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At least 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2016

The Staring OBservations of the Atmosphere (SOBA) Mission Concept

The Staring OBservations of the Atmosphere (SOBA) Mission is a concept that was developed and matured under the guidance of the NASA Ames Project EXellence (APEX) program. If funded, it will provide an unprecedented opportunity to improve ash transport forecasts and climate model simulations associated with volcanic eruptions. NASA and National science objectives require a better understanding of volcanic aerosol and trace gas emissions, transport, chemical transformation, and deposition, since they impact Earth's climate and atmospheric composition, human health, and aviation safety. Natural hazards such as the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland demonstrated how existing remote-sensing assets were inadequate for individual volcanic event monitoring. During this eruption, available instruments were unable to provide data necessary to initialize volcanic plume transport models so that they could accurately predict the quantity and location of volcanic ash. As a result, thousands of flights around the world were grounded unnecessarily, at great expense. Volcanoes can also play a large role in regulation of the Earth's climate, so SOBA observations will also be used to evaluate and improve volcanic aerosol and trace gas simulation in chemical transport models (CTMs) and global climate models (GCMs). We propose the development of an airborne remote sensing concept and field campaign that will respond to an eruption and provide near real time observations of a volcanic plume, specifically ash injection height, transport, aerosol microphysical physical properties, and the location and concentration of sulfur dioxide (SO2) (sulfate (SO42-) aerosol precursor). This airborne system will utilize a depolarization sensitive, downward looking Light Detection And Ranging (lidar) instrument and an ultraviolet (UV) imaging spectrometer, and will provide data to be ingested by volcanic ash advisory models. Furthermore, the lessons learned in the development of this system could eventually guide regular deployment of similar systems by NASA or other government agencies.

Aerosols↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Volcanic Eruptions and Effects on our Climate

Volcanoes are an integral part of the Earth system and are formed by intrusions of magma that 'bubble up’ from Earth’s interior (e.g., lava lamp). They can form above thin areas of the Earth’s crust/ lithosphere known as ‘hot spots or mantle plumes’ such as the Hawaiian Islands or Yellowstone National Park. More commonly they form along ‘subduction zones’ where the thinner oceanic tectonic plates slide below the thicker continental plates. Many of the most active (and violent) volcanos lie along subduction zones known as the Pacific 'Ring of Fire’.

Volcanos↗
DOE OSTI2020

Modeling Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Kinetics through Explicit Water–Metal Interfaces

Despite the apparent simplicity of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the decades of research into it, controversy remains in the literature regarding the identity of the active site and the competition between the Heyrovsky and Tafel steps. In this work, we use charge-extrapolated ab initio simulations with explicit water in conjunction with mean-field microkinetic modeling to explore the mechanism for HER on both close-packed (111) and stepped (211) transition metals. First, we show that atop H*, beyond a monolayer of hollow H*, is unlikely to play a role in the HER mechanism, given its very positive adsorption energies. The energetics suggests the Volmer–Heyrovsky mechanism to predominate on fcc transition metals under typical operating conditions. Here, we evaluate our theoretical results vs several experimental observations. We show that the Volmer–Heyrovsky mechanism predicts an activity volcano with its peak at a H* binding ΔG H* ≈ 0 eV, consistent with experiment. In contrast, the Volmer–Tafel volcano shows a broad rate plateau between ΔG H* ≈ 0 eV and ΔG H* ≈ – 0.4 eV. We find our theoretical Tafel slopes to be consistent with experimental ones on a range of transition metals. We show that, in line with experimental observations, the introduction of a CO(g) atmosphere shifts the strong binding metals toward the weak binding leg. Our study suggests that the simple thermodynamic approach to HER activity still holds, even when a detailed kinetic picture is considered.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Stability of Pt Skin Intermetallic Core Catalysts and Adsorption Properties for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Density functional theory calculations were used to determine the stability of metal slabs consisting of a Pt surface monolayer and intermetallic supporting layers made from combinations of six transition metal elements (Pt, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Ag), as a model system for Pt skin intermetallic core nanoparticle catalysts. The stability of the slabs is largely determined by strain at the interface of the Pt skin and the subsurface intermetallic, which was described by a lattice matching parameter (r). The surface charge on the Pt skin was found to be correlated with the average electronegativity (EN) of the intermetallic core, so this average EN was used as a descriptor for how the electronic coupling (or ligand effect) affects adsorption energies. A total of 46 slabs were investigated in terms of their stability, from which 10 stable slabs were selected for further studies of adsorbate binding (OOH*, O*, and OH*) that are intermediates in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The correlation between all three adsorption energies and descriptors r and EN was found. Using a linear fit between our descriptors and the calculated adsorption energies, the overpotential for the ORR was obtained as a function of r and EN, from which a volcano plot was produced. The volcano peak was found at r = 0.96 or at EN = 2.025. Interestingly, neither r nor EN was a sufficient single reactivity descriptor as the data points were well off the general trend in both linear fits; this implies that both the strain effect and the ligand effect influence the adsorption energies, although they are partly correlated. The (r, EN) target peak parameters were used to screen over 241 intermetallic combinations of transition metal elements as active ORR activity. In conclusion, this analysis identified 11 intermetallic compounds which can support a Pt skin to have a high predicted ORR activity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Understanding the Electronic Structure Evolution of Epitaxial LaNi1-xFexO3 Thin Films for Water Oxidation

