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At least 955 records · Page 53

High-speed tunable generation of random number distributions using actuated perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions

Perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions (pMTJs) actuated by nanosecond pulses are emerging as promising devices for true random number generation (TRNG) due to their intrinsic stochastic behavior and high throughput. In this work, we demonstrate the tunability and quality of random number distributions generated by pMTJs operating at a frequency of 104 MHz. First, changing the pulse amplitude is used to systematically vary the probability bias. The variance of the resulting bitstreams closely matches the expected binomial distribution, demonstrating consistency with an underlying sequence of Bernoulli trials. Second, the quality of uniform distributions of 8-bit random numbers generated with a probability bias of 0.5 is considered. A reduced chi-square analysis of these data shows that only two XOR operations are sufficient to achieve this distribution with p-values greater than 0.05. Finally, we show that there is a correlation between long-term probability bias variations and pMTJ resistance. These findings suggest that variations in the characteristics of the pMTJ underlie the observed variation of probability bias. In conclusion, our results highlight the potential of stochastically actuated pMTJs for high-speed, tunable TRNG applications, showing the importance of the stability of pMTJ device characteristics in achieving reliable, long-term performance.

Magnetic tunnel junctions↗

Literature Data on Foam Fracturing Fluid

At the beginning of this project, the Temple team spent significant effort to collect data relevant to foam fracturing. More than 40 articles/reports were found in the open literature that reported the properties of aqueous foams under various testing conditions. The foam properties included viscosity and stability in terms of half-life, while were influenced by the foam quality, shear rate, temperature, pressure, as well as surfactants and additives used in making the foam base solutions. As a result, more than 1100 data points were collected, which are included in a master worksheet named "Literature data on Foam Fracturing Fluid". These data points are organized based on following parameters: 1. Literature source, including authors and publication year 2. Gaseous phase (e.g. CO2, N2) 3. Liquid phase (e.g. tap water, DI water, salt water) 4. Surfactants and their concentrations 6. Additives 7. Foam quality 8. Pressure 9. Temperature 10. Viscosity 11. Foam stability, which was characterized by its half-life: Half-life Foam study data base with data analysis was completed and a webpage is designed hosted on public server at https://surfactant-dashboard.herokuapp.com

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Hardening DOE R&D Software Tools for Web-based Visualization SBIR Phase I Final Report

Ubiquitous web-based visualization is essential to delivering large-scale data visualization to various stakeholders, from the scientist to the board member. These stakeholders will not tolerate a stalled application or a pop-up window asking them to wait for the processing to complete. They require a responsive and interactive visualization environment with high-quality imagery suitable for detailed analysis and boardroom presentations. At Kitware, Inc., we have accomplished web visualization to this point, leveraging state-of-the-art tools like HTML5, CSS3, SVG, Canvas, and WebGL. Solutions that leverage a combination of these technologies are necessary to handle workloads that vary significantly in data size efficiently. However, it is not always practical to move large data to the web client for visualization. Kitware's ParaView as a Service combines client-side visualization using both distributed processing and remote rendering on big data impractical to move. Existing distributed processing and remote rendering solution's interactivity is below the expectations of web-based applications. Our project examined proposed solutions to the areas outlined above in ParaView as a Service. We have investigated concurrent pipelines, streaming images, progressive rendering, and optimization of algorithms and data movement to address these concerns. For the Phase I project, we completed the proposed work plan. As a result, the project produced three prototypes of essential importance for web visualization and the ParaView as a Service community. We created a simple desktop application for an interactive streamline placement prototype, a web-based interactive streamline placement prototype, and a web-based progressive rendering utilizing raytracing prototype. These prototypes relied on the hardening of emerging software toolkits funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program (such as ParaView, VTK-m, and Mochi). We blended these components into web-based visualization prototypes that meet the industry's expectations for interactivity and responsiveness. The Phase I project had four essential focus areas: 1. Develop prototype ParaView as a Service backend server using asynchronous, non-blocking design principles. 2. Develop a prototype web application that uses the ParaView as a Service backend server for remote data visualization. 3. Implement image streaming with encoding/compression and progressive rendering capabilities in the proposed platform. 4. Evaluate the prototype developed and summarize observations, including the challenges and pitfalls of our approach. After our successful completion of Phase I, we are strongly positioned to propose a successful Phase II project.

