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At least 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Development of Carbon Flux Model Using ABI Data Over the Conterminous US

The satellite-driven carbon flux estimation has been playing important role to estimate continental-scale carbon budget. One of the biggest recent advances in the satellite-driven carbon flux modeling is utilization of high-frequent geostationary satellites to estimate diurnal cycle in carbon fluxes. The satellite based carbon flux estimation used the polar orbiting satellite sensors (e.g., Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)), which allow us to observe target regions only once during the day. The new generation of geostationary satellite sensors provide frequent observations, often less than every 10 minutes. Here, we use GOES Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) data to estimate hourly NEE over the conterminous US. We used the Terrestrial Observation Prediction System (TOPS) model for estimating hourly NEE. TOPS is a diagnostic ecosystem process model that simulates the fluxes of carbon and water through vegetation in response to climate variability. For the climate input, we developed hourly climate data using the same algorithm with NASA Earth Exchange Gridded Daily Meteorology (NEX-GDM) datasets based on machine learning techniques. The hourly climate data includes precipitation, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, dew point temperature, and solar radiation were derived from the Geostationary observations. The spatial patterns of ecosystem parameters used in TOPS are optimized using satellite Solar Induced Fluorescence (SIF) data. The high frequency GPP estimations from geostationary satellite sensors make it comparable to the instantaneous SIF data than daily GPP. We also used Ameriflux data for optimization of model parameters and the validation of the output. The derived data addresses the diurnal dynamics of carbon cycling at large scales and should help in reducing the uncertainties in carbon budget studies.

geostationary satellite↗
DOE OSTI2025

Hydration and Restructuring of Polar Polymer Interfaces: Implications in Antifouling and Responsive Materials

Manipulating polymer interfaces is crucial for understanding how structure influences function in applications spanning biofouling prevention to energy storage. Moreover, observing how polymers adapt their microscopic structure to changes in their local environment can reveal essential properties that govern their performance in such applications, providing key insights into how to design more effective interfaces. Here, in this study, a series of “grafting-from” polymer brushes with side chains varying in charge, are probed by sum frequency generation (SFG) and modeled using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to elucidate how chemical makeup and charge mediate interfacial restructuring in dry versus hydrated states. Results show that charge, in progressing from nonpolar to cationic to zwitterionic, results in dramatic changes in interfacial structure and overall hydration. While net neutral systems, regardless of bulk phase polarity, show minimal interfacial water structuring, the cationic species exhibits strong bulk water signals from the surface potential. Meanwhile, the polymer brushes themselves restructure in water differently independent of charge, impacting the functional groups that are presented to the aqueous phase. Nonpolar and cationic species for instance undergo a change in alkyl group orientations to accommodate hydrating water molecules, whereas the zwitterionic polymer becomes completely disordered in water. Overall, the structure-based behavior trends presented herein have implications in antifouling applications and responsive material interfaces.

biointerface↗
NASA NTRS1994

Coupling of the coronal helium abundance to the solar wind

Models of the transition region-corona-solar wind system are investigated in order to find the coronal helium abundance and to study the role played by coronal helium in controlling the solar wind proton flux. The thermal force on alpha-particles in the transition region sets the flow of helium into the corona. The frictional coupling between alpha-particles and protons and/or the electric polarization field determines the proton flux in the solar wind as well as the fate of the coronal helium content. The models are constructed by solving the time-dependent population and momentum equations for all species of hydrogen and helium in an atmosphere with a given temperature profile. Several temperature profiles are considered in order to very the roles of frictional coupling and electric polarization field in the solar wind, and the thermal force in the transition region. Steady-state solutions are found for coronae with a hydrogen flux at 1 AU of 1.0 x 10(exp 9)/cm(exp 2)/sec or larger. For coronae with lower hydrogen fluxes, the helium flux into the corona is larger than the flux 'pulled out' by the solar wind protons, and solutions with increasing coronal helium content are found. The timescale for forming a helium-filled corona, that may allow for a steady outflow, is long compared to the mixing time for the corona.

