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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Sealing of fractures in a representative CO 2 reservoir caprock by migration of fines

The impact of fines migration on fracture transmissivity reduction was investigated by injecting a brine solution containing a suspension of 0.1 wt. % kaolinite particles with a mean particle size distribution of 9.6 µm through fractured shale core samples. The fractures had apertures estimated to be approximately 100 µm. A mass balance approach was used to determine the quantity of kaolinite that was deposited within the fractures (influent – effluent = amount deposited in fractures). Large fractions (44 to 90%) of the suspended kaolinite pumped through the fractures were deposited within the fractures. Based on fracture volumes estimated with X-ray computed tomography, it was determined that approximately 10 to 17% of the fracture volume was filled with kaolinite at the point when flow was completely restricted. These results indicate that 100 µm fractures in CO 2 reservoir caprocks could be sealed within hours if the brines passing through the fractures contain a proportional volume of particulates to the tests performed in this laboratory study.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗
NASA NTRS1977

The mass of Phobos from Viking flybys

The mass of the Martian satellite Phobos has been determined by processing radiometric tracking data obtained from the Viking-1 spacecraft during a series of 14 near encounters which occurred in February 1977. Distances of closest approach ranged from 89 to 213 km from the center of mass of the satellite. Our best estimate for the gravitational constant of Phobos is (6.6 plus or minus 0.8) x 10 to the -4th cu km/sq sec. The corresponding density of Phobos based on a volume estimate of 4800 plus or minus 960 cu km from Mariner 9 imaging is 2.0 plus or minus 0.5 gm/cu cm.

Christensen, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Investigation of Adaptive-threshold Approaches for Determining Area-Time Integrals from Satellite Infrared Data to Estimate Convective Rain Volumes

The principal goal of this project is to establish relationships that would allow application of area-time integral (ATI) calculations based upon satellite data to estimate rainfall volumes. The research is being carried out as a collaborative effort between the two participating organizations, with the satellite data analysis to determine values for the ATIs being done primarily by the STC-METSAT scientists and the associated radar data analysis to determine the 'ground-truth' rainfall estimates being done primarily at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T). Synthesis of the two separate kinds of data and investigation of the resulting rainfall-versus-ATI relationships is then carried out jointly. The research has been pursued using two different approaches, which for convenience can be designated as the 'fixed-threshold approach' and the 'adaptive-threshold approach'. In the former, an attempt is made to determine a single temperature threshold in the satellite infrared data that would yield ATI values for identifiable cloud clusters which are closely related to the corresponding rainfall amounts as determined by radar. Work on the second, or 'adaptive-threshold', approach for determining the satellite ATI values has explored two avenues: (1) attempt involved choosing IR thresholds to match the satellite ATI values with ones separately calculated from the radar data on a case basis; and (2) an attempt involved a striaghtforward screening analysis to determine the (fixed) offset that would lead to the strongest correlation and lowest standard error of estimate in the relationship between the satellite ATI values and the corresponding rainfall volumes.

Smith, Paul L.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Ordovician-Cambrian Units: Hierarchical Evaluation of Geologic Carbon Storage Resource Estimates

The Indiana Geological and Water Survey (IGWS) led subtask 1.1 to assess the regional distribution and estimate the storage capacity of Ordovician-Cambrian stratigraphic units located within the partnership region. A comprehensive data set of wireline logs and petrophysical information was used to generate these interpretations. These data include core analysis for porosity and permeability, mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), and existing well data including location and stratigraphic information. This report includes storage resource estimates (SREs) for three potential storage reservoirs(limestone and dolostone from the Upper Ordovician Trenton Limestone/Black River Group and equivalent units, the Middle Ordovician St. Peter Sandstone, and primary target reservoir rocks of the Lower Ordovician and Upper Cambrian Knox Supergroup and equivalent units) calculated using six methodologies: (1) a fixed value of porosity of 10 percent in all units evaluated; (2) a unique average porosity (per well) from wireline-derived porosity (neutron, sonic, and/or density porosity for each unit); (3) porosity values from core analysis; (4) a depth-dependent porosity model (Knox Supergroup only); (5) porosity based on a model based on petrophysical facies; and (6) SREs using National Energy Technology Laboratory’s CO2 Storage prospeCtive Resource Estimation Excel aNalysis (CO2-SCREEN beta V2). All methods used the same values for thickness for each unit. However, the areal extent of each assessment was limited by the data available for each method. Estimated volumes were calculated in 1-by-1 kilometer grid cells and summarized as county and total stratigraphic unit volumes. The resultant SREs mass are displayed using boxplots, which allow for comparing data statistics (mean values and variability) between methods. Differences observed in SRE results from the six methods are mainly attributable to differences in the data and conceptual models used to interpret or estimate porosity in each method. Based on this systematic variability between methods, it is inferred that methods 1, 4, and 6 are best used for regional-scale reconnaissance estimates of storage capacity while methods 2, 3, and 5 are more appropriate for local scales where more data is required. All estimates are data-density dependent and different methods require different amounts of data for reasonable assessments. ArcMap 10.5.1 software was used to portray SREs to help visualize spatial variance of estimates for each methodology, and more importantly, to highlight those areas having the greatest total storage potential estimates.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2023