Geveci, Berk↗

Disruption Prediction and Avoidance in High Beta Long Pulse KSTAR Plasmas

This research is a concentrated and coordinated experimental and physics analysis program by a small U.S. team, focused on the topical area of “Long Pulse Control” as stated in the proposal solicitation. The overall goal of the research is to produce world-class analysis regarding forecasting and avoidance of disruptions in a long-pulse, superconducting tokamak at high stability parameters (e.g. normalized beta) with direct, quantifiable figures of merit (i.e. plasma disruption rate - “disruptivity”) and its reduction based on improved stability physics and control. The research targets the backbone of the problem – the basic, main issues – to produce this quantitative analysis by: (1) Creating and applying a new physics-based paradigm to understand how to eliminate disruptions: disruption event characterization, and event chain analysis – a direct manifestation of the approach suggested in the DOE Transients Report, (2) Ensuring that the components required to produce high-quality measurements and analysis needed for disruption event characterization for the tokamak in question (here, KSTAR) exist (e.g. pressure profile peaking, high-accuracy pitch angle data, compensated low frequency toroidal mode number n = 1 mode measurement) to create a primarily physics-based disruption forecasting capability, and (3) Addressing disruption avoidance for the first time in KSTAR by attacking primary disruption ‘event chains’, utilizing the most important associated plasma measurements (dynamic n = 1 field). The focus of this work will be avoidance of macroscopic instabilities, especially global modes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Reinventing wastewater treatment plants: energy neutral treatment and enhanced fertilizer production through a novel resource recovery center

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are typically energy intensive, mainly due to the secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge (AS) for treatment of organics as well as nutrients like nitrogen. Nitrogen removal presents a big problem for WWTPs. The main form of nitrogen in wastewater is ammonium, and an AS process uses oxygen to convert ammonium into nitrite and nitrate which is then converted to nitrogen through denitrification process. During anaerobic digestion (AD), organic nitrogen gets degraded, resulting in an effluent stream (centrate) with a high nitrogen content, mostly in the form of ammonium. This contributes 15-30% of total nitrogen to the wastewater influent which further increases energy consumption for aeration. The project aims to transform this conventional municipal WWTPs into energy-neutral, resource-recovering facilities by integrating three core technologies: • Cloth Media Filtration (CMF) to replace conventional primary sedimentation (CPS) and increase the diversion of organics from the energy intensive secondary treatment to AD. This results in reduced energy demand for aeration in the secondary process while simultaneously increasing the biogas production in the anaerobic digesters. • Anerobic Digester to increase biogas and ammonia production. • Membrane Evaporation (ME) to recover ammonia from AD centrate and produce marketable fertilizer. The benefits of proposed WWTP process modifications were evaluated using techno economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA). For CMF portion of the research a statistical analysis was employed to develop data-driven tools that could be used to enhance and optimize its performance in terms of energy savings and effluent quality. The main objective of this project is to reduce the energy demand for secondary treatment at municipal WWTPs by at least 50%, increase anaerobic digester (AD) biogas and ammonia production by 100% and 120%, respectively, and recover 90% of ammonia from the AD. Integrated CMF, AD, and ME was shown to work synergistically toward achieving these decarbonization targets through energy-positive treatment and fertilizer recovery techniques.

