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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 559 records · Page 31
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Abrasion by aeolian particles: Earth and Mars

Estimation of the rate of aeolian abrasion of rocks on Mars requires knowledge of: (1) particle flux, (2) susceptibilities to abrasion of various rocks, and (3) wind frequencies on Mars. Fluxes and susceptibilities for a wide range of conditions were obtained in the laboratory and combined with wind data from the Viking meteorology experiment. Assuming an abundant supply of sand-sized particles, estimated rates range up to 2.1 x 10 to the minus 2 power cm of abrasion per year in the vicinity of Viking Lander 1. This rate is orders of magnitude too great to be in agreement with the inferred age of the surface based on models of impact crater flux. The discrepancy in the estimated rate of abrasion and the presumed old age of the surface cannot be explained easily by changes in climate or exhumation of ancient surfaces. The primary reason is thought to be related to the agents of abrasion. At least some sand-sized (approx. 100 micrometers) grains appear to be present, as inferred from both lander and orbiter observations. High rates of abrasion occur for all experimental cases involving sands of quartz, basalt, or ash. However, previous studies have shown that sand is quickly comminuted to silt- and clay-sized grains in the martian aeolian regime. Experiments also show that these fine grains are electrostatically charged and bond together as sand-sized aggregates. Laboratory simulations of wind abrasion involving aggregates show that at impact velocities capable of destroying sand, aggregates from a protective veneer on the target surface and can give rise to extremely low abrasion rates.

Greeley, R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Lake Hoare, Antarctica: sedimentation through a thick perennial ice cover

Lake Hoare in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica is covered with a perennial ice cover more than 3 m thick, yet there is a complex record of sedimentation and of growth of microbial mats on the lake bottom. Rough topography on the ice covering the lake surface traps sand that is transported by the wind. In late summer, vertical conduits form by melting and fracturing, making the ice permeable to both liquid water and gases. Cross-sections of the ice cover show that sand is able to penetrate into and apparently through it by descending through these conduits. This is the primary sedimentation mechanism in the lake. Sediment traps retrieved from the lake bottom indicate that rates of deposition can vary by large amounts over lateral scales as small as 1 m. This conclusion is supported by cores taken in a 3 x 3 grid with a spacing of 1.5 m. Despite the close spacing of the cores, the poor stratigraphic correlation that is observed indicates substantial lateral variability in sedimentation rate. Apparently, sand descends into the lake from discrete, highly localized sources in the ice that may in some cases deposit a large amount of sand into the lake in a very short time. In some locations on the lake bottom, distinctive sand mounds have been formed by this process. They are primary sedimentary structures and appear unique to the perennially ice-covered lacustrine environment. In some locations they are tens of centimetres high and gently rounded with stable slopes; in others they reach approximately 1 m in height and have a conical shape with slopes at angle of repose. A simple formation model suggests that these differences can be explained by local variations in water depth and sedimentation rate. Rapid colonization of fresh sand surfaces by microbial mats composed of cyanobacteria, eukaryotic algae, and heterotrophic bacteria produces a complex intercalation of organic and sandy layers that are a distinctive form of modern stromatolites.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗
NASA NTRS2005

Alluvial Fans on Dunes in Kaiser Crater Suggest Niveo-Aeolian and Denivation Processes on Mars

On Earth, cold region sand dunes often contain inter-bedded sand, snow, and ice. These mixed deposits of wind-driven snow, sand, silt, vegetal debris, or other detritus have been termed Niveo-aeolian deposits. These deposits are often coupled with features that are due to melting or sublimation of snow, called denivation features. Snow and ice may be incorporated into dunes on Mars in three ways. Diffusion of water vapour into pore spaces is the widely accepted mechanism for the accretion of premafrost ice. Additional mechanisms may include the burial by sand of snow that has fallen on the dune surface or the synchronous transportation and deposition of snow, sand and ice. Both of these mechanisms have been reported for polar dunes on Earth. Niveo-aeolian deposits in polar deserts on Earth have unique morphologies and sedimentary structures that are generally not found in warm desert dunes. Recent analysis of MOC-scale data have found evidence for potential niveo-aeolian and denivation deposits in sand dunes on Mars.