The age and potential causes of the giant Green Lake Landslide, Fiordland, New Zealand

Abstract Landslide deposits preserved in the geological record afford opportunities to better inform hillslope and seismic hazard and risk models, particularly in regions where observational records are short. In the Southern Alps of New Zealand, small coseismic landslides are frequent, but the geological record preserves several instances of more substantial (> 1 km 3 ) but infrequent mass failures. With an estimated volume of 27 km 3 , the giant Green Lake Landslide represents one of the largest subaerial landslides on Earth. Previous work has suggested this deep-seated mass movement was most likely triggered by high-intensity seismic shaking, but that local structural weakness and/or glacial debuttressing may help to explain the anomalously large failure volume. Resolving the potential contribution of the latter is important given predictions concerning alpine deglaciation in the coming decades to centuries. Key to resolution are secure chronologies of landslide emplacement and past glacier change. Here we present in situ cosmogenic 10 Be exposure ages from the Green Lake Landslide that suggest an emplacement age of 15.5 ± 0.7 ka. Recent work shows that glacial retreat in the region was underway by 19 ka, indicating that the Green Lake Landslide was emplaced 3–4 kyr after the onset of glacier retreat. Given the geometry of the former confining valley glacier, we expect that the deglaciation-landslide age gap is closer to the upper end of this estimate. If correct, this conclusion places greater weight on the roles of local geological structure and/or a great earthquake as factors contributing to the exceptionally large volume of this event.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1992

Large-volume lava flow fields on Venus: Dimensions and morphology

Of all the volcanic features identified in Magellan images, by far the most extensive and really important are lava flow fields. Neglecting the widespread lava plains themselves, practically every C1-MIDR produced so far contains several or many discrete lava flow fields. These range in size from a few hundred square kilometers in area (like those fields associated with small volcanic edifices for example), through all sizes up to several hundred thousand square kilometers in extent (such as many rift related fields). Most of these are related to small, intermediate, or large-scale volcanic edifices, coronae, arachnoids, calderas, fields of small shields, and rift zones. An initial survey of 40 well-defined flow fields with areas greater than 50,000 sq km (an arbitrary bound) has been undertaken. Following Columbia River Basalt terminology, these have been termed great flow fields. This represents a working set of flow fields, chosen to cover a variety of morphologies, sources, locations, and characteristics. The initial survey is intended to highlight representative flow fields, and does not represent a statistical set. For each flow field, the location, total area, flow length, flow widths, estimated flow thicknesses, estimated volumes, topographic slope, altitude, backscatter, emissivity, morphology, and source has been noted. The flow fields range from about 50,000 sq km to over 2,500,000 sq km in area, with most being several hundred square kilometers in extent. Flow lengths measure between 140 and 2840 km, with the majority of flows being several hundred kilometers long. A few basic morphological types have been identified.