Hansteen, Viggo H.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Maximizing selectivity: An analysis of isoporous membranes

Membranes are compelling candidates for many separation-based industrial processes. However, all synthetic membranes are subject to well-recognized permeability-selectivity trade-offs that hinder their use in advanced applications. Having uniform nanoscale pore size, isoporous nanofiltration and ultrafiltration membranes have attracted wide research interest. However, quantitative analysis of isoporous membrane performance is lacking - particularly at module and system-level scales. In this study, an analytical model is built to investigate how membrane pore-size distribution affects the solute separation efficiency (i.e., rejection and selectivity). The model accounts for convective hindrance as well as concentration polarization and explores effects on separation from the solute-to-pore-size ratio and percent recovery (i.e., fraction of feed flow that passes through the membrane). At the module level, our analysis suggests that a notably sharper rejection vs. solute size curve can be obtained as the pore-size distribution becomes narrower. Additionally, as the recovery increases, the rejection of a solute is maintained at a high level using isoporous membranes while the rejection drops rapidly for membranes that possess a disperse pore-size distribution. Furthermore, in the separation of mixed solutes, isoporous membranes achieve a large selectivity with a modest loss of permeability. Overall, this study elaborates the unique role that isoporous membranes play within the permeability-selectivity trade-off relations and identifies the most exciting opportunities for their future applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Dynamics of Electric Polarization and Relaxation of Ions at Humid Calcite Surfaces

Mobile ions at mineral surfaces can respond to an applied electric field, adopting a new distribution that effectively represents polarization of the electrical double layer. When the field is released, the ions relax to their equilibrium distribution. In both cases, the dynamics are characteristic of the interface. However, current models of electrokinetic phenomena are not sufficiently robust to accurately predict collective ion dynamics at structurally and chemically specific mineral–water interfaces. Here, in this study, we use electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) to investigate the dynamics of ion relaxation at hydrated calcite (104) surfaces at controlled relative humidity (RH). Electrically biased probes are used to polarize the distributions of calcium and carbonate ions that are intrinsic to this interface across a range of RH values. Polarization kinetics are tracked by monitoring the tip–sample force gradient during charging, and EFM imaging is used to characterize the spatial relaxation dynamics after the applied field is released. Electrostatic finite element modeling of the sample/probe system across length-scales from nanometers to millimeters reproduces the observed stretched exponential charging response. Together, these results allow us to estimate the ion diffusivities at the interface across a wide range of RH values. These diffusivities increase by roughly 5 orders of magnitude as the RH is increased from 5 to 90%, highlighting the critical role of adsorbed water for surface ion solvation that enables ion mobility.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1972

Convection electric fields and polar thermospheric winds.

Use of the qualitative ideas of convection electric fields over the earth's polar regions to demonstrate the importance of ion drag in establishing a thermospheric wind system. Recent measurements indicate that uniform electric fields of 10 to 40 mV/m are a regular feature of the polar-cap ionosphere. Calculations of the neutral thermospheric wind, using these measured fields in a simple ionospheric model, have been made. The time scale for motion of the neutral gas ranges from less than 1 hour at F-region heights to about 2 hours in the dynamo region of the ionosphere. It has been found that the viscosity of the atmosphere is important in determining the winds in the dynamo region. Results are given that show ion-temperature enhancements of hundreds of degrees that are due to ion-neutral frictional effects. In addition, the total deposition rate of convection energy in the polar thermosphere is shown to be of the same order of magnitude as that due to absorption of solar EUV radiation. The implications of these results for the dynamics and energetics of the thermosphere are discussed.

Fedder, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Applications of the ER-2 meteorological measurement system

The NASA ER-2 aircraft is used as a platform for high altitude atmospheric missions. The Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) was developed specifically for atmospheric research to provide accurate high resolution measurements of pressure, temperature, and the 3-D wind vector with a sampling rate of 5/s. The MMS consist of three subsystems: (1) an air motion sensing system to measure the velocity of the air with respect to the aircraft; (2) a high resolution inertial navigation system (INS) to measure the velocity of the aircraft with respect to the earth; and (3) a data acquisition system to sample, process, and record the measurement quantities. MMS data have been used extensively by ER-2 investigators in elucidating the polar ozone chemistry. Herein, applications on atmospheric dynamics are emphasized. Large scale (polar vortex, potential vorticity, model atmosphere), mesoscale (gravity waves, mountain waves) and microscale (heat fluxes) atmospheric phenomena are investigated and discussed.

