Results for “Produced Waters” — Page 26

NASA NTRS1982

Chronic central vascular expansion induces hypokalemia in conscious primates

Central vascular expansion maintained for four days in conscious squirrel monkeys reconciles the apparently conflicting short-term fluid and electrolyte responses to water immersion and atrial balloon distension, with those described for prolonged weightlessness during space flight. The monkeys are subjected to an increased lower body positive air pressure (LBPP) of 20 torr which produces a 3 cm water increase in the central venous pressure. Results show a marked increase in the urinary excretion of sodium, potassium, and water during the firxt six hours of LBPP, and the diuresis is maintained throughout the period of LBPP, although the levels of sodium and potassium excretion decline after 24 hours of exposure. Plasma aldosterone transiently drops within the first three hours of LBPP, and then regains normal levels within 24 hours, after which time these levels are maintained despite the continued LBPP stimulus. It is suggested that the normal plasma aldosterone levels observed in the experiments, as well as during space flight, might, epresent a relative hyposecretion in terms of volume homeostasis and a relative hypersecretion with respect to plasma potassium regulation. Thus, kaliuresis and marked natriuresis is confined primarly to the first 24 hours of central volume expansion, a period for which comparable data from space flights are lacking.

Moore-Ede, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Calderas produced by hydromagmatic eruptions through permafrost in northwest Alaska

Most hydromagmatic eruptions on Earth are generated by interactions of lava and ground or surface water. This eruptive process typically produces craters 0.1-1 km in diameter, although a few as large as 1-2 km were described. In contrast, a series of Pleistocene hydromagmatic eruptions through 80-100-m-thick permafrost on the Seward Peninsula of Alaska produced four craters 3-8 km in diameter. These craters, called the Espenberg maars, are the four largest maars known on Earth. The thermodynamic properties of ground ice influence the rate and amount of water melted during the course of the eruption. Large quantities of water are present, but only small amounts can be melted at any time to interact with magma. This would tend to produce sustained and highly explosive low water/magma (fuel-coolant) ratios during the eruptions. An area of 400 km(sub 2) around the Alaskan maars shows strong reductions in the density of thaw lakes, ground ice, and other surface manifestations of permafrost because of deep burial by coeval tephra falls. The unusually large Espenberg maars are the first examples of calderas produced by hydromagmatic eruptions. These distinctive landforms can apparently be used as an indicator of the presence of permafrost at the time of eruption.

Beget, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The behavior of water vapor in the Mars atmosphere

The behavior of water vapor in the atmosphere of Mars is important to understanding the Mars climate and its evolution as well as the nature of ongoing seasonal processes of exchange and transport. On the seasonal timescales, exchange of water between the atmosphere, regolith, and polar caps combine with advection of water and the possible saturation at some locations and seasons in order to produce the observed distribution of water. A summary of the observations made by the Mariner and Viking spacecraft and analyses of the seasonal cycle of water is presented, along with a brief discussion of the implications for the long term variability of water. The upcoming Mars Observer mission is also briefly discussed.

Jakosky, Bruce M.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Radiocatalyst for Radiation Protection and Microbial Control

Radiocatalysts are materials that reduce the activation energy required to split water into hydrogen and reactive oxygen species (ROS). They are activated by radiation and can be used to improve the ability of water to act as a radiation barrier. This paper reports the results of an experimental evaluation of a gold radiocatalyst. This work provides a preliminary evaluation of the ability of these types of catalysts to increase the efficiency of water hydrolysis when exposed to different types of radiation (GCR). Although the radiation exposure devices used in this testing were not capable of generating radiation as diverse as is commonly found in space, the testing is useful in evaluating the function of these radiocatalytic nanoparticles when exposed to a a subset of the types of radiation that are found in GCR. The results are relevant to evaluating the use of this material for both space radiation protection and the production of useful byproducts, such as ROS, which can be used to maintain the sterility of stored water supplies. Radiocatalysts are materials typically used in radiation cancer therapy to improve the kill rate of tumors. These nanoparticles can be directly injected into tumors or functionalized to enter tumor cells via the blood stream. When they are exposed to radiation, they produce ROS. ROS are water hydrolysis products such as OH¯, O¯, O3, H2O2. This study used radiocatalytic 1.8 nm gold nanoparticles functionalized with citrate. These nanoparticles were tested through exposure to Xrays, 56Fe particles and gamma rays to demonstrate activity to a variety of radiation sources. The results demonstrate that radiocatalysts can improve the radiation absorption of water by a factor of 3 to 8 and can effectively kill bacteria at radiation levels above 1 Gy.