Bourke, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Method and Device for Extraction of Liquids from a Solid Particle Material

A method, system, and device for separating oil from oil sands or oil shale is disclosed. The method includes heating the oil sands, spinning the heated oil sands, confining the sand particles mechanically, and recovering the oil substantially free of the sand. The method can be used without the addition of chemical extraction agents. The system includes a source of centrifugal force, a heat source, a separation device, and a recovery device. The separation device includes a method of confining the sands while allowing the oil to escape, such as through an aperture.

deMayo, Benjamin↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Experimental Impacts into Strength-Layered Targets: Ejecta Kinematics and Crater Morphometry

Impact craters can serve as probes of the subsurface structure of a planetary body and provide hints about a target's properties. Crater morphology, for example, can be used to estimate the thickness of a regolith layer above a more competent unit. Small lunar craters in the maria show a morphological progression from a simple bowl shape to flat-floored and concentric as crater diameter increases for a given regolith thickness. The final shape is a result of the subsurface flow-field initiated as the projectile transfers its energy and momentum to the target surface. In strength-layered targets, such as the lunar maria, the substrate modifies the flow field and thereby the excavation of the crater. Here we report on a series of experimental impacts into targets composed of a layer of loose sand above a stronger substrate. As we varied the sand's thickness, we imaged individual ejecta trajectories as the craters grew, from which we derived ejection-speed scaling relationships. In addition, we used a 3D scanner to construct topographic maps of the substrate, pre-impact target, and post-impact surface. This permitted us to examine the final craters' morphologies and morphometries with respect to the original stratigraphy of the target. As expected, craters became shallower and smaller as the sand's thickness decreased, transitioning from bowl-shaped to concentric as observed on the Moon. Subtle and important details show that the stronger substrate affected the subsurface flow-field by redirecting material upward and outward even when the interface was still well below the final crater's floor. Compared to the control target (loose sand only), the stronger substrate below the sand layer resulted in a much more complex pattern of ejecta. While most of the ejected material was still contained within a typical outward-moving curtain, a number of ejected particles moved along low-speed, high-angle (near 90°) trajectories. The number of these high-angle trajectories increased as the sand layer thinned, perhaps implying that self-secondary cratering would require the presence of a strong subsurface layer below the impact site. Such results refine our understanding of crater excavation in layered targets with implications for ejecta deposits and final crater shapes observed on the Moon.

Jennifer L B Anderson↗
NASA NTRS2021

Landsat Derived Bathymetry of Lakes on the Arctic Coastal Plan of Northern Alaska

The Pleistocene sand sea on the Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP) of northern Alaska is underlain by anancient sand dune field, a geological feature that affects regional lake characteristics. Many of these lakes, whichcover approximately 20 % of the Pleistocene sand sea, are relatively deep (up to 25 m). In addition to the nat-ural importance of ACP sand sea lakes for water storage, energy balance, and ecological habitat, the need forwinter water for industrial development and exploration activities makes lakes in this region a valuable resource.However, ACP sand sea lakes have received little prior study. Here, we collect in situ bathymetric data to test12 model variants for predicting sand sea lake depth based on analysis of Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager(OLI) images. Lake depth gradients were measured at 17 lakes in midsummer 2017 using a Humminbird 798ciHD SI Combo automatic sonar system. The field-measured data points were compared to red–green–blue (RGB)bands of a Landsat-8 OLI image acquired on 8 August 2016 to select and calibrate the most accurate spectral-depth model for each study lake and map bathymetry. Exponential functions using a simple band ratio (withbands selected based on lake turbidity and bed substrate) yielded the most successful model variants. For eachlake, the most accurate model explained 81.8 % of the variation in depth, on average. Modeled lake bathymetrieswere integrated with remotely sensed lake surface area to quantify lake water storage volumes, which rangedfrom 1.056×10−3to 57.416×10−3km3. Due to variations in depth maxima, substrate, and turbidity betweenlakes, a regional model is currently infeasible, rendering necessary the acquisition of additional in situ datawith which to develop a regional model solution. Estimating lake water volumes using remote sensing will fa-cilitate better management of expanding development activities and serve as a baseline by which to evaluatefuture responses to ongoing and rapid climate change in the Arctic. All sonar depth data and modeled lakebathymetry rasters can be freely accessed at https://doi.org/10.18739/A2SN01440 (Simpson and Arp, 2018) andhttps://doi.org/10.18739/A2HT2GC6G (Simpson, 2019), respectively.