Rare earth nickelates including LaNiO3 are promising catalysts for water electrolysis to produce oxygen gas. Recent studies report that Fe substitution for Ni can significantly enhance the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity of LaNiO3. However, the role of Fe in increasing activity remains ambiguous, with potential origins both structural and electronic in nature. Here, by utilizing a series of epitaxial LaNi1-xFexO3 thin films synthesized by oxygen-assisted molecular beam epitaxy, we report that Fe substitution tunes the oxidation state of Ni in LaNi1-xFexO3 and a volcano-like OER trend is observed with x = 0.375 being the most active. Spectroscopy and ab initio modeling reveal that the high-valent Fe3+? B-site cationic species strongly increases the transition metal (TM) 3d bandwidth via Ni-O-Fe bridges and enhances the TM 3d-O 2p hybridization, boosting the OER activity. Furthermore, pH-dependent electrochemical measurements suggest that the OER on LaNi1-xFexO3 involves a lattice oxygen-mediated mechanism.

LaNiO3, Fe substitution, charge transfer, lattice ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Testing the Recycled Gabbro Hypothesis for the Origin of “Ghost Plagioclase” Melt Signatures Using 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of Individual Olivine-Hosted Melt Inclusions From Hawai'i

Melt inclusions with large, positive Sr anomalies have been described in multiple tectonic settings, and the origins of this unusual geochemical feature are debated. Three origins have been proposed, all involving plagioclase as the source of the elevated Sr: (i) direct assimilation of plagioclase-rich lithologies, (ii) recycled lower oceanic gabbro in the mantle source, and (iii) shallow-level diffusive interaction between present day lower oceanic crust (i.e., plagioclase-bearing lithologies) and the percolating melt. A “ghost plagioclase” signature (i.e., a large, positive Sr anomaly without associated high Al 2 O 3 ) is present in melt inclusions from Mauna Loa. Here, we present new 87 Sr/ 86 Sr measurements of individual olivine-hosted melt inclusions from three Hawaiian volcanoes, Mauna Loa, Loihi, and Koolau. The data set includes a Mauna Loa melt inclusion with the highest reported Sr anomaly (or highest (Sr/Ce) N , which is 7.2) for Hawai'i. All melt inclusions have 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values within the range reported previously for the lavas from each volcano. Critically, the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of the high (Sr/Ce) N melt inclusion lies within the narrow range of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr for Mauna Loa melts that lack high (Sr/Ce) N signatures. Therefore, to explain the high (Sr/Ce) N ratio of the ghost plagioclase signature using an ancient recycled gabbro, the gabbro-infused mantle source would have had to evolve, by chance, to have the same 87 Sr/ 86 Sr as the source of the Mauna Loa melts that lack a recycled gabbro (ghost plagioclase) signature. Alternatively, shallow-level diffusive interactions between Mauna Loa plagioclase-rich cumulates and a percolating mantle-derived melt provides a simpler explanation for the presence of the high (Sr/Ce) N Mauna Loa melts.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Responses of the AC/DC Global Electric Circuit to Volcanic Electrical Activity in the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Eruption on 15 January 2022