radiocatalyst radiation protection biocide↗

NASA NTRS1972

Apollo 15 contamination photography

The problem of optical contamination in the form of particulates in the vicinity of a spacecraft has been a source of concern for any astronomical experiment that must be performed in sunlight. This concern prompted a photographic photometric experiment on Apollo 15 to measure the brightness of the residual contamination cloud as well as the cloud produced by dumping waste water overboard. An upper limit of 10 to the minus 12.3 power B (B designates the brightness of the solar disc) was placed on the residual cloud at a 90 deg sun angle, which is comparable to the zodiacal light. The brightness of the cloud produced by the waste dump was estimated to be 10 to the minus 9.2 power B. It was observed to decrease rapidly to 10 to the -11.6 power B in minutes, then fluctuate in brightness for at least 25 minutes as additional material left the spacecraft. The cloud was observed to consist of individually resolved particle tracks estimated to be particles ranging from millimeters to centimeters in diameter in addition to a background of unresolved particles with an average diameter of 10.5 microns. Most of the tracks proceeded in straight-line paths from the dump nozzle. Several tracks violated this direction, apparently having been scattered by collisions. A few tracks appeared to have definite curvatures, which are believed to be caused by charged particle interactions.

Naumann, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Mesoscale analysis of VAS 6.7 micron image data for several case studies

Several case studies are examined in an attempt to relate Visible infrared spin scan radiometers Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) water vapor channel radiance data to atmospheric moisture. Since the 6.7 micrometer channel detects radiation emitted by atmospheric water vapor from a rather thick layer, a scheme is developed which weighted rawinsonde observations of relative humidity in a similar manner. A comparison of the two fields (weighted relative humidity values from gridded rawinsonde observations and the VAS water vapor image) indicates that even when mesoscale data are used, the technique only presented a smooth representation of the radiance field. This weighting function is dependent on both the temperature and moisture distribution of the atmosphere. Cross sections of relative humidity from the mesoscale rawinsondes are produced which sliced the water vapor imagery in particularly interesting regions (areas of high and low blackbody temperatures). Comparisons are then made between the cross sections and the variations in the VAS radiance data along the cross section line. Bright regions in the water vapor imagery (cold blackbody temperatures) are often associated with thin layers of high relative humidity or thick layers of only moderately moist air. The reverse also applies, i.e., dark regions (warm blackbody temperatures) in the imagery corresponded well with very dry regions in the cross sections.

Jedlovec, G. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Mesoscale analysis of 6.7 micron image data from the VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) for several case studies

Several case studies are examined in an attempt to relate Visible infrared spin scan radiometers Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) water vapor channel radiance data to atmospheric moisture. Since the 6.7 micrometer channel detects radiation emitted by atmospheric water vapor from a rather thick layer, a scheme is developed which weighted rawinsonde observations of relative humidity in a similar manner. A comparison of the two fields (weighted relative humidity values from gridded rawinsonde observations and the VAS water vapor image) indicates that even when mesoscale data are used, the technique only presented a smooth representation of the radiance field. This weighting function is dependent on both the temperature and moisture distribution of the atmosphere. Cross sections of relative humidity from the mesoscale rawinsondes are produced which sliced the water vapor imagery in particularly interesting regions (areas of high and low blackbody temperatures). Comparisons are then made between the cross sections and the variations in the VAS radiance data along the cross section line. Bright regions in the water vapor imagery (cold blackbody temperatures) are often associated with thin layers of high relative humidity or thick layers of only moderately moist air. The reverse also applies, i.e., dark regions (warm blackbody temperatures) in the imagery corresponded well with very dry regions in the cross sections.