Claire E Simpson↗
DOE OSTI2017

DETERMINING THE TRIBUTARY SEDIMENT CONTRIBUTION TO EXPERIMENTAL FLOOD DEPOSITS ON THE COLORADO RIVER IN MARBLE CANYON, GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA

A multivariate sediment fingerprint was used in a Bayesian mixing model to determine the source contribution to experimental flood deposits along the Colorado River in the Marble Canyon reach of Grand Canyon, AZ. This study provides an independent evaluation, complementary to previous sediment mass balance and morphological studies, of the degree to which sand from the Paria River, the primary source of sand in Marble Canyon, has supplemented total sand storage since upstream dam closure in 1963. Samples of endmember and downstream mixed populations of sand were analyzed using portable XRF to measure the concentration of eleven major and trace elements, from which 55 elemental ratios were calculated. A principal components analysis consolidated those ratios eligible for use in the fingerprint into a multivariate signature used in the mixing model, MixSIAR. Twenty flood deposits from 14 sites in Marble Canyon from the 2013 and 2014 controlled floods were sampled. Six individual mixing models, using sediment fingerprints unique to each of six half-phi grain size fractions returned the percentage of sand, in each size fraction of each deposit, that was sourced from the Paria River. Paria contribution averaged 33.8 ± 4.1% in deposits from the 2013 flood, and 54.7 ± 4.3% in deposits from the 2014 flood. Individual grain size samples ranged 4.9 – 73.1% in 2013 and 9.1 – 90.2% in 2014. In general, iii the four median grain size fractions (90 – 355 μm) in both years have the highest Paria contribution; low Paria contribution in the finest 63 – 90 μm) fraction suggests significant contribution by an unaccounted-for third endmember, likely minor tributaries. The coarsest fraction, 355 – 500 μm, is the only grain size to show a trend in Paria contribution with distance traveled downstream, suggesting a transport-related fractionation effect. Overall scatter in the results speaks to the spatial heterogeneity of intra-rapid storage pools throughout the reach and their capacity, as well as the effects of local hydraulic variability between eddy deposition zones where sandbars form. Mass balance calculations determine that under conditions of constant or decreasing total storage since 1963, approximately 20-30% of the annual Paria flux would need to be retained within Marble Canyon each year to reach the observed concentration of Paria sand. From these results, we conclude that HFEs are conditionally sustainable given frequent enough occurrence to maintain sandbar deposit storage.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Simulation of Distortion and Residual Stress Development During Heat Treatment of Steel Castings

Heat treatment and associated processing, such as quenching, are critical during high strength steel casting production. These processes must be managed closely to prevent thermal and residual stresses that may result in distortion, cracking (particularly after machining), re-work, and weld repair. The risk of casting distortion limits aggressive quenching that can be beneficial to the process and yield an improved outcome. As a result of these distortions, adjustments must be made to the casting or pattern design, or tie bars must be added. Straightening castings after heat treatments can be both time-consuming and expensive. Residual stresses may reduce a casting's overall service performance, possibly resulting in catastrophic failure. Stress relieving may help, but expends additional energy in the process. Casting software is very limited in predicting distortions during heat treatment, so corrective measures most often involve a tedious trial-and-error procedure. An extensive review of existing heat treatment residual stress and distortion modeling revealed that it is vital to predict the phase transformations and microstructure of the steel along with the thermal stress development during heat treatment. After reviewing the state-of-the-art in heat treatment residual stress and distortion modeling, an existing commercial code was selected because of its advanced capabilities in predicting phase transformations, the evolving microstructure and related properties along with thermal stress development during heat treatment. However, this software was developed for small parts created from forgings or machined stock, and not for steel castings. Therefore, its predictive capabilities for heat treatment of steel castings were investigated. Available experimental steel casting heat treatment data was determined to be of insufficient detail and breadth, and so new heat treatment experiments were designed and performed, casting and heat treating modified versions of the Navy-C ring (a classical test shape for heat treatment experiments) for several carbon and low alloy steels in order to generate data necessary to validate the code. The predicted distortions were in reasonable agreement with the experimentally measured values. However, the final distortions in the castings were small, making it difficult to determine how accurate the predictions truly are. It is recommended that further validation of the software be performed with the aid of additional experiments with large production steel castings that experience significant heat treatment distortions. It is apparent from this research that the mechanical properties of the bonded sand used for cores and sand molds are key in producing accurate stress simulation results. Because of this, experiments were performed to determine the temperature-dependent elastic modulus of a resin-bonded sand commonly utilized in the steel casting industry. The elastic modulus was seen to vary significantly with heating and cooling rates. Also, the retained room temperature elastic modulus after heating was seen to degrade significantly when the sand was heated above 125°C. The elastic modulus curves developed in this work can readily be utilized in casting simulation software. Additional experiments with higher heating rates are recommended to determine the behavior of the elastic modulus in the sand close to the mold-metal interface. The commercial heat treatment residual stress and distortion code, once fully validated, is expected to result in an estimated energy savings of 2.15 trillion BTU's/year. Along with these energy savings, reduction of scrap and improvement in casting yield will result in a reduction of the environmental emissions associated with the melting and pouring of the metal which will be saved as a result of this technology.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2017