Responses of the AC and DC global electric circuits (GECs) to the large eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai (HT-HH) volcano on 15 January 2022 are discussed. The AC-related investigation is based on Schumann resonance (SR) measurements from six stations on four continents. The DC-related investigation utilizes atmospheric electric field (potential gradient, PG) measurements from six recording stations in Europe and the USA. According to data from the GLD360 and WWLLN lightning detection networks, the peak lightning stroke rate, 83/s, was dominated by negative polarity lightning, but the distributions of positive and negative lightning discharges in latitude and longitude around the volcano differed. A global intensification of SR is apparent in connection with the enhanced lightning activity caused by the eruption. SR data-based results confirm that the lightning activity in the eruption dominated the naturally occurring global activity for a period of about 1 hr. The highly localized increase in lightning activity over HT-HH was a unique point source of SR excitation. PG measurements suggest that impulse-like charging of the DC GEC, by ~15%, via negative cloud-to-ground lightning strokes took place twice during the eruption. A time constant of 7 or 8 min has been inferred for near-surface PG changes due to these enhancements. This could be the first direct measurement of the time constant of the GEC near the Earth's surface, as well as the first observation of the direct charging of the DC GEC by a unique atmospheric electrified source.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ampere-level co-electrosynthesis of formate from CO 2 reduction paired with formaldehyde dehydrogenation reactions

Current catalysts face challenges with low formate selectivity at high current densities during the CO 2 electroreduction. Here, we showcase a versatile strategy to enhance the formate production on p-block metal-based catalysts by incorporating noble metal atoms on their surface, refining oxygen affinity, and tuning adsorption of the critical oxygen-bound *OCHO intermediate. The formate yield is observed to afford a volcano-like dependence on the *OCHO binding strength across a series of modified catalysts. The rhodium-dispersed indium oxide (Rh/In 2 O 3 ) catalyst exhibits impressive performances, achieving Faradaic efficiencies (FEs) of formate exceeding 90% across a broad current density range of 0.20 to 1.21 A cm −2 . In situ Raman spectroscopy and theoretical calculations reveal that the oxophilic Rh site facilitates *OCHO formation by optimizing its adsorption energy, placing Rh/In 2 O 3 near the volcano-shaped apex. A bipolar electrosynthesis system, coupling the CO 2 reduction at the cathode with the formaldehyde oxidative dehydrogenation at the anode, further boosts the FE of formate to nearly 190% with pure hydrogen generation under an ampere-level current density and a low cell voltage of 2.5 V in a membrane electrode assembly cell.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

The MURAVES muon telescope: a low power consumption muon tracker for muon radiography applications

Muon Radiography or muography is based on the measurement of the absorption or scattering of cosmic muons, as they pass through the interior of large scale bodies, In particular, absorption muography has been applied to investigate the presence of hidden cavities inside the pyramids or underground, as well as the interior of volcanoes’ edifices. The MURAVES project has the challenging aim of investigating the density distribution inside the summit of Mt. Vesuvius. The information, together with that coming from gravimetric measurements, is useful as input to models, to predict how an eruption may develop. The MURAVES apparatus is a robust and low power consumption muon telescope consisting of an array of three identical and independent muon trackers, which provide in a modular way a total sensitive area of three square meters. Each tracker consists of four doublets of planes of plastic scintillator bars with orthogonal orientation, optically coupled to Silicon photomultipliers for the readout of the signal. The muon telescope has been installed on the slope of the volcano and has collected a first set of data, which are being analyzed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Timescales of mafic magmatic fractionation documented by paleosecular variation in basaltic drill core, Snake River Plain volcanic province, Idaho, USA