Jedlovec, G. J.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Final Report for Intravenous Fluid Generation (IVGEN) Spaceflight Experiment

NASA designed and operated the Intravenous Fluid Generation (IVGEN) experiment onboard the International Space Station (ISS), Increment 23/24, during May 2010. This hardware was a demonstration experiment to generate intravenous (IV) fluid from ISS Water Processing Assembly (WPA) potable water using a water purification technique and pharmaceutical mixing system. The IVGEN experiment utilizes a deionizing resin bed to remove contaminants from feedstock water to a purity level that meets the standards of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), the governing body for pharmaceuticals in the United States. The water was then introduced into an IV bag where the fluid was mixed with USP-grade crystalline salt to produce USP normal saline (NS). Inline conductivity sensors quantified the feedstock water quality, output water purity, and NS mixing uniformity. Six 1.5-L bags of purified water were produced. Two of these bags were mixed with sodium chloride to make 0.9 percent NS solution. These two bags were returned to Earth to test for compliance with USP requirements. On-orbit results indicated that all of the experimental success criteria were met with the exception of the salt concentration. Problems with a large air bubble in the first bag of purified water resulted in a slightly concentrated saline solution of 117 percent of the target value of 0.9 g/L. The second bag had an inadequate amount of salt premeasured into the mixing bag resulting in a slightly deficient salt concentration of 93.8 percent of the target value. The USP permits a range from 95 to 105 percent of the target value. The testing plans for improvements for an operational system are also presented.

McQuillen, John B.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Bolide impacts, acid rain, and biospheric traumas at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary

Two plausible projectiles are considered: an ice-rich long-period comet and a much smaller rock-metal asteroid. In the framework of a proposal addressed by Lewis et al. (1982), it is shown that, while the impact projectiles themselves do not shock-heat the atmosphere very extensively, the supersonic plume of water vapor and rock produced on impact does shock the atmosphere up to global scales and the shock is of sufficient intensity to produce abundant nitric oxide. For example, an ice-rich long-period comet with a mass of 1.25 x 10 to the 16th kg and a velocity of 65 km/s striking the earth would produce about 7 x 10 to the 40th molecules NO through shock-heating of the atmosphere by the high-velocity ejecta plume fragments. Specific attention is given to the fraction of the atmosphere shock-heated, the global circulation of the nitrogen oxides, the effects of the ejecta plume water on acid rain (AR) predictions, the effects of AR on continental soils, the relationship between AR production rates and the total amount of acid needed to acidify the surface oceans, and the longevity of the oceanic acidity event and the exhaled CO2 event and their implications for the environment in the first millenia or so after the impact.

Prinn, Ronald G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

SAGE II - An overview

The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II) aboard the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite was launched from Shuttle in October 1984. SAGE II is a seven-channel sun-photometer measuring stratospheric aerosols, ozone, water vapor, and nitrogen dioxide during each spacecraft sunrise and sunset. In addition to stratospheric information, mid-tropospheric and higher water vapor, ozone, and aerosol data are being produced in cloud-free regions, and cloud data everywhere else. Aerosol information is being produced at three wavelengths and, together with water vapor data, is providing a global microphysical description of the aerosol.

