied to collisionless driven reconnection in an open system. Magnetic reconnection is found to occur in a micro hierarchy by injecting plasma from a macro hierarchy.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Assessment of UMUSCL Scheme for DNS of Turbulent Flows

Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) are performed using the FUN3D code ( https://fun3d.larc.nasa.gov) for three validation cases: (1) flow through a plane channel, (2) flow through a channel with a constriction, and (3) flow over a flat plate. FUN3D is a node-centered finite-volume code developed at the NASA Langley Research Center that solves the three-dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes equations on unstructured computational grids. The simulations are performed employing the 2nd-order unstructured monotonic upstream scheme for conservation laws (UMUSCL). The results are compared with available experimental and numerical data. The effect of the UMUSCL reconstruction parameter (κ) is assessed, and the results indicate that κ = 0.9 yields satisfactory results in terms of accuracy and robustness compared to available data. Further analyses of the results, along with additional test cases and grids will be presented in the final manuscript.

Direct Numerical Simulation↗