42 ENGINEERING↗

The Open Cluster Chemical Abundances and Mapping Survey. VI. Galactic Chemical Gradient Analysis from APOGEE DR17

The goal of the Open Cluster Chemical Abundances and Mapping (OCCAM) survey is to constrain key Galactic dynamic and chemical evolution parameters by the construction and analysis of a large, comprehensive, uniform data set of infrared spectra for stars in hundreds of open clusters. This sixth contribution from the OCCAM survey presents analysis of SDSS/APOGEE Data Release 17 (DR17) results for a sample of stars in 150 open clusters, 94 of which we designate to be "high-quality" based on the appearance of their color–magnitude diagram. We find the APOGEE DR17-derived [Fe/H] values to be in good agreement with those from previous high-resolution spectroscopic open cluster abundance studies. Using a subset of the high-quality sample, the Galactic abundance gradients were measured for 16 chemical elements, including [Fe/H], for both Galactocentric radius ($R$ GC ) and guiding center radius ($R$ guide ). We find an overall Galactic [Fe/H] versus RGC gradient of -0.073 ± 0.002 dex kpc -1 over the range of 6 > $R$ GC < 11.5 kpc, and a similar gradient is found for [Fe/H] versus $R$ guide . Significant Galactic abundance gradients are also noted for O, Mg, S, Ca, Mn, Na, Al, K, and Ce. Our large sample additionally allows us to explore the evolution of the gradients in four age bins for the remaining 15 elements.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

All-digital precision processing of ERTS images

The author has identified the following significant results. Digital techniques have been developed and used to apply precision-grade radiometric and geometric corrections to ERTS MSS and RBV scenes. Geometric accuracies sufficient for mapping at 1:250,000 scale have been demonstrated. Radiometric quality has been superior to ERTS NDPF precision products. A configuration analysis has shown that feasible, cost-effective all-digital systems for correcting ERTS data are easily obtainable. This report contains a summary of all results obtained during this study and includes: (1) radiometric and geometric correction techniques, (2) reseau detection, (3) GCP location, (4) resampling, (5) alternative configuration evaluations, and (6) error analysis.

Bernstein, R.↗

Sensor performance evaluation of the Skylab multispectral photographic facility

Results of resolution tests for multispectral imagery from Skylabs 2, 3, and 4 are presented. Methods employed were visual edge matching and edge slope analysis, and resolution was evaluated as a function of spectral band, EREP pass, target orientation, field of view, exposure, and contrast. Preflight and postflight image quality data were compared. The multispectral image quality has equaled or slightly exceeded design predictions.

Corbett, F. J.↗

Flexible joints for thrust vector control

Flexible joints have been used to achieve thrust vector control over a wide range of sizes of nozzles and have been demonstrated successfully in bench tests and static firings, and are operational on two motors. From these many joints the problems of flexible joints have been defined as establishment of the movable nozzle envelope, definition of the actuation power requirements, definition of the mechanical properties of joint materials, adhesive bonding, test methods, and quality control. These data and problem solutions are contained in a large number of reports. Data relating to joint configuration, design requirements, materials selection, joint design, structural analysis, manufacture, and testing are summarized.

Woodberry, R. F. H.↗

Coastal Zone Color Scanner studies

Activities over the past year have included cooperative work with a summer faculty fellow using the Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) imagery to study the effects of gradients in trophic resources on coral reefs in the Caribbean. Other research included characterization of ocean radiances specific to an acid-waste plume. Other activities include involvement in the quality control of imagery produced in the processing of the global CZCS data set, the collection of various other data global sets, and the subsequent data comparison and analysis.

Elrod, J.↗

Systems Engineering and Integration (SE and I)

The issue of technology advancement and future space transportation vehicles is addressed. The challenge is to develop systems which can be evolved and improved in small incremental steps where each increment reduces present cost, improves, reliability, or does neither but sets the stage for a second incremental upgrade that does. Future requirements are interface standards for commercial off the shelf products to aid in the development of integrated facilities; enhanced automated code generation system slightly coupled to specification and design documentation; modeling tools that support data flow analysis; and shared project data bases consisting of technical characteristics cast information, measurement parameters, and reusable software programs. Topics addressed include: advanced avionics development strategy; risk analysis and management; tool quality management; low cost avionics; cost estimation and benefits; computer aided software engineering; computer systems and software safety; system testability; and advanced avionics laboratories - and rapid prototyping. This presentation is represented by viewgraphs only.