Chan, K. Roland↗
NASA NTRS2017

The Effects of Different Footprint Sizes and Cloud Algorithms on the Top-Of-Atmosphere Radiative Flux Calculation from the Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) Instrument on Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (NPP)

Only one Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) instrument is onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) and it has been placed in cross-track mode since launch; it is thus not possible to construct a set of angular distribution models (ADMs) specific for CERES on NPP. Edition 4 Aqua ADMs are used for flux inversions for NPP CERES measurements. However, the footprint size of NPP CERES is greater than that of Aqua CERES, as the altitude of the NPP orbit is higher than that of the Aqua orbit. Furthermore, cloud retrievals from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), which are the imagers sharing the spacecraft with NPP CERES and Aqua CERES, are also different. To quantify the flux uncertainties due to the footprint size difference between Aqua CERES and NPP CERES, and due to both the footprint size difference and cloud property difference, a simulation is designed using the MODIS pixel-level data, which are convolved with the Aqua CERES and NPP CERES point spread functions (PSFs) into their respective footprints. The simulation is designed to isolate the effects of footprint size and cloud property differences on flux uncertainty from calibration and orbital differences between NPP CERES and Aqua CERES. The footprint size difference between Aqua CERES and NPP CERES introduces instantaneous flux uncertainties in monthly gridded NPP CERES measurements of less than 4.0 W/sq. m for SW (shortwave) and less than 1.0 W/sq. m for both daytime and nighttime LW (longwave). The global monthly mean instantaneous SW flux from simulated NPP CERES has a low bias of 0.4 W/sq. m when compared to simulated Aqua CERES, and the root-mean-square (RMS) error is 2.2 W/sq. m between them; the biases of daytime and night- time LW flux are close to zero with RMS errors of 0.8 and 0.2 W/sq. m. These uncertainties are within the uncertainties of CERES ADMs. When both footprint size and cloud property (cloud fraction and optical depth) differences are considered, the uncertainties of monthly gridded NPP CERES SW flux can be up to 20 W/sq. m in the Arctic regions where cloud optical depth retrievals from VIIRS differ significantly from MODIS. The global monthly mean instantaneous SW flux from simulated NPP CERES has a high bias of 1.1 W/sq. m and the RMS error increases to 5.2 W/sq. m. LW flux shows less sensitivity to cloud property differences than SW flux, with uncertainties of about 2 W/sq. m in the monthly gridded LW flux, and the RMS errors of global monthly mean daytime and nighttime fluxes increase only slightly. These results highlight the importance of consistent cloud retrieval algorithms to maintain the accuracy and stability of the CERES climate data record.

Su, Wenying↗
NASA NTRS2012

Improved Aerodynamic Analysis for Hybrid Wing Body Conceptual Design Optimization

This paper provides an overview of ongoing efforts to develop, evaluate, and validate different tools for improved aerodynamic modeling and systems analysis of Hybrid Wing Body (HWB) aircraft configurations. Results are being presented for the evaluation of different aerodynamic tools including panel methods, enhanced panel methods with viscous drag prediction, and computational fluid dynamics. Emphasis is placed on proper prediction of aerodynamic loads for structural sizing as well as viscous drag prediction to develop drag polars for HWB conceptual design optimization. Data from transonic wind tunnel tests at the Arnold Engineering Development Center s 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel was used as a reference data set in order to evaluate the accuracy of the aerodynamic tools. Triangularized surface data and Vehicle Sketch Pad (VSP) models of an X-48B 2% scale wind tunnel model were used to generate input and model files for the different analysis tools. In support of ongoing HWB scaling studies within the NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) program, an improved finite element based structural analysis and weight estimation tool for HWB center bodies is currently under development. Aerodynamic results from these analyses are used to provide additional aerodynamic validation data.

Gern, Frank H.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Antarctic Water Masses and Ice Shelves: Visualizing the Physics

High-resolution simulation of global climate physics enables us to model how the climate may change under a variety of future scenarios. Such simulations produce vast amounts of information and dense datasets. If interrogated in tandem, these datasets can provide holistic, vital information on Earth’s many integrated systems by revealing the manifold interrelated properties of the atmosphere, ocean, and polar ice, framed by real-world terrain in three-dimensional space as they vary over time. To accomplish this, climate scientists have joined with computer scientists and an artist to develop techniques enabling scientists to see these relationships. Finally, the impact of ocean water properties on Antarctic ice shelves illustrates the benefit of this analysis in understanding land ice melt rates and thus sea-level rise.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1993

Synergism of active and passive microwave data for estimating bare surface soil moisture