Lancaster, M. G.↗
DOE OSTI2024

A framework to enhance disaster debris estimation with AI and aerial photogrammetry

This study addresses the critical need to enhance disaster preparedness and response, focusing on hurricane impact assessment and debris estimation. Accurate assessments in this context are critical for post-event search-and-rescue (SAR) operations and resource distribution. Recent computing advancements are revealing the potential of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in collecting data and assisting with post-hurricane reconnaissance. However, the use of AI and UAV photogrammetry for accurate disaster impact analysis remains underexplored. To this end, this study proposes a damage and debris analysis framework harnessing reality capture through aerial imagery and photogrammetry. Within this framework, a region-based neural network is leveraged to detect debris locations in aerial imagery with favorable performance. In a testbed within the Beaumont-Port Arthur region, in Southeast Texas, this study performs 3D reality captures of the built environment. Since the accuracy of the 3D reality capture is of importance in research areas associated with time-sensitive disaster response, we further investigate the optimal 2D aerial imagery overlap ratio required to generate a sufficiently accurate 3D model for disaster impact analysis and debris volume estimation. Results indicate that, in the case of aerial imagery for infrastructure systems, a minimum of 60 % overlap is recommended for damage assessment and debris analysis. In contrast, for flat green areas, a minimum of 50 % overlap is adequate. Overall, for disaster response applications, our study reveals that an overlap ratio between 60 % and 70 % is optimal for achieving a balance between time efficiency and data quality in aerial data collection. Furthermore, these quantitative recommendations are crucial for enabling efficient disaster response efforts. Additionally, our study outcomes will improve disaster impact analysis and facilitating timely and effective response strategies.

Artificial intelligence↗
NASA NTRS1992

The Edge supersonic transport

As intercontinental business and tourism volumes continue their rapid expansion, the need to reduce travel times becomes increasingly acute. The Edge Supersonic Transport Aircraft is designed to meet this demand by the year 2015. With a maximum range of 5750 nm, a payload of 294 passengers and a cruising speed of M = 2.4, The Edge will cut current international flight durations in half, while maintaining competitive first class, business class, and economy class comfort levels. Moreover, this transport will render a minimal impact upon the environment, and will meet all Federal Aviation Administration Part 36, Stage III noise requirements. The cornerstone of The Edge's superior flight performance is its aerodynamically efficient, dual-configuration design incorporating variable-geometry wingtips. This arrangement combines the benefits of a high aspect ratio wing at takeoff and low cruising speeds with the high performance of an arrow-wing in supersonic cruise. And while the structural weight concerns relating to swinging wingtips are substantial, The Edge looks to ever-advancing material technologies to further increase its viability. Heeding well the lessons of the past, The Edge design holds economic feasibility as its primary focus. Therefore, in addition to its inherently superior aerodynamic performance, The Edge uses a lightweight, largely windowless configuration, relying on a synthetic vision system for outside viewing by both pilot and passengers. Additionally, a fly-by-light flight control system is incorporated to address aircraft supersonic cruise instability. The Edge will be produced at an estimated volume of 400 aircraft and will be offered to airlines in 2015 at $167 million per transport (1992 dollars).

Agosta, Roxana↗
DOE OSTI2026

Toward a standardization of cryostructure and cryogenic soil structure terminology for the field description of permafrost‐affected soils

This paper establishes standardized terminology and field documentation protocols for cryostructures and cryogenic soil structures in permafrost‐affected soils and provides brief guidance on descriptions of ground ice morphology and ice volume estimates. We consolidate permafrost terminology from Russian and North American literature, clarify long‐standing ambiguities, and provide explicit guidelines that align with US Department of Agriculture‐Natural Resources Conservation Service soil description standards. Our scheme makes critical distinctions between cryostructure, the distribution of ice within soil, and cryogenic soil structure, the morphological structure of soil resulting from ice formation. The scheme organizes cryostructures into three main categories: non‐segregated ice, visible segregated ice, and ice matrices. We introduce standardized codes and parameters for field descriptions of ice and soil that enable machine‐readable data collection compatible with existing soil information systems. This standardization will significantly enhance the integration of field observations into landscape‐scale assessments of permafrost stability, infrastructure vulnerability, and ecosystem response to permafrost thaw, addressing an urgent need for quantitative data to inform modeling and decision‐making in rapidly changing Arctic and subarctic environments.