Mccormick, M. P.↗

NASA NTRS2023

Recent Changes in Cyanobacteria Algal Bloom Magnitude in Large Lakes Across the Contiguous United States

Cyanobacterial blooms in inland lakes produce large quantities of biomass that impact drinking water systems, recreation, and tourism and may produce toxins that can adversely affect public health. This study analyzed nine years of satellite-derived bloom records and compared how the bloom magnitude has changed from 2008-2011 to 2016-2020 in 1881 of the largest lakes across the contiguous United States (CONUS). We determined bloom magnitude each year as the spatio-temporal mean cyanobacteria biomass from May to October and in concentrations of chlorophyll-a. We found that bloom magnitude decreased in 465 (25%) lakes in the 2016-2020 23 period. Conversely, there was an increase in bloom magnitude in only 81 lakes (4%). Bloom magnitude either didn’t change, or the observed change was in the uncertainty range in the majority of the lakes (n=1335, 71%). Above-normal wetness and normal or below-normal maximum temperature over the warm season may have caused the decrease in bloom magnitude in the eastern part of the CONUS in recent years. On the other hand, a hotter and dryer warm season in the western CONUS may have created an environment for increased algal biomass. While more lakes saw a decrease in bloom magnitude, the pattern was not monotonic over the CONUS. The variations in temporal changes in bloom magnitude within and across climatic regions depend on the interactions between land use land cover (LULC) and physical factors such as temperature and precipitation. Despite expectations suggested by recent global studies, bloom magnitude has not increased in larger US lakes over this time period.

remote sensing↗

NASA NTRS2022

Processing Tomato Production Is Expected to Decrease By 2050 Due to the Projected Increase in Temperature

The global processing tomato production is concentrated in a small number of regions where climate change will have a significant impact on the future supply. Process-based tomato models project that the production in the three main producing countries (the United States, Italy, and China, representing 65% of global production) will decrease 6% by 2050, compared to the baseline period of 1980-2009. The predicted reduction in processing tomato production is due to a simulated increase in air temperature. Under an ensemble of projected climate scenarios, California and Italy might not be able to sustain the current levels of processing tomato production due to water resources constraints. Cooler producing regions, such as China and the northern parts of California, stand to improve their competitive advantage. The projected environmental changes indicate that the main growing regions of processing tomatoes might change in the coming decades.

Tomato production↗

NASA NTRS1993

Utilization of on-site resources for regenerative life support systems at Lunar and Martian outposts

Lunar and martian materials can be processed and used at planetary outposts to reduce the need (and thus the cost) of transportng supplies from Earth. A variety of uses for indigenous, on-site materials have been suggested, including uses as rocket propellants, construction materials, and life support materials. Utilization of on-site resources will supplement Regenerative Life Support Systems (RLSS) that will be needed to regenerate air, water, wastes, and to produce food (e.g., plants) for human consumption during long-duration space missions. Natural materials on the Moon and/or Mars may be used for a variety of RLSS needs including (1) soils or solid-support substrate for plant growth, (2) sources for extraction of essential plant-growth nutrients, (3) sources of O2, H2, CO2, and water, (4) substrates for microbial populations in the degradation of wastes, and (5) shielding materials surrounding outpost structures to protect humans, plants, and microorganisms from radiation. In addition to the regolith, the martian atmosphere will provide additional resources at a Mars outpost, including water, CO2 and other atmospheric gases.