Active and passive microwave sensors were applied effectively to the problem of estimating the surface soil moisture in a variety of environmental conditions. Research to date has shown that both types of sensors are also sensitive to the surface roughness and the vegetation cover. In estimating the soil moisture, the effect of the vegetation and roughness are often corrected either by acquiring multi-configuration (frequency and polarization) data or by adjusting the surface parameters in order to match the model predictions to the measured data. Due to the limitations on multi-configuration spaceborne data and the lack of a priori knowledge of the surface characteristics for parameter adjustments, it was suggested that the synergistic use of the sensors may improve the estimation of the soil moisture over the extreme range of naturally occurring soil and vegetation conditions. To investigate this problem, the backscattering and emission from a bare soil surface using the classical rough surface scattering theory were modeled. The model combines the small perturbation and the Kirchhoff approximations in conjunction with the Peak formulation to cover a wide range of surface roughness parameters with respect to frequency for both active and passive measurements. In this approach, the same analytical method was used to calculate the backscattering and emissivity. Therefore, the active and passive simulations can be combined at various polarizations and frequencies in order to estimate the soil moisture more actively. As a result, it is shown that (1) the emissivity is less dependent on the surface correlation length, (2) the ratio of the backscattering coefficient (HH) over the surface reflectivity (H) is almost independent of the soil moisture for a wide range of surface roughness, and (3) this ratio can be approximated as a linear function of the surface rms height. The results were compared with the data obtained by a multi-frequency radiometer-scatterometer system working at frequencies between 3.0 GHz to 11.0 GHz. The data were acquired over bare soil surfaces with moisture variations due to freezing and thawing and roughness changes due to rain and erosion. The model predictions are shown to be in reasonable agreement with the data. In addition, it was shown that the same ratio when calculated from the data shows almost no dependence on the soil moisture. Finally, a simple technique which combines the backscattering coefficient at HH polarization (active sensing) with the emissivity at H polarization (passive sensing) is suggested for retrieving the soil moisture from bare soil surfaces.

Saatchi, Sasan S.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Nonadiabatic Dynamics in a Continuous Circularly Polarized Laser Field with Floquet Phase-Space Surface Hopping

Non-adiabatic chemical reactions involving continuous circularly polarized light (cw CPL) have not attracted as much attention as dynamics in unpolarized/linearly polarized light. However, including circularly (in contrast to linearly) polarized light allows one to effectively introduce a complex-valued time-dependent Hamiltonian, which offers a new path for control or exploration through the introduction of Berry forces. Here, we investigate several inexpensive semiclassical approaches for modeling such nonadiabatic dynamics in the presence of a time-dependent complex-valued Hamiltonian, beginning with a straightforward instantaneous adiabatic fewest-switches surface hopping (IA-FSSH) approach (where the electronic states depend on position and time), continuing to a standard Floquet fewest switches surface hopping (F-FSSH) approach (where the electronic states depend on position and frequency), and ending with an exotic Floquet phase-space surface hopping (F-PSSH) approach (wherethe electronic states depend on position, frequency, and momentum). Using a set of model systems with time-dependent complex-valued Hamiltonians, we show that the Floquet phase- space adiabats are the optimal choice of basis as far as accounting for Berry phase effects and delivering accuracy. Furthermore, the F-PSSH algorithm sets the stage for modeling nonadiabatic dynamics under strong externally pumped circular polarization in the future.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1984

Measurement and Modeling of the Optical Scattering Properties of Crop Canopies

Progress and results in the measurement and scattering properties of crop canopies was examined. The following accomplishments are reported: (1) analysis of inhouse polarization, Sun/view angle data set of wheat was completed; (2) polarization photometer instrument system was completed; (3) light polarization properties (measured with polarization photometer) of individual plant leaves initiated, and twenty two species/varieties were measured before frost; (4) light polarizing properties of both moisture-stressed corn leaves and diseased wheat leaves were measured; (5) Sun/view angle data and ancillary data were acquired on two wheat canopies on two dates and on one sorghum canopy on two adjacent days.

Vanderbilt, V. C.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Magnetized laser–plasma interactions in high-energy-density systems: Parallel propagation

In this study, we investigate parametric processes in magnetized plasmas, driven by a large-amplitude pump light wave. Our focus is on laser–plasma interactions relevant to high-energy-density (HED) systems, such as the National Ignition Facility and the Sandia MagLIF concept. We present a self-contained derivation of a “parametric” dispersion relation for magnetized three-wave interactions, meaning the pump wave is included in the equilibrium, similar to the unmagnetized work of Drake et al., Phys. Fluids 17, 778 (1974). For this, we use a multi-species plasma fluid model and Maxwell's equations. The application of an external B field causes right- and left-polarized light waves to propagate with differing phase velocities. This leads to Faraday rotation of the polarization, which can be significant in HED conditions. Phase-matching and linear wave dispersion relations show that Raman and Brillouin scattering have modified spectra due to the background B field, though this effect is usually small in systems of current practical interest. We study a scattering process we call stimulated whistler scattering, where a light wave decays to an electromagnetic whistler wave (ω≲ω ce ) and a Langmuir wave. This only occurs in the presence of an external B field, which is required for the whistler wave to exist.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2016