Whole‐lake invasive crayfish removal and qualitative modeling reveal habitat‐specific food web topology

Abstract Patterning of the presence/absence of food web linkages (hereafter topology) is a fundamental characteristic of ecosystems that can influence species responses to perturbations. However, the insight from food web topology into dynamic effects of perturbations on species is potentially hindered because most described topologies represent data integrated across spatial and temporal scales. We conducted a 10‐year, whole‐lake experiment in which we removed invasive rusty crayfish ( Orconectes rusticus ) from a 64‐ha north‐temperate lake and monitored responses of multiple trophic levels. We compared species responses observed in two sub‐habitats to the responses predicted from all topologies of an integrated, literature‐informed base food web model of 32 potential links. Out of 4.3 billion possible topologies, only 308,833 (0.0072%) predicted responses that qualitatively matched observed species responses in cobble habitat, and only 12,673 (0.0003%) matched observed responses in sand habitat. Furthermore, when constrained to predictions that both matched observed responses and were highly reliable (i.e., predictions were robust to link strength values), only 5040 (0.0001%) and 140 (0.000003%) topologies were identified for cobble and sand habitats, respectively. A small number of linkages were nearly always present in these valid, reliable networks in sand, while a greater variety of possible network configurations were possible in cobble. Direct links involving invasive rusty crayfish were more important in cobble, while indirect effects involving Lepomis spp. were more important in sand. Importantly, the importance of individual species linkages differed dramatically among cobble and sand sub‐habitats within a single lake, even though species composition was identical. Although the true topology of food webs is difficult to determine, constraining topologies to include spatial resolution that matches observed experimental outcomes may reduce possibilities to a small number of plausible alternatives.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