Ming, Douglas W.↗

NASA NTRS2000

The Geologic History of Mars: An Astrobiology Perspective

Fourteen SNC meteorites contain information which must be incorporated with recent spaceflight data for developing Mars' geologic history. SNCs have crystallization ages of 4500 to 160 m.y. Tle oldest meteorite ALH84001 contains information on the Noachian period of Mars' history. There are no meteorites from the Hesperian period and the remaining 13 meteorites fall into two age groups within the Amazonian: The nakhlites around 1300 m.y. and the shergottites between 800-160 m.y. Oxygen isotopic analysis of Martian samples shows two distinct O2 reservoirs throughout Martian history indicating late additions of volatiles and a lack of plate tectonics prior to 3.9 Gy. Evidence for percolation of aqueous brines through impact-produced fractures in the rocky surface is contained in the 3.9 Gy-old ALH84001 carbonate deposits. These carbonates precipitated at approx. 100 C. At this time life had already evolved on Earth. Early Mars could have hosted life similar to the bacteria that inhabited early Earth. Potential microorganisms could have been transported into fractures by carbonate-bearing waters and their remains could have become incorporated into the precipitated carbonate. Since Mars had a weak magnetic field at this time, it can be hypothesized that some of the Martian microorganisms may have been similar to terrestrial magnetotactic bacteria. Over geologic time episodic cratering, and tectonic events have occurred on Mars along with the periodic release of subsurface waters which may have produced clays within SNC meteorites. The geochemical data contained within SNC meteorites complements previous observational data and the recent Mars Global Surveyor data to provide a geological and environmental history which spans almost the entire lifespan on Mars. One of the outstanding features of this model is the possible creation of an early (about 4 Gy) volatile reservoir distinct from the outgassed Mars volatiles, and the persistence of this reservoir throughout most, if not all of subsequent Mars' history. Within the framework of this history a potential scenario for a possible record of living organisms is provided by suggestive structures and organic signatures trapped within secondary mineral deposits and alteration features of some SNC meteorites. Tracing the differences in oxygen isotopic compositions within Martian components allows us to gain insight in the history of Mars.

Gibson, Everett K.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Analysis of the global ISCCP TOVS water vapor climatology

A climatological examination of the global water vapor field based on a multiyear period of successfull satellite-based observations is presented. Results from the multiyear global ISCCP TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) water vapor dataset as operationally produced by NESDIS and ISCCP are shown. The methods employed for the retrieval of precipitable water content (PWC) utilize infrared measurements collected by the TOVS instrument package flown aboard the NOAA series of operational polar-orbiting satellites. Strengths of this dataset include the nearly global daily coverage, availability for a multiyear period, operational internal quality checks, and its description of important features in the mean state of the atmosphere. Weaknesses of this PWC dataset include that the infrared sensors are unable to collect data in cloudy regions, the retrievals are strongly biased toward a land-based radiosonde first-guess dataset, and the description of high spatial and temporal variability is inadequate. Primary consequences of these factors are seen in the underestimation of ITCZ water vapor maxima, and underestimation of midlatitude water vapor mean and standard deviation values where transient atmospheric phenomena contribute significantly toward time means. A comparison of TOVS analyses to SSM/I data over ocean for the month of July 1988 shows fair agreement in the magnitude and distribution of the monthly mean values, but the TOVS fields exhibit much less temporal and spatial variability on a daily basis in comparison to the SSM/I analyses. The emphasis of this paper is on the presentation and documentation of an early satellite-based water vapor climatology, and description of factors that prevent a more accurate representation of the global water vapor field.

Wittmeyer, Ian L.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Test Results for the SEA Ice Crystal Detector (ICD) under SLD Conditions at the NASA IRT

The Science Engineering Associates hot-wire Ice Crystal Detector was tested under Appendix C and Supercooled Large Drop Conditions at the NASA Icing Research Tunnel, with the purpose of comparing the measurements to the tunnel LWC calibration, and to test the performance of the mixed-phase retrievals of the probe. The liquid water content measured by the total water content sensor of the probe agreed well with the tunnel calibration over a wide range of MVDs, not unexpectedly since the tunnel was calibrated with a similar Multiwire hot-wire probe. A scale factor difference of about 7% was attributed to the lack of an efficiency correction for the Ice Crystal Detector at smaller median volume diameters, and typical sample area uncertainties of liquid water content devices. In addition, the simultaneous equations that are used to retrieve liquid and ice water contents were tested under liquid and glaciated conditions. Using constant ice and water efficiencies for each wire, the equations were found to produce a large and false ice water content retrieval in large median volume diameter liquid cases. By applying a liquid efficiency to the liquid water content sensor that varied with median volume diameter, retrievals were improved such that false ice water content was less than ±10% of the total water content out to the 460 μm median volume diameter limit of the testing. The probe was also tested in glaciated conditions by freezing out a small median volume diameter spray. Using constant ice efficiencies for the two sensors provided from aircraft measurements, the retrieved ice water content was about 40% higher than expected for the case presented, likely due to the ice efficiencies that were used from aircraft measurements of natural clouds being too low for the tunnel’s glaciated sprays. Application of ice efficiencies that vary with particle size and potentially other parameters will be explored for future improvement of retrievals.

