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At least 793 records · Page 44

Aircraft Measurements from a U.S. Western Wildfire Demonstrating Day and Night Differences in the Chemical Composition and Optical Properties of Biomass Burning Aerosols and Their Atmospheric Evolution

The composition and transformations of biomass burning aerosols (BBA) have been measured onboard the NOAA Twin Otter research aircraft during the Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality field study. Here, we analyze real-time aerosol mass spectrometry measurements across three flights during the afternoon, late afternoon, and night of August 28, 2019, for one midsized wildfire. Analysis of several metrics showed that the aerosol composition and optical properties varied depending on the burning conditions at the fire zone and the time of day the BBA was emitted, with substantial variations in the available sunlight. The total aerosol mass loadings were dominated by organic components with a much smaller contribution from inorganic species. A gradual buildup of organic material was observed during the afternoon as the plume aged, indicating the condensation of photochemically formed low-volatility oxidized organic compounds. Highly hygroscopic ammonium nitrate was the main inorganic component, suggesting potential water content in BBA particles and the likelihood of their aqueous-phase reactivity. Depletions of particle-phase NO 3 – and Cl – relative to carbon monoxide were observed in the late afternoon and nighttime plumes, respectively, aligning with known gas-particle partitioning thermodynamics and the heterogeneous chemistry of dissolved nitrate and chloride. The wavelength-dependent light absorption by aerosol species was higher for the plume sampled at night and showed no significant changes with plume age, despite observed trends in composition and mass downwind. These differences in particle composition and optical properties demonstrate that the processes involved in BBA aging are not uniform for the same wildfire over the course of the day and depend highly on when the BBA was emitted, as well as the burning phase at the emissions source.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones

Human use of marinescapes is rapidly increasing, especially in populated nearshore regions where recreational vessel traffic can be dense. Marine animals can have a physiological response to such elevated human activity that can impact individual health and population dynamics. To understand the physiological impacts of vessel traffic on baleen whales, we investigated the adrenal stress response of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) to variable vessel traffic levels through an assessment of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGC) concentrations. This analysis was conducted at the individual level, at multiple temporal scales (1–7 days), and accounted for factors that may confound fGC: sex, age, nutritional status, and reproductive state. Data were collected in Oregon, USA, from June to October of 2016–2018. Results indicate significant correlations between fGC, month, and vessel counts from the day prior to fecal sample collection. Furthermore, we show a significant positive correlation between vessel traffic and underwater ambient noise levels, which indicates that noise produced by vessel traffic may be a causal factor for the increased fGC. This study increases knowledge of gray whale physiological response to vessel traffic and may inform management decisions regarding regulations of vessel traffic activities and thresholds near critical whale habitats.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

K-Ar analysis of Apollo 11 fines 10084

Regolithic history of Mare Tranquillitatus is studied with rare gas and mass spectrometric techniques. Grain size-ordinate intercept analysis is applied to bulk soil, ilmenite, and plagioclase separates obtained from 1 mm or smaller fines sample 10084,48. K-Ar ages for ilmenite, plagioclase, and total soil separates are determined to be 2.80, 3.38 and 4.00 AE, respectively. It appears that 10084,48 may consist primarily of two components. In this view, the first is locally derived, forms 65-75% of the present day regolith and may show that a local degassing event(s) occurred between 2.8 and 3.5 AE ago. The second component is similar to material from the lunar highlands. It may be local or foreign in origin and contributes the remaining 25-35% of the soil. This component exhibits an age of 4.00 AE and is either slightly older than, or contemporaneous with, the oldest of the returned Apollo 11 basalts. Within the limits of experimental error, the trapped Ar-38/Ar-36 ratio is constant at 0.1890 for all the soil components examined.