Chevers, ED↗

Transfer function characteristics of super resolving systems

Signal quality in an optical storage device greatly depends on the optical system transfer function used to write and read data patterns. The problem is similar to analysis of scanning optical microscopes. Hopkins and Braat have analyzed write-once-read-many (WORM) optical data storage devices. Herein, transfer function analysis of magnetooptic (MO) data storage devices is discussed with respect to improving transfer-function characteristics. Several authors have described improving the transfer function as super resolution. However, none have thoroughly analyzed the MO optical system and effects of the medium. Both the optical system transfer function and effects of the medium of this development are discussed.

Milster, Tom D.↗

Deep near-infrared survey of the Southern Sky (DENIS)

DENIS (Deep Near-Infrared Survey of the Southern Sky) will be the first complete census of astronomical sources in the near-infrared spectral range. The challenges of this novel survey are both scientific and technical. Phenomena radiating in the near-infrared range from brown dwarfs to galaxies in the early stages of cosmological evolution, the scientific exploitation of data relevant over such a wide range requires pooling expertise from several of the leading European astronomical centers. The technical challenges of a project which will provide an order of magnitude more sources than given by the IRAS space mission, and which will involve advanced data-handling and image-processing techniques, likewise require pooling of hardware and software resources, as well as of human expertise. The DENIS project team is composed of some 40 scientists, computer specialists, and engineers located in 5 European Community countries (France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, and Spain), with important contributions from specialists in Australia, Brazil, Chile, and Hungary. DENIS will survey the entire southern sky in 3 colors, namely in the I band at a wavelength of 0.8 micron, in the 1.25 micron J band, and in the 2.15 micron K' band. The sensitivity limits will be 18th magnitude in the I band, 16th in the J band, and 14.5th in the K' band. The angular resolution achieved will be 1 arcsecond in the I band, and 3.0 arcseconds in the J and K' bands. The European Southern Observatory 1 m telescope on La Silla will be dedicated to survey use during operations expected to last four years, commencing in late 1993. DENIS aims to provide the astronomical community with complete digitized infrared images of the full southern sky and a catalogue of extracted objects, both of the best quality and in readily accessible form. This will be achieved through dedicated software packages and specialized catalogues, and with assistance from the Leiden and Paris Data Analysis Centers. The data will be mailed on DAT tapes from La Silla to the two Data Analysis Centers for further processing. Two centers are necessary because of the shear quantity of data and because of the complementary roles the Centers will develop, each exploiting its own particular expertise. The Leiden Data Analysis Center (LDAC) will extract objects, establish their parameters, and archive them into a source catalogue. The LDAC will collaborate with the Groningen Space Research group that has gained experience in infrared image handling from the IRAS satellite. The Paris Data Analysis Center (PDAC) will be responsible for archiving and preprocessing the raw data to provide a homogeneous set of data suitable for further reduction in both the Leiden and Paris data analysis streams. The PDAC will also extract and archive images for the sources flagged by the LDAC as extended, and create a catalogue of galaxies. In exploiting the DENIS data we foresee the collaboration with other data analysis centers, such as the Observatoire de Lyon where the relevant DENIS catalogue of galaxies can be incorporated into their extragalactic database. The Point Sources and the Small Extended Sources catalogues could be incorporated in the Late Type Star database at Montpellier, and in the SIMBAD database as CDS. At Groningen the IRAS Point Source catalogue and/or image data can be merged with the DENIS catalogues. At Meudon algorithms and software will be developed with main goal assessing the limits reachable for the homogeneity and intrinsic consistency between the ensemble of the images in the data base (flat-fielding, relative positioning of the fields, bootstrapped flux calibration) but also for the data analysis.