Andersen, Megan L. [University of Minnesota, Saint↗
DOE OSTI2018

Modeling of three-dimensional surfaces using high-level canonical piecewise-linear functions in cylindrical coordinates

In this paper, the potential application of the high-level canonical piecewise-linear model in the field of three-dimensional visualization is proposed. This idea emerges from the premise that a three-dimensional surface can be modeled by a continuous two-dimensional function. In this regard, the main contribution consists in providing a methodology for the construction of such function. For this purpose, the well-known algorithm used in the high-level canonical piecewise-linear model has been modified to achieve functions with greater graphing capability. One of the most notorious changes made with respect to the traditional methodology is the use of a new scheme of function domain partition. Contrary to the simplicial partitioning, in our proposal, an equally distributed angular partitioning is considered. With this, the resulting approximate function is expressed in cylindrical coordinates which overcome the typical limitation of graphs in Cartesian coordinates of only representing single-valued surfaces. Another remarkable change can be found in the range of evaluation of the function. Instead of using an open interval, in our approach, a closed interval from 0 to 2π is adopted. To support this proposal, illustrative case studies are reported. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of this type of representation model not only in visual perception of three-dimensional surfaces, but also in more complex tasks like volume estimation.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Consequences of the failure of equipartition for the p – V behavior of liquid water and the hydration free energy components of a small protein

Earlier we showed that in the molecular dynamics simulation of a rigid model of water it is necessary to use an integration time-step δ t ≤ 0.5 fs to ensure equipartition between translational and rotational modes. Here we extend that study in the NVT ensemble to NpT conditions and to an aqueous protein. We study neat liquid water with the rigid, SPC/E model and the protein BBA (PDB ID: 1FME) solvated in the rigid, TIP3P model. We examine integration time-steps ranging from 0.5 fs to 4.0 fs for various thermostat plus barostat combinations. We find that a small δ t is necessary to ensure consistent prediction of the simulation volume. Hydrogen mass repartitioning alleviates the problem somewhat, but is ineffective for the typical time-step used with this approach. The compressibility, a measure of volume fluctuations, and the dielectric constant, a measure of dipole moment fluctuations, are also seen to be sensitive to δ t . Using the mean volume estimated from the NpT simulation, we examine the electrostatic and van der Waals contribution to the hydration free energy of the protein in the NVT ensemble. These contributions are also sensitive to δ t . In going from δ t = 2 fs to δ t = 0.5 fs, the change in the net electrostatic plus van der Waals contribution to the hydration of BBA is already in excess of the folding free energy reported for this protein.

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

Dataset for manuscript "Consequences of the failure of equipartition for the p-V behavior of liquid water and the hydration free energy components of a small protein"

Previously, we showed that in the molecular dynamics simulation of a rigid model of water it is necessary to use an integration time-step dt that is less than or equal to 0.5 fs to ensure equipartition between translational and rotational modes. We extended that study in the NVT ensemble to NpT conditions and to an aqueous protein. We study neat liquid water with the rigid, SPC/E model and the protein BBA (PDB ID: 1FME) solvated in the rigid, TIP3P model. We examined integration time-steps ranging from 0.5 fs to 4.0 fs for various thermostat plus barostat combinations. We find that a small time-step, dt, is necessary to ensure consistent prediction of the simulation volume. Hydrogen mass repartitioning alleviates the problem somewhat, but is ineffective for the typical time-step used with this approach. The compressibility, a measure of volume fluctuations, is seen to be sensitive to dt. Using the mean volume estimated from the NpT simulation, we examined the electrostatic and van der Waals contribution to the hydration free energy of the protein in the NVT ensemble. These contributions are also sensitive to dt. In going from a time-step of 2 fs to a time-step of 0.5 fs, the change in the net electrostatic plus van der Waals contribution to the hydration of BBA is already in excess of the folding free energy reported for this protein. The data-set contains the simulation metadata and log files that support the claims noted above.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Characterization of Carbon Sequestration Targets of the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain and Adjacent Offshore Region

Lower to mid-Cretaceous age rock formations were identified on the onshore Mid-Atlantic U.S. Coastal Plain and offshore northern Baltimore Canyon Trough (BCT) that show great potential as reservoirs for carbon sequestration. These targets are constrained using a sequence stratigraphic approach by integration of multi-channel seismic, geophysical well-log, core, and biostratigraphic datasets. In the onshore coastal plain of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, the Lower Cretaceous Waste Gate Formation and mid-Cretaceous Potomac Formation/Group were divided into three major sequences (Waste Gate-Potomac Unit I, Potomac Unit II, and Potomac Unit III). The analysis concluded that Waste Gate-Potomac Unit I sequence is most suitable for carbon storage, as it has thick, correlatable sands in New Jersey and Maryland that are well confined in New Jersey, and could store potentially large volumes of CO2 (~ 8-34 Gt). In the offshore, we evaluate the mid-Cretaceous Logan Canyon Formation which we divide into three sequences (LC3, LC2, and LC1). All three sequences show potential for large volumes of CO2 storage (~5.9 Gt on the Great Stone Dome (GSD); preliminary volume estimates in the MRCSP ATLAS are currently being updated by MAOCSRAP). The Logan Canyon Sands are an excellent target for carbon storage in the offshore Baltimore Canyon Trough; they are thick, correlatable sands with high permeabilities and porosities, and are confined by the thick Dawson Canyon Shale. Sands are particularly thick, porous, and very permeable in wells on the GSD, which provides a great structural trap, and as such is a world-class target for carbon sequestration.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
NASA NTRS1973