The evolution of seafloor venting from hydrate-sealed gas reservoirs

Here we use 3D seismic data to show that three rows of seafloor gas mounds can be traced downward to leak points that lie at the hydrate-gas contact within three individual dipping coarse-grained sand bodies in the Terrebonne Basin, Walker Ridge block 313, northern Gulf of Mexico. We predict the overpressure within the sand bodies by assuming that the gas pressure at the vent points equal the least principal stress. We interpret that free gas accumulates at the base of the hydrate stability zone, trapped by the overlying sand which has a high methane hydrate saturation. The free gas accumulates until the gas pressure at the base of the hydrate stability zone reaches the least principal stress in the overlying mudrock, whereupon hydraulic fractures form and fluids are vented to the surface. The warm rising fluids and perhaps localized exothermic formation of hydrate raise the local salinity and temperature. This process progressively shifts the base of the hydrate stability zone to shallower depths and dissociates the hydrate seal within the sand, which creates new leak points and results in the observed migration of the seafloor vents. Within the southwest corner of the Terrebonne Basin, this process has repeated multiple times within the Blue, Orange, and Green sands. Here this study shows how the hydrate stability zone can influence the location of fluid expulsion and in turn be affected by the warm, rising, saline fluids sealed by hydrate.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Permeability and porosity of hydrate-bearing sediments in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Hydrate-bearing sands are being actively explored because they contain the highest concentrations of hydrate and are the most economically recoverable hydrate resource. However, relatively little is known about the mechanisms or timescales of hydrate formation, which are related to methane supply, fluid flux, and host sediment properties such as permeability. We used logging-while-drilling data from locations in the northern Gulf of Mexico to develop an effective medium theory-based model for predicting permeability based on clay-sized sediment fraction. The model considers permeability varying between sand and clay endpoint permeabilities that are defined from laboratory data. We verified the model using permeability measurements on core samples from three boreholes, and then used the model to predict permeability in two wells drilled in Walker Ridge Block 313 during the Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrate Joint Industry Project Leg II expedition in 2009. We found that the cleanest sands (clay-sized fraction <0.05) had intrinsic (hydrate-free) permeability contrasts of 5-6 orders of magnitude with the surrounding clays, which is sufficient to provide focused hydrate formation due to advection of methane from a deep source or diffusion of microbial methane from nearby clay layers. In sands where the clay-sized fraction exceeds 0.05, the permeability reduces significantly and focused flow is less pronounced. In these cases, diffusion of dissolved microbial methane is most likely the preferred mode of methane supply for hydrate formation. In conclusion, our results provide important constraints on methane supply mechanisms in the Walker Ridge area and have global implications for evaluating rates of methane migration and hydrate formation in hydrate-bearing sands.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

Analysis of wear track and debris of stir cast LM13/Zr composite at elevated temperatures

Particulate reinforced aluminum metal matrix composite is in high demand in automobile industry where the operational conditions vary from low to high temperature. In order to understand the wear mode at elevated temperature, this study was planned. For this purpose we developed a metal matrix composite containing aluminum alloy (LM13) as matrix and zircon sand as particulate reinforcement by stir casting process. Different amounts of zircon sand (5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.%) were incorporated in the matrix to study the effect of reinforcement on the wear resistance. Dispersion of zircon sand particles in the matrix was confirmed by using optical microscopy. Sliding wear tests were done to study the durability of the composite with respect to the base alloy. The effects of load and temperature on wear behavior from room temperature to 300 Degree-Sign C were studied to understand the wear mechanism deeply. Surface morphology of the worn surfaces after the wear tests as well as wear debris was observed under scanning electron microscope. Mild to severe wear transition was noticed in tests at high temperature and high load. However, there is interesting change in wear behavior of the composite near the critical temperature of the composite. All the observed behavior has been explained with reference to the observed microstructure of the wear track and debris. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Good interfacial bonding between zircon sand particles and Al matrix was observed. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The effect of temperature on the wear behavior of LM13/Zr composites was studied. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Wear resistance of the composite was improved with addition of zircon sand. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Transition temperature from mild to severe wear also improved in composite. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer SEM analysis of the tracks and debris was done to establish wear mechanism.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Autoimmune regulator is acetylated by transcription coactivator CBP/p300

The Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) is a regulator of transcription in the thymic medulla, where it controls the expression of a large set of peripheral-tissue specific genes. AIRE interacts with the transcriptional coactivator and acetyltransferase CBP and synergistically cooperates with it in transcriptional activation. Here, we aimed to study a possible role of AIRE acetylation in the modulation of its activity. We found that AIRE is acetylated in tissue culture cells and this acetylation is enhanced by overexpression of CBP and the CBP paralog p300. The acetylated lysines were located within nuclear localization signal and SAND domain. AIRE with mutations that mimicked acetylated K243 and K253 in the SAND domain had reduced transactivation activity and accumulated into fewer and larger nuclear bodies, whereas mutations that mimicked the unacetylated lysines were functionally similar to wild-type AIRE. Analogously to CBP, p300 localized to AIRE-containing nuclear bodies, however, the overexpression of p300 did not enhance the transcriptional activation of AIRE-regulated genes. Further studies showed that overexpression of p300 stabilized the AIRE protein. Interestingly, gene expression profiling revealed that AIRE, with mutations mimicking K243/K253 acetylation in SAND, was able to activate gene expression, although the affected genes were different and the activation level was lower from those regulated by wild-type AIRE. Our results suggest that the AIRE acetylation can influence the selection of AIRE activated genes. -- Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer AIRE is acetylated by the acetyltransferases p300 and CBP. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Acetylation occurs between CARD and SAND domains and within the SAND domain. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Acetylation increases the size of AIRE nuclear dots. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Acetylation increases AIRE protein stability. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer AIRE acetylation mimic regulates a different set of AIRE target genes.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Effect of Grain Shape and Relative Humidity on the Nonlinear Elastic Properties of Granular Media