Abstract The timescales over which fractional crystallization and recharge work in mafic volcano-plutonic provinces is subject to great uncertainty. Currently modeled processes are subject to the scale of measurement: monogenetic basaltic fields accumulate over hundreds of thousands of years, consistent with U-Th-Ra isotopic variations that imply 50% crystallization of basic magmas on timescales of 100,000 years or more, whereas crystal diffusion modeling implies phenocryst residence times of ~1–1000 years. Monogenetic basalts of the Snake River Plain in southern Idaho, USA, are up to 2 km thick and postdate passage over the Yellowstone–Snake River Plain hotspot. Detailed lithologic and geophysical logging of core from deep drill holes, along with chemical stratigraphy and high-resolution paleomagnetic inclination measurements, document individual eruptive units, compound lava flows, and basaltic flow groups that accumulated over 1–6 m.y. Hiatuses are commonly marked by loess or fluvial interbeds that vary from ~0.1 m thick to 20 m thick. Radiometric (40Ar-39Ar, detrital zircon U-Pb) and paleomagnetic timescale ages show that the deepest hole (Kimama drill hole, 1912 m total depth) accumulated over ~6 m.y. Cycles of fractional crystallization and recharge are recognized in the chemical stratigraphy as up-section shifts in major and trace elements; these fractionation cycles commonly represent 40%–50% fractionation. Individual fractionation cycles may comprise 20–40 eruptive units (8–17 lava flows) with little to no change in paleomagnetic inclination (0°–1°), whereas adjacent cycles may differ by several degrees from one another or reflect changes in polarity. Rates of paleosecular variation in Holocene lavas and sediments dated using 14C document significant shifts in magnetic inclination over short timescales, ranging from ~0.05° to 2°/decade, with an average of ~0.5°/decade and a minimum rate of 0.05°/decade. This implies that fractionation cycles with ≤1° variation in magnetic inclination formed on timescales of a few decades up to a few centuries (20–200 years). Thus, the lavas collectively represent only a few thousand years of eruptive activity, with major flow groups separated in time by tens to hundreds of thousands of years. We suggest that the rates defined by paleosecular variation capture the timescales of magmatic chamber evolution (fractionation/recharge) in the seismically imaged mid-crustal sill complex; in contrast, we suggest that crystal diffusion modeling captures the residence times in shallow subvolcanic magmatic chambers that underlie individual monogenetic volcanoes.

Geology↗
DOE OSTI2024

Derisking Superhot Geothermal Plays with Value of Information: Utilizing Play Fairway Analysis, Geophysics and Technoeconomics

This paper describes a methodology for evaluating how the play fairways analysis (e.g., favorability) can improve our chances of making geothermal development decisions. We make statistical resource assessments and couple them with technoeconomic analysis utilizing previous favorability work performed for the Newberry Volcano. We demonstrate how the favorability can be used in a decision analysis framework because the Newberry favorability also estimated an associated uncertainty. The specific decision considered is how large of a power plant to build, which is difficult given the uncertainty about the resource size. Our results focus on two resource types, hydrothermal and enhanced geothermal systems, and they demonstrate how estimates of the minimum, most likely, and maximum estimates of the geothermal resource (denoted as the P10, P50, and P90, respectively) can be used in a decision analysis framework. Lastly, the value of information results explore using favorability with and without the magnetotelluric and gravity data from the Newberry Volcano. As expected, the favorability is more reliable, according to our methodology, at indicating the resource size when it includes the two geophysical models.