Basford, J. R.↗

Lunar transient phenomena /LTP/ - Manifestations, site distribution, correlations and possible causes

More than 1400 observations of lunar transient phenomena (LTP), encompassing brightenings, darkenings, and gaseous, reddish, and bluish events, are analyzed in an attempt to determine the possible causes of LTP. Hypotheses considered include effects of earth tides on the moon, low-angle illumination, thermal luminescence, UV heating, solar-particle acceleration by the magnetopause of earth's magnetotail, terrestrial magnetotail bow-shock-front turbulence, cathode luminescence due to magnetotail effects, and solar-flare particle bombardment. Analysis are performed in terms of histograms of the number of observations vs. phase of anomalistic period and of number vs. moon's age, percentage of numbers of observed phenomena and percentage of expected numbers as well as their ratios, and albedo behavior over a lunation period of chosen permanent points in ten specific features. The results indicate that different phenomena may have different causes, strong tidal effects are dubious, correlations with sunrise are most frequent, and the distribution of all LTP sites is distinct from that of deep- and shallow-focus moonquake epicenters.

Cameron, W. S.↗

Recent fracture mechanics results from NASA research related to the aging commercial transport fleet

NASA is conducting the Airframe Structural Integrity Program in support of the aging commercial transport fleet. This interdisciplinary program is being worked in cooperation with the U.S. airframe manufacturers, airline operators, and the FAA. Advanced analysis methods are under development to predict the fatigue crack growth in complex built-up shell structures. Innovative nondestructive examination technologies are also under development to provide large area inspection capability to detect corrosion, disbonds, and fatigue cracks. Recent fracture mechanics results applicable to predicting the growth of cracks initiating at the rivets of fuselage splice joints are reviewed.

Harris, Charles E.↗

Proceedings of the Fourth International Mobile Satellite Conference (IMSC 1995)

The theme to the 1995 International Mobile Satellite Conference was 'Mobile Satcom Comes of Age'. The sessions included Modulation, Coding, and Multiple Access; Hybrid Networks - 1; Spacecraft Technology; propagation; Applications and Experiments - 1; Advanced System Concepts and Analysis; Aeronautical Mobile Satellite Communications; Mobile Terminal Antennas; Mobile Terminal Technology; Current and Planned Systems; Direct Broadcast Satellite; The Use of CDMA for LEO and ICO Mobile Satellite Systems; Hybrid Networks - 2; and Applications and Experiments - 2.

J R Rigley↗

JANNAF 28th Propellant Development and Characterization Subcommittee and 17th Safety and Environmental Protection Subcommittee Joint Meeting

This volume contains 37 unclassified/unlimited-distribution technical papers that were presented at the JANNAF 28th Propellant Development & Characterization Subcommittee (PDCS) and 17th Safety & Environmental Protection Subcommittee (S&EPS) Joint Meeting, held 26-30 April 1999 at the Town & Country Hotel and the Naval Submarine Base, San Diego, California. Volume II contains 29 unclassified/limited-distribution papers that were presented at the 28th PDCS and 17th S&EPS Joint Meeting. Volume III contains a classified paper that was presented at the 28th PDCS Meeting on 27 April 1999. Topics covered in PDCS sessions include: solid propellant rheology; solid propellant surveillance and aging; propellant process engineering; new solid propellant ingredients and formulation development; reduced toxicity liquid propellants; characterization of hypergolic propellants; and solid propellant chemical analysis methods. Topics covered in S&EPS sessions include: space launch range safety; liquid propellant hazards; vapor detection methods for toxic propellant vapors and other hazardous gases; toxicity of propellants, ingredients, and propellant combustion products; personal protective equipment for toxic liquid propellants; and demilitarization/treatment of energetic material wastes.

Cocchiaro, James E.↗

High Resolution Three-Color Imaging of Spirals With Nuclear Star-Forming Rings

Nuclear rings in barred spirals offer an opportunity to study starburst properties in order to develop an understanding of the evolution of star formation in galaxies. To achieve this understanding, a large scale imaging survey in the H alpha line and in the B and I broad bands has been performed. Analysis of all galaxies that reveal nuclear rings in the H alpha line will be compared to numerical models so that the relative ages between the starforming clumps can be estimated. The luminosity function of the starforming regions will be related to the measured properties of the associated star-cluster and the required ionizing flux. Also B - I color index images will be performed to indicate the location of the dust lanes.