Abstract This study focuses on unraveling the microphysical origins of the nonlinear elastic effects, which are pervasive in the Earth's crust. Here, we examine the influence of grain shape on the elastic nonlinearity of granular assemblies. We find that the elastic nonlinearity of angular sand particles is of the same order of magnitude as that previously measured in spherical glass beads. However, while the elastic nonlinearity of glass beads increases by an order of magnitude with RH that of sand particles is rather RH independent. We attribute this difference to the angularity of sand particles: absorbed water on the spherical grains weakens the junctions making them more nonlinear, while no such effect occurs in sand due to grain interlocking. Additionally, for one of the nonlinear parameters that likely arises from shearing/partial slip of the grain junctions, we observe a sharp amplitude threshold in sand which is not observed in glass beads.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Characterization of an electrically conductive proppant for fracture diagnostics

Fracture diagnosis with electromagnetic (EM) and electrical tools requires proppants with high electrical conductivity and mechanical strength. Lab measurements of the electrical and hydraulic conductivity of proppants are critical for selecting the best candidates. Such measurements greatly benefit simulations, field tests, and the ultimate application of such proppants in the field. To that end, a new lab protocol is developed for measuring the electrical and hydraulic conductivity of proppants. The lab setup, which mainly includes a resistivity core holder and a Hassler sleeve core holder, allows for simulation of realistic pressure and temperature conditions when making measurements. Petroleum coke (PC) is proposed as a candidate proppant because of its widespread availability and low cost. Lab measurements show that the effective electrical conductivity of pure PC in a model fracture is approximately 5000 S/m, under a closure stress greater than [Formula: see text] (4000 psi). When PC is mixed with sand, the effective electrical conductivity of the mixture decreases with an increasing weight percentage of sand. Although sand degrades the contact between PC particles, the electrical conductivity stays reasonably high (approximately 1700 S/m) when 50% sand is added. Hydraulic conductivity measurements show that when a fracture is propped with pure PC, the measured fracture conductivity is greater than [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) (dimensionless fracture conductivity greater than 100 for a shale with [Formula: see text] or 100 nD permeability) under a confining pressure of [Formula: see text] (6000 psi). This means that a fracture propped with PC is infinitely conductive in a typical shale formation. When sand is added, the fracture’s hydraulic conductivity becomes even higher, which clearly shows PC’s ability of sustaining high stresses. The proposed protocol provides a robust and effective method that can be generalized for lab testing for other candidate proppants. The data presented clearly show that PC has the potential for field-scale applications in EM hydraulic fracture diagnostics.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗
DOE OSTI2023

Supporting data for "Frozen flume experiments indicate rapid permafrost riverbank erosion depends on bank roughness"

This dataset contains supporting files detailing five frozen flume experiments conducted at the Caltech Earth Surface Dynamics Laboratory to investigate rates of ablation-limited permafrost riverbank erosion under controlled conditions. Water flowed past a bank of saturated, frozen sand and ice and gradually eroded the bank by thawing pore ice and immediately entraining sand and washing it downstream. Experiments were scaled for flow hydraulics and heat transfer allowing comparisons between our results and natural permafrost riverbanks. For each experiment, we measured the initial and final sand bank topography using a Keyence laser scanner, water surface slope at 3-min intervals throughout the experiment using a Massa sonar scanner, bank erosion using 10-sec overhead timelapse imagery taken by an overhead camera, water and bank temperature using thermistors frozen into the sand bank and sampling at 2 Hz, and water discharge using an in-line flow meter. We include calibration data for the carriage (engineered by the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory) used to make sonar and laser topography measurements. We also include calibration data for temperature sensors, water discharge measurements, and images of a regular grid placed in the flume to align overhead camera images with the carriage datum. Grain size analysis for the channel bed (gravel) was produced using a pebble count and bank sand was measured using a Camsizer X2. In addition to the five frozen experiments, we include sonar scans of water surface slope and Keyence scans of bed and bank topography for calibration experiments ran with an immobile gravel bank and bed.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

Groundwater monitoring program plan and conceptual site model for the Al-Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Center in Iraq.