enhanced geothermal system↗
DOE OSTI2025

Descriptors for Cu facets for CO2 reduction reaction activity

Computation screening is crucial for designing efficient electrochemical catalysts for carbon dioxide (CO2R) reduction to valuable hydrocarbons and oxygenates. Herein, leveraging density functional theory calculations of the CO adsorption energy ΔE_CO on seventeen Cu terminations, we discover a strong linear correlation between ΔE_CO and the recently experimentally measured CO2R electrochemical currents (ACS Catal. 2022, 12, 11, 6578–6588). Examining the ab initio thermodynamics of the early critical intermediates CO*, COH*, and CHO*, we find that CO* → CHO* is the thermodynamically preferred step, and notably shows a volcano trend with the experimental currents where the maximum CO2R current corresponds to the moderate CHO* formation energy. Importantly, we show that increasing the step and kink density of the Cu termination not only enhances CO adsorption strength but also modulates the CO* → CHO* pathway, as respectively exemplified in the (941) and (741) facets. We also explain why (741) is exceptional with high CO2R activity as measured experimentally due to its relatively low activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction compared with the other Cu surfaces. Beyond the general CO adsorption energy that only shows a linear trend with CO2R activity, we show that the reaction CO* → CHO* free energy is a descriptor that displays a volcano relationship with the overall CO2R activity on Cu facets.

machine learning↗
DOE OSTI2025

The Hunga Volcanic Eruption Atmospheric Impacts Report

On 15 January 2022 a highly explosive eruption of the Hunga volcano occurred in the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean (175°24’ W, 20°33’ S). The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) 6 eruption originated from a shallow submarine vent, making it distinct from large subaerial eruptions of recent decades (e.g., 1982 El Chichón, 1991 Mt. Pinatubo). In particular, seawater enhanced explosivity and dampened sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) emissions. The eruption was the culmination of ~1 month of precursory activity; however, the timing and size of the eruption were unexpected, partly due to the challenges of monitoring submarine volcanoes. The stratospheric hydration caused by the eruption was unprecedented in magnitude, altitude, and duration in the satellite record. This Executive Summary reflects the current assessment of the Hunga eruption and its impact on the climate system. We report key observations of the eruption and its aftermath, as well as simulations of its impact by global chemistry-climate models. The Hunga eruption had an unprecedented impact on the stratosphere and mesosphere due to the plume height and large water content, which increased the global stratospheric water vapour burden by 10%. Most of this water has remained in the atmosphere into 2025. However, Hunga’s net impact on surface climate was small compared to that of earlier large-magnitude volcanic eruptions, due to limited sulfate aerosol loading in the stratosphere and the high altitude of the water vapour injection.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Multi-model analysis of the impact of water vapor on the radiative forcing of volcanic aerosols after the 2022 Hunga Eruption

On 15 January 2022, the Hunga volcano eruption released unprecedented amounts of water vapor into the atmosphere alongside a modest amount of SO 2 . In this work we analyse results from multiple Earth system models as part of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Volcano Impact Model Observation Comparison Project. Our results show a good model agreement over the climatic outcomes of the eruption, overall indicating a significant negative radiative forcing from the Hunga eruption. The multi-model mean of global instantaneous radiative forcing averaged over 2022–2023 is estimated at −0.19 ± 0.06 W m −2 at the top-of-atmosphere (TOA), and −0.16 ± 0.06 W m −2 at the surface. Simulations with free-running meteorology and climatological sea surface temperatures and sea ice yield a global mean TOA forcing of −0.14 ± 0.10 W m −2 across two models for the first 2 years, decreasing to −0.09 ± 0.10 W m −2 on average between 2022 and 2027. However, these global values may be underestimated by about 50 %, considering that recent SO 2 injection retrievals suggest nearly twice the amount than the 0.5 Tg-SO 2 used in the protocol. We also find that the contribution from added stratospheric water vapor is minimal and that the injected SO 2 and the resulting formation of stratospheric sulfate dominate the radiative forcing. However, water vapor played a key role in the initial aerosol growth, leading to a stronger negative radiative forcing during the first 6 months after the eruption compared to simulations without water vapor co-injection.