Mazzuca, Lisa↗

Deformation and Failure of a Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotube Yarn Composite

Forests of multi-walled carbon nanotubes can be twisted and manipulated into continuous fibers or yarns that exhibit many of the characteristics of traditional textiles. Macro-scale analysis and test may provide strength and stiffness predictions for a composite composed of a polymer matrix and low-volume fraction yarns. However, due to the nano-scale of the carbon nanotubes, it is desirable to use atomistic calculations to consider tube-tube interactions and the influence of simulated twist on the effective friction coefficient. This paper reports laboratory test data on the mechanical response of a multi-walled, carbon nanotube yarn/polymer composite from both dynamic and quasi-static tensile tests. Macroscale and nano-scale analysis methods are explored and used to define some of the key structure-property relationships. The measured influence of hot-wet aging on the tensile properties is also reported.

Gates, Thomas S.↗

Elevated temperature mechanical properties of Inconel 617 surface oxide using nanoindentation

Inconel 617 is a principal candidate material for helium gas cooled very-high-temperature reactors with outlet temperatures of 700–950 °C. Recent findings showed that this alloy develops unique surface oxide layers especially at high temperature (HT) helium environment with distinctive wear, friction and contact properties. This study investigates the elevated temperature mechanical properties of Inconel 617 top surface layers aged in HT helium environment. Nanoindentation technique is used to obtain load-displacement graphs of the alloy top surface oxide in temperatures ranging from 25 °C up to 600 °C. In addition, using finite element analysis along with an iterative regression technique, a semi-numerical method is developed to further measure and quantify the material parameters and, in particular, time-independent and creep characteristics of the oxide. Although Young's modulus of the oxide is found to be relatively close to the bulk for the tested temperatures, the yield strength and hardness, in comparison to the bulk material, increase significantly as the material is oxidized after aging. The oxide exhibits significant softening as the temperature increases to 600 °C. Unlike the bulk material, diffusion through the grains is found to be the dominant creep mechanism for the oxide. Considerable difference between the mechanical properties of the oxide and the bulk material shows the need for accurate measurements of near surface mechanical properties, if reliable predictive contact and tribological models are sought at elevated temperatures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Spatiotemporal Associations Between Social Vulnerability, Environmental Measurements, and COVID-19 in the Conterminous United States

This study summarizes the results from fitting a Bayesian hierarchical spatiotemporal model to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and deaths at the county level in the United States for the year 2020. Two models were created, one for cases and one for deaths, utilizing a scaled Besag, York, Mollié model with Type I spatial-temporal interaction. Each model accounts for 16 social vulnerability and 7 environmental variables as fixed effects. The spatial pattern between COVID-19 cases and deaths is significantly different in many ways. The spatiotemporal trend of the pandemic in the United States illustrates a shift out of many of the major metropolitan areas into the United States Southeast and Southwest during the summer months and into the upper Midwest beginning in autumn. Analysis of the major social vulnerability predictors of COVID-19 infection and death found that counties with higher percentages of those not having a high school diploma, having non-White status and being Age 65 and over to be significant. Among the environmental variables, above ground level temperature had the strongest effect on relative risk to both cases and deaths. Hot and cold spots, areas of statistically significant high and low COVID-19 cases and deaths respectively, derived from the convolutional spatial effect show that areas with a high probability of above average relative risk have significantly higher Social Vulnerability Index composite scores. The same analysis utilizing the spatiotemporal interaction term exemplifies a more complex relationship between social vulnerability, environmental measurements, COVID-19 cases, and COVID-19 deaths.

spatial epidemiology↗

Fracture surface analysis in composite and titanium bonding: Part 1: Titanium bonding

Fractured lap shear Ti 6-4 adherends bonded with polyphenyquinoxaline (PPQ) and polysulfone were analyzed. The effects of adherend pretreatment, stress level, thermal aging, anodizing voltage, and modified adhesive of Ti 6-4 adherend bonded with PPQ on lap shear strength were studied. The effect of adherend pretreatment on lap shear strength was investigated for PS samples. Results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) used to study the surface topography and surface composition are also discussed.