Deul, E.↗

NASA Tech Briefs, March 2012

The topics include: 1) Spectral Profiler Probe for In Situ Snow Grain Size and Composition Stratigraphy; 2) Portable Fourier Transform Spectroscopy for Analysis of Surface Contamination and Quality Control; 3) In Situ Geochemical Analysis and Age Dating of Rocks Using Laser Ablation-Miniature Mass Spectrometer; 4) Physics Mining of Multi-Source Data Sets; 5) Photogrammetry Tool for Forensic Analysis; 6) Connect Global Positioning System RF Module; 7) Simple Cell Balance Circuit; 8) Miniature EVA Software Defined Radio; 9) Remotely Accessible Testbed for Software Defined Radio Development; 10) System-of-Systems Technology-Portfolio-Analysis Tool; 11) VESGEN Software for Mapping and Quantification of Vascular Regulators; 12) Constructing a Database From Multiple 2D Images for Camera Pose Estimation and Robot Localization; 13) Adaption of G-TAG Software for Validating Touch and Go Asteroid Sample Return Design Methodology; 14) 3D Visualization for Phoenix Mars Lander Science Operations; 15) RxGen General Optical Model Prescription Generator; 16) Carbon Nanotube Bonding Strength Enhancement Using Metal Wicking Process; 17) Multi-Layer Far-Infrared Component Technology; 18) Germanium Lift-Off Masks for Thin Metal Film Patterning; 19) Sealing Materials for Use in Vacuum at High Temperatures; 20) Radiation Shielding System Using a Composite of Carbon Nanotubes Loaded With Electropolymers; 21) Nano Sponges for Drug Delivery and Medicinal Applications; 22) Molecular Technique to Understand Deep Microbial Diversity; 23) Methods and Compositions Based on Culturing Microorganisms in Low Sedimental Fluid Shear Conditions; 24) Secure Peer-to-Peer Networks for Scientific Information Sharing; 25) Multiplexer/Demultiplexer Loading Tool (MDMLT); 26) High-Rate Data-Capture for an Airborne Lidar System; 27) Wavefront Sensing Analysis of Grazing Incidence Optical Systems; 28) Foam-on-Tile Damage Model; 29) Instrument Package Manipulation Through the Generation and Use of an Attenuated-Fluent Gas Fold; 30) Multicolor Detectors for Ultrasensitive Long-Wave Imaging Cameras; 31) Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Command and Data Handling Flight Electronics Subsystem; and 32) Electro-Optic Segment-Segment Sensors for Radio and Optical Telescopes.

Source record↗

SAGE III/ISS v5.3 Level 2 Data Product Changes and Improvements

The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment on the International Space Station (SAGE III/ISS) is an occultation instrument that acquires measurements of aerosols and gases within the Earth’s stratosphere and upper troposphere. SAGE III/ISS provides level 2 solar species products for aerosol extinction (9 channels), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and water vapor (H2O). The level 2 products currently provide three O3 profiles based on differing retrievals. The first O3 profile is based on measurements at short wavelengths within the Hartley-Huggins band (MesO3), the second O3 profile is based on measurements made at visible wavelengths within the Chappius band (MLR O3), and the final profile is found using a more SAGE II like approach (AO3). The SAGE III/ISS also provides level 2 lunar species products for ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and nitrogen trioxide (NO3). Version 5.3 of the SAGE III/ISS retrieval algorithm introduces improvements that affect the level 2 data products. The largest change to the solar algorithm is the implementation of disturbance monitoring package (DMP) corrections to improve pointing accuracy. The DMP is comprised of a miniature inertial measurement unit that measures rotation in inertial space using ring laser gyroscopes oriented about three orthogonal axes which can be used to correct pointing errors caused by mechanical disturbances. A major change common to solar and lunar algorithms is meteorological input from the coarser 42 level Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) model data to the 72 level MERRA-2 model data. The final major change involves improving the automated quality assurance (QA) algorithm to recover events that were withheld from the public release because differences between the AO3 and MLR O3 for some events after the eruption of Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai. Other changes for v5.3 include minor bug fixes as well as restoration of some data quality flags that were removed in v5.21. This presentation presents the impacts of these changes as well as overall observations of interest from v5.3 level 2 data products.