Air Craft Icing↗

NASA NTRS2021

Test Results for the SEA Ice Crystal Detector (ICD) under SLD Conditions at the NASA IRT

The Science Engineering Associates hot-wire Ice Crystal Detector was tested under Appendix C and Supercooled Large Drop Conditions at the NASA Icing Research Tunnel, with the purpose of comparing the measurements to the tunnel LWC calibration, and to test the performance of the mixed-phase retrievals of the probe. The liquid water content measured by the total water content sensor of the probe agreed well with the tunnel calibration over a wide range of MVDs, not unexpectedly since the tunnel was calibrated with a similar Multiwire hot-wire probe. A scale factor difference of about 7% was attributed to the lack of an efficiency correction for the Ice Crystal Detector at smaller median volume diameters, and typical sample area uncertainties of liquid water content devices. In addition, the simultaneous equations that are used to retrieve liquid and ice water contents were tested under liquid and glaciated conditions. Using constant ice and water efficiencies for each wire, the equations were found to produce a large and false ice water content retrieval in large median volume diameter liquid cases. By applying a liquid efficiency to the liquid water content sensor that varied with median volume diameter, retrievals were improved such that false ice water content was less than ±10% of the total water content out to the 460 μm median volume diameter limit of the testing. The probe was also tested in glaciated conditions by freezing out a small median volume diameter spray. Using constant ice efficiencies for the two sensors provided from aircraft measurements, the retrieved ice water content was about 40% higher than expected for the case presented, likely due to the ice efficiencies that were used from aircraft measurements of natural clouds being too low for the tunnel’s glaciated sprays. Application of ice efficiencies that vary with particle size and potentially other parameters will be explored for future improvement of retrievals.

o Aircraft Icing↗

NASA NTRS1993

Explosive mafic volcanism on Earth and Mars

Deposits within Amazonia Planitia, Mars, have been interpreted as ignimbrite plains on the basis of their erosional characteristics. The western flank of Hecates Tholus appears to be mantled by an airfall deposit, which was produced through magma-water interactions or exsolution of magmatic volatiles. Morphologic studies, along with numerical and analytical modeling of Martian plinian columns and pyroclastic flows, suggest that shield materials of Tyrrhena and Hadriaca paterae are composed of welded pyroclastic flows. Terrestrial pyroclastic flows, ignimbrites, and airfall deposits are typically associated with silicic volcanism. Because it is unlikely that large volumes of silicic lavas have been produced on Mars, we seek terrestrial analogs of explosives, mafic volcanism. Plinian basaltic airfall deposits have been well-documented at Masaya, Nicaragua, and basaltic ignimbrite and surge deposits also have been recognized there. Ambrym and Yasour, both in Vanuatu, are mafic stratovolcanioes with large central calderas, and are composed of interbedded basaltic pyrocalstic deposits and lava flows. Zavaritzki, a mafic stratovolcano in the Kurile Islands, may have also produced pyroclastic deposits, although the exact nature of these deposits in unknown. Masaya, Ambrym and Yasour are known to be located above tensional zones. Hadriaca and Tyrrhena Paterae may also be located above zones of tension, resulting from the formation and evolution of Hellas basin, and, thus, may be directly analogous to these terrestrial mafic, explosive volcanoes.

Gregg, Tracy K. P.↗