Chemical pump study for Pioneer Venus program

Two chemical pumps were designed for the Pioneer Venus large probe mass spectrometer. Factors involved in the design selection are reviewed. One pump is designed to process a sample of the Venus atmosphere to remove the major component, carbon dioxide, so that the minor, inert components may be measured with greater sensitivity. The other pump is designed to promote flow of atmospheric gas through a pressure reduction inlet system. This pump, located downstream from the mass spectrometer sampling point, provides the pressure differential required for flow through the inlet system. Both pumps utilize the reaction of carbon dioxide with lithium hydroxide. The available data for this reaction was reviewed with respect to the proposed applications, and certain deficiencies in reaction rate data at higher carbon dioxide pressures noted. The chemical pump designed for the inert gas experiment has an estimated volume of 30 cu cm and weight of 80 grams, exclusive of the four valves required for the operation. The chemical pump for the pressure reduction inlet system is designed for a total sample of 0.3 bar liter during the Venus descent.

Rotheram, M.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Remote sensing in agriculture

Some examples are presented of the use of remote sensing in cultivated crops, forestry, and range management. Areas of concern include: the determination of crop areas and types, prediction of yield, and detection of disease; the determination of forest areas and types, timber volume estimation, detection of insect and disease attack, and forest fires; and the determination of range conditions and inventory, and livestock inventory. Articles in the literature are summarized and specific examples of work being performed at the Marshall Space Flight Center are given. Primarily, aerial photographs and photo-like ERTS images are considered.

Downs, S. W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Evaluation of surface water resources from machine-processing of ERTS multispectral data

The surface water resources of a large metropolitan area, Marion County (Indianapolis), Indiana, are studied in order to assess the potential value of ERTS spectral analysis to water resources problems. The results of the research indicate that all surface water bodies over 0.5 ha were identified accurately from ERTS multispectral analysis. Five distinct classes of water were identified and correlated with parameters which included: degree of water siltiness; depth of water; presence of macro and micro biotic forms in the water; and presence of various chemical concentrations in the water. The machine processing of ERTS spectral data used alone or in conjunction with conventional sources of hydrological information can lead to the monitoring of area of surface water bodies; estimated volume of selected surface water bodies; differences in degree of silt and clay suspended in water and degree of water eutrophication related to chemical concentrations.

Mausel, P. W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Applications of space technology to developing nations

The use of imagery from the Landsat spacecraft for the monitoring and management of natural resources in developing countries is discussed. The Landsat imagery can be used to make cartographic maps at scales of 1:250,000 which meet the US National Map Accuracy Standards, providing a means of map updating to correct for river meanders or changing shorelines. The Landsat data can also be used in defining and measuring agricultural areas, identifying pest breeding areas, and monitoring irrigation practices and crop performance. Total volume estimates can be obtained in many cases for surface bodies of water, and subsurface water supplies can be detected from changes in vegetation in some instances.

Freden, S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A comparison of photointerpretive and digital production methods for four key remote sensing-based information products

This paper evaluates the costs of producing four remote sensing-based information products: timber volume estimate tables, Level II land use/land cover maps, soil maps, and vegetative cover maps. Two production methods for each product are evaluated, one is based on digital processing of satellite data, and the other on conventional photointerpretation of aircraft data. For each product, a comparison is conducted of the two strategies' production costs (including data acquisition, 'ground truthing', interpretation, compilation, and printing charges) and their performance (as measured by accuracy and timeliness). Each of the production methods reviewed has been demonstrated - either operationally or experimentally - and the costs, timeliness and other performance estimates presented are based on observations made in practice. The results show that for these products, satellite-based production results in significant cost and timeliness improvements at the cost of a loss in accuracy.

Eastwood, L. F., Jr.↗