Sanderson, K. A.↗

Measurement of G-phase volume fraction and number density in duplex stainless steels using transmission electron microscopy

Duplex stainless steels (DSS) have a high toughness and strength due the presence of both austenitic and ferritic phases. These alloys have had limited use in power production applications due to thermal embrittlement caused by spinodal decomposition and development of G-phase precipitates in the ferrite. Lean grade DSS alloys (e.g., 2101, 2003) may offer improved thermal stability due to the reduction of Cr- and Ni-equivalent elements when compared to standard grade compositions (e.g., 2205, 2209). The abundance of the G-phase was measured in five duplex stainless steels, three wrought alloys (2101, 2003, 2205) and their matching filler metals (2101-w, 2209-w), after aging at 427 °C for 1000 h and 10,000 h. The G-phase volume fraction, number density, size, and precipitate spacing were found using quantitative analysis of transmission electron microscopy dark field images and the composition of G-phase precipitates on other clusters were characterized with atom probe tomography (APT). In the welded alloys, the G-phase was found to develop rapidly, relative to the wrought material. A positive correlation was found between the nickel equivalent composition of the alloy and the G-phase volume fraction. The alloys 2205, 2209, and 2101-w, which are higher in Cr and Ni, all showed significant G-phase precipitation, further strengthening the hypothesis that lean grade DSS alloys are more thermally stable against precipitation in the ferrite. Electron diffraction showed a secondary phase present in the 2101 wrought alloy at 10,000 h, but it was not crystallographically consistent with the G-phase; APT showed the presence of nanoclusters rich in both nickel and copper for this alloy. In conclusion, no secondary phases or clusters were found in 2003 after 10,000 h of aging, so it may be a candidate alloy for applications that require long-life times at high operating temperatures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A Proposal to Investigate Outstanding Problems in Astronomy

Holland Ford and Garth Illingworth organized, managed, and coordinated a very successful year of work by the ACS science team. The team is working well together on analysis of ACS observations and supporting data from other satellites and from ground-based observations. Many important papers have been published or submitted, spanning science from observations of newly discovered debris disks around young stars, to the characterization of galaxy clusters at half the age of the Universe, to observations of proto-clusters with ages of approx. 2 billion years, to searches for galaxies forming within the first billion years after the birth of the universe. One important milestone during the year was the annual team meeting during September. The meeting, organized and led by Holland and Garth, produced a plan for analysis of ACS observations during the coming year, and a plan for obtaining supporting observations with large ground-based telescopes.

Ford, Holland↗

A comparison of building system parameters between affordable and market-rate housing in New York City

Low-income households in the United States experience higher than average energy burdens (defined as the proportion of household income spent on energy utilities), and many of these households struggle to simultaneously pay for rent, energy, and basic household necessities. The analysis presented here in this study examines whether the underlying characteristics of buildings and their energy systems could contribute to this disparity for affordable housing residents in New York City. It combines an energy audit dataset of 7,328 multifamily buildings with a database of properties receiving local, state, or federal housing subsidies. The results of this analysis indicate that the building-level installed equipment in large (greater than 50,000 square feet) affordable housing buildings in New York City is more efficient than that in market-rate buildings, but this trend largely disappears when considering overall building characteristics, such as location, size, or age. Significant differences in the types of systems installed in affordable and market-rate housing are also observed, as well as the types of energy efficiency recommendations made by energy auditors. However, these latter data were not normalized by building system characteristics, as that analysis is much more difficult to interpret for categorical data such as heating system type. These findings indicate that retrofit policies and building performance standards focused on affordable housing will likely need to account for underlying differences in building characteristics between affordable and market-rate housing to achieve intended impacts.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