The Radiation Protection Center of the Iraqi Ministry of Environment is developing a groundwater monitoring program (GMP) for the Al-Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Center located near Baghdad, Iraq. The Al-Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Center was established in about 1960 and is currently being cleaned-up and decommissioned by Iraq s Ministry of Science and Technology. This Groundwater Monitoring Program Plan (GMPP) and Conceptual Site Model (CSM) support the Radiation Protection Center by providing: A CSM describing the hydrogeologic regime and contaminant issues, recommendations for future groundwater characterization activities, and descriptions of the organizational elements of a groundwater monitoring program. The Conceptual Site Model identifies a number of potential sources of groundwater contamination at Al-Tuwaitha. The model also identifies two water-bearing zones (a shallow groundwater zone and a regional aquifer). The depth to the shallow groundwater zone varies from approximately 7 to 10 meters (m) across the facility. The shallow groundwater zone is composed of a layer of silty sand and fine sand that does not extend laterally across the entire facility. An approximately 4-m thick layer of clay underlies the shallow groundwater zone. The depth to the regional aquifer varies from approximately 14 to 17 m across the facility. The regional aquifer is composed of interfingering layers of silty sand, fine-grained sand, and medium-grained sand. Based on the limited analyses described in this report, there is no severe contamination of the groundwater at Al-Tuwaitha with radioactive constituents. However, significant data gaps exist and this plan recommends the installation of additional groundwater monitoring wells and conducting additional types of radiological and chemical analyses.

Copland, John Robin↗
DOE OSTI2015

The effects of Fe-oxidizing microorganisms on post-biostimulation permeability reduction and oxidative processes at the Rifle IFRC site

Fe oxidation and biomineral formation is important in aquifers because the highly-reactive oxides can control the mobility of nutrients (e.g. phosphate, C) and metals (e.g. arsenic, uranium). Mineral formation also has the potential to affect hydrology, depending on the volume and distribution in pore spaces. In this exploratory study, we sought to understand how microbial Fe-oxidizers and their biominerals affect, and are affected by groundwater flow. As part of work at the Rifle aquifer in Colorado, we initially hypothesized that Fe-oxidizers were contributing to aquifer clogging problems associated with enhanced bioremediation. To demonstrate the presence of Fe-oxidizers in the Rifle aquifer, we enriched FeOM from groundwater samples, and isolated two novel chemolithotrophic, microaerophilic Fe-oxidizing Betaproteobacteria, Hydrogenophaga sp. P101 and Curvibacter sp. CD03. To image cells and biominerals in the context of pores, we developed a “micro-aquifer,” a sand-filled flow-through culture chamber that allows for imaging of sediment pore space with multiphoton confocal microscopy. Fe oxide biofilms formed on sand grains, demonstrating that FeOM produce Fe oxide sand coatings. Fe coatings are common on aquifer sands, and tend to sequester contaminants; however, it has never previously been shown that microbes are responsible for their formation. In contrast to our original hypothesis, the biominerals did not clog the mini-aquifer. Instead, Fe biofilm distribution was dynamic: they grew as coatings, then periodically sloughed off sand grains, with some flocs later caught in pore throats. This has implications for physical hydrology, including pore scale architecture, and element transport. The sloughing of coatings likely prevents the biominerals from clogging wells and aquifers, at least initially. Although attached biomineral coatings sequester Fe-associated elements (e.g. P, As, C, U), when biominerals detach, these elements are transported as particles through the aquifer. Our work shows that microbial mineralization impacts in aquifers are dynamic, and that the fate and transport of biomineral-associated elements depend not only on geochemical conditions, but also physical pore-scale processes.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