Geosciences↗
DOE OSTI2026

3D Play Fairway Analysis for Examining of Superhot Reservoir Production Scenarios

The DEEPEN (DE-risking Exploration for geothermal Plays in magmatic ENvironments) project was a multi-laboratory, international effort to reduce uncertainty and improve resource characterization in superhot geothermal systems. Building on this foundation, this work advances open-source tools designed to lower the exploration risk and cost of superhot geothermal projects while promoting transparency, reproducibility, and efficiency in exploration workflows. These tools are being tested at two key sites: (1) the Nesjavellir Geothermal Area in Iceland, where the Icelandic Deep Drilling Project (IDDP) will drill its third well, and (2) Newberry Volcano in Oregon, USA, where Mazama Energy will pilot the first superhot enhanced geothermal system (EGS). A major outcome is the creation of a modular, open-source Python framework for play fairway analysis (PFA) in 2D and 3D, called geoPFA. The PFA workflow has been expanded to produce pseudo conceptual models, and will soon be refined to assess reservoir components through integration with the thermo-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical (THMC) simulator TReactMech, to enable iterative coupling between PFA and THMC models, improving characterization of superhot systems. All three of the Icelandic Deep Drilling Project's production scenarios were analyzed via this framework: (1) a superhot deep injection well paired with conventional production wells at Nesjavellir, (2) a superhot deep production well at Nesjavellir, and (3) superhot enhanced geothermal system at Newberry Volcano. This analysis provides useful insights around conceptual modeling of these production scenarios, helping to inform decisions around which scenario is best suited for which types of environments.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1972

Mariner 9 photographs of small-scale volcanic structures on Mars

Surface features on the flanks of Martian shield volcanoes photographed by Mariner 9 are identified as lava flow channels, rift zones, and partly collapsed lava tubes by comparisons with similar structures on the flanks of Mauna Loa shield volcano, Hawaii. From these identifications, the composition of the Martian lava flows is interpreted to be basaltic, with viscosities ranging from those of fluid pahoehoe to more viscous aa.

Greeley, R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Satellite geological and geophysical remote sensing of Iceland

The author has identified the following significant results. A low sun angle (as low as 7 degrees) on ERTS-1 imagery, particularly when the terrain is snow-covered, markedly enhances subtle geologic structure and landforms. Hot springs, discharging into frozen lakes, from an ice-free area which can be easily seen on ERTS-1 imagery. In remote areas ERTS-1 imagery can be used in climatological studies by using the time of lake ice freeze-up and break-up as a measure over large areas. ERTS-1 imagery of the erupting volcano, Kirkjufell, on the island of Heimaey was cloud covered. ERTS-1 provides a powerful new tool for volcanologists to study erupting volcanoes, new deposits of lava, and the direction and areal distribution of the eruption plume. Some success was achieved in a preliminary study, using photogrammetric instrumentation, of measuring relative elevation of mountains using ERTS-1 imagery of iceland, where considerable overlap exists in successive orbits.

Williams, R. S., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A preliminary evaluation of ERTS-1 images on the volcanic areas of Southern Italy

The test site selected for the investigation covers nearly all the regions of active and quiescent volcanism in southern Italy, i.e. the eastern part of the island of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands and the area of Naples. The three active European volcanoes (Etna, Stromboli and Vesuvius) are included. The investigation is in the frame of a program for the surveillance of active volcanoes by geophysical (including remote sensing thermal methods) and geochemical methods. By the multispectral analysis of ERTS-1 data it is intended to study the spectral behavior of the volcanic materials as well as the major geological lineaments with special reference to those associated with the volcanic region. Secondary objectives are also the determination of the hydrographic network seasonal behavior and the relationship between the vegetation cover and the different type of soils and rocks.

Cassinis, R.↗