An Analysis of the Rapidly Rotating Bp star HD 133880

HD 133880 is a rapidly rotating chemically peculiar B-type (Bp) star (nu sin i approx = 103km/s) and is host to one of the strongest magnetic fields of any Ap/Bp star. A member of the Upper Centaurus Lupus association, it is a star with a well-determined age of 16 Myr. 12 new spectra, four of which are polarimetric, obtained from the FEROS, ESPaDOnS and HARPS instruments, provide sufficient material from which to re-evaluate the magnetic field and obtain a first approximation to the atmospheric abundance distributions of He, O, Mg, Si, Ti. Cr, Fe, Ni, Pr and Nd. An abundance analysis was carried out using ZEEMAN, a program which synthesizes spectral line profiles for stars with permeating magnetic fields. The magnetic field structure was characterized by a colinear multipole expansion from the observed variations of the longitudinal and surface fields with rotational phase. Both magnetic hemispheres are clearly visible during the stellar rotation, and thus a three-ring abundance distribution model encompassing both magnetic poles and magnetic equator with equal spans in colatitude was adopted. Using the new magnetic field measurements and optical photometry together with previously published data, we refine the period of HD 133880 to P = 0.877 476 +/- 0.000009 d. Our simple axisymmetric magnetic field model is based on a predominantly quadrupolar component that roughly describes the field variations. Using spectrum synthesis, we derived mean abundances for O, Mg, Si, Ti, Cr, Fe and Pr. All elements; except Mg, are overabundant compared to the Son. Mg appears to be approximately uniform over the stellar surface, while all other elements are more abundant in the negative magnetic hemisphere than in the positive magnetic hemisphere. In contrast to most Ap/Bp stars which show an underabundance in 0, in HD 133880 this element is clearly overabundant compared to the solar abundance ratio. In studying the Ha and Paschen lines in the optical spectra, we could not unambiguously detect information about the magnetosphere of HD 133880. However, radio emission data at both 3 and 6 cm suggest that the magnetospheric plasma is held in rigid rotation with the star by the magnetic field and further supported against collapse by the rapid rotation. Subtle differences in the shapes of the optically thick radio light curves at 3 and 6 cm suggest that the large-scale magnetic field is not fully axisymmetric at large distances from the star.

Bailey, J. D.↗

Characterization and Uncertainty Analysis of a Reference Pressure Measurement System for Wind Tunnels

This paper presents the calibration results and uncertainty analysis of a high-precision reference pressure measurement system currently used in wind tunnels at the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). Sensors, calibration standards, and measurement instruments are subject to errors due to aging, drift with time, environment effects, transportation, the mathematical model, the calibration experimental design, and other factors. Errors occur at every link in the chain of measurements and data reduction from the sensor to the final computed results. At each link of the chain, bias and precision uncertainties must be separately estimated for facility use, and are combined to produce overall calibration and prediction confidence intervals for the instrument, typically at a 95% confidence level. The uncertainty analysis and calibration experimental designs used herein, based on techniques developed at LaRC, employ replicated experimental designs for efficiency, separate estimation of bias and precision uncertainties, and detection of significant parameter drift with time. Final results, including calibration confidence intervals and prediction intervals given as functions of the applied inputs, not as a fixed percentage of the full-scale value are presented. System uncertainties are propagated beginning with the initial reference pressure standard, to the calibrated instrument as a working standard in the facility. Among the several parameters that can affect the overall results are operating temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, and facility vibration. Effects of factors such as initial zeroing and temperature are investigated. The effects of the identified parameters on system performance and accuracy are discussed.

Amer, Tahani↗

Processes of crustal formation and evolution on Venus - An analysis of topography, hypsometry, and crustal thickness variations

Processes of crustal formation and evolution are examined, and the role of crustal thickness variation in the production of topography is assessed. Evidence for crustal composition, age, average crustal thickness, and total crustal volume on Venus is reviewed. It is shown that the present crustal volume of Venus is comparable to that of the present earth. The geologic evidence for variations in crustal thickness on Venus are outlined, and specific examples of regions of apparent crustal thickening are assessed. These observations are compared to a simple model of Airy isostasy using global Venus topography and the end-member hypothesis (that the topography of Venus could result solely from crustal thickness variations). Models to account for these observations are proposed.

Head, James W.↗