Martian Polar Vortices: Comparison of Reanalyses

The structure and evolution of the Martian polar vortices is examined using two recently available reanalysis systems: version 1.0 of the Mars Analysis Correction Data Assimilation (MACDA) and a preliminary version of the Ensemble Mars Atmosphere Reanalysis System (EMARS). There is quantitative agreement between the reanalyses in the lower atmosphere, where Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) data are assimilated, but there are differences at higher altitudes reflecting differences in the free-running general circulation model simulations used in the two reanalyses. The reanalyses show similar potential vorticity (PV) structure of the vortices: There is near-uniform small PV equatorward of the core of the westerly jet, steep meridional PV gradients on the polar side of the jet core, and a maximum of PV located off of the pole. In maps of 30 sol mean PV, there is a near-continuous elliptical ring of high PV with roughly constant shape and longitudinal orientation from fall to spring. However, the shape and orientation of the vortex varies on daily time scales, and there is not a continuous ring of PV but rather a series of smaller scale coherent regions of high PV. The PV structure of the Martian polar vortices is, as has been reported before, very different from that of Earth's stratospheric polar vortices, but there are similarities with Earth's tropospheric vortices which also occur at the edge of the Hadley Cell, and have near-uniform small PV equatorward of the jet, and a large increase of PV poleward of the jet due to increased stratification.

Waugh, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Passive Thermal Control of the Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer (PIPER) Flight Electronics

The scientific balloon program at NASA offers an exciting and open area of opportunity for testing new technologies and for conducting meaningful experimentation at a fraction of the cost of a space mission. This paper outlines a simple thermal model developed and employed for the Primordial Inflation Polarization ExplorER (PIPER). The sub-orbital environment that PIPER operates in hosts an interesting mix of atmospheric and space thermal challenges. The work done was to mitigate thermal loads and passively cool the payload's exterior mounted electronics at an altitude of 36.6 km. This was done by characterizing the thermal environment and then designing solutions for the heat loads through a combined radiation and conduction passive cooling radiator system thermal model. Despite the simplicity and subsequent limitations of the model, as well as some unexpected payload operational events, the model produced results between 0.31% and 11.8% difference between the predicted values and measured average temperatures. From these results, the model was able to successfully provide estimates for the electronics temperatures. Additional flights will be needed to eliminate unknowns encountered in this flight in order to further refine the model for higher accuracy.

Walts, Alexander R.↗
DOE OSTI2020

The impact of light polarization effects on weak lensing systematics

ABSTRACT A fraction of the light observed from edge-on disc galaxies is polarized due to two physical effects: selective extinction by dust grains aligned with the magnetic field and scattering of the anisotropic starlight field. Since the reflection and transmission coefficients of the reflecting and refracting surfaces in an optical system depend on the polarization of incoming rays, this optical polarization produces both (a) a selection bias in favour of galaxies with specific orientations and (b) a polarization-dependent point spread function (PSF). In this work, we build toy models to obtain for the first time an estimate for the impact of polarization on PSF shapes and the impact of the selection bias due to the polarization effect on the measurement of the ellipticity used in shear measurements. In particular, we are interested in determining if this effect will be significant for Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST). We show that the systematic uncertainties in the ellipticity components are 8 × 10−5 and 1.1 × 10−4 due to the selection bias and PSF errors respectively. Compared to the overall requirements on knowledge of the WFIRST PSF ellipticity (4.7 × 10−4 per component), both of these systematic uncertainties are sufficiently close to the WFIRST tolerance level that more detailed studies of the polarization effects or more stringent requirements on polarization-sensitive instrumentation for WFIRST are required.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1976

Passive microwave mapping of ice thickness

Basic calculations are presented for evaluating the feasibility of a scanning microwave radiometer system for mapping the thickness of lake ice. An analytical model for the apparent brightness temperature as a function of ice thickness has been developed, and elaborated to include such variables as galactic and atmospheric noise, aspect angle, polarization, temperature gradient in the ice, the presence of transition layers such as snow, slush, and water, increased loss due to air inclusions in the ice layer, and the presence of multiple ice thicknesses within the antenna footprint. It was found that brightness temperature measurements at six or seven frequencies in the range of 0.4 to 0.7 GHz were required to obtain unambiquous thickness estimates. A number of data processing methods were examined. The effects of antenna beamwidth, scanning rate, receiver bandwidth, noise figure, and integration time were studied.

Apinis, J. J.↗