Carter Hulsey↗

SAGE III/ISS v5.3 Level 2 Data Product Changes and Improvements

The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment on the International Space Station (SAGE III/ISS) is an occultation instrument that acquires measurements of aerosols and gases within the Earth’s stratosphere and upper troposphere. SAGE III/ISS provides level 2 solar species products for aerosol extinction (9 channels), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and water vapor (H2O). The level 2 products currently provide three O3 profiles based on differing retrievals. The first O3 profile is based on measurements at short wavelengths within the Hartley-Huggins band (MesO3), the second O3 profile is based on measurements made at visible wavelengths within the Chappius band (MLR O3), and the final profile is found using a more SAGE II like approach (AO3). The SAGE III/ISS also provides level 2 lunar species products for ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and nitrogen trioxide (NO3). Version 5.3 of the SAGE III/ISS retrieval algorithm introduces improvements that affect the level 2 data products. The largest change to the solar algorithm is the implementation of disturbance monitoring package (DMP) corrections to improve pointing accuracy. The DMP is comprised of a miniature inertial measurement unit that measures rotation in inertial space using ring laser gyroscopes oriented about three orthogonal axes which can be used to correct pointing errors caused by mechanical disturbances. A major change common to solar and lunar algorithms is meteorological input from the coarser 42 level Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) model data to the 72 level MERRA-2 model data. The final major change involves improving the automated quality assurance (QA) algorithm to recover events that were withheld from the public release because differences between the AO3 and MLR O3 for some events after the eruption of Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai. Other changes for v5.3 include minor bug fixes as well as restoration of some data quality flags that were removed in v5.21. This presentation presents the impacts of these changes as well as overall observations of interest from v5.3 level 2 data products.

Carter Hulsey↗

Sensor Selection and Data Validation for Reliable Integrated System Health Management

For new access to space systems with challenging mission requirements, effective implementation of integrated system health management (ISHM) must be available early in the program to support the design of systems that are safe, reliable, highly autonomous. Early ISHM availability is also needed to promote design for affordable operations; increased knowledge of functional health provided by ISHM supports construction of more efficient operations infrastructure. Lack of early ISHM inclusion in the system design process could result in retrofitting health management systems to augment and expand operational and safety requirements; thereby increasing program cost and risk due to increased instrumentation and computational complexity. Having the right sensors generating the required data to perform condition assessment, such as fault detection and isolation, with a high degree of confidence is critical to reliable operation of ISHM. Also, the data being generated by the sensors needs to be qualified to ensure that the assessments made by the ISHM is not based on faulty data. NASA Glenn Research Center has been developing technologies for sensor selection and data validation as part of the FDDR (Fault Detection, Diagnosis, and Response) element of the Upper Stage project of the Ares 1 launch vehicle development. This presentation will provide an overview of the GRC approach to sensor selection and data quality validation and will present recent results from applications that are representative of the complexity of propulsion systems for access to space vehicles. A brief overview of the sensor selection and data quality validation approaches is provided below. The NASA GRC developed Systematic Sensor Selection Strategy (S4) is a model-based procedure for systematically and quantitatively selecting an optimal sensor suite to provide overall health assessment of a host system. S4 can be logically partitioned into three major subdivisions: the knowledge base, the down-select iteration, and the final selection analysis. The knowledge base required for productive use of S4 consists of system design information and heritage experience together with a focus on components with health implications. The sensor suite down-selection is an iterative process for identifying a group of sensors that provide good fault detection and isolation for targeted fault scenarios. In the final selection analysis, a statistical evaluation algorithm provides the final robustness test for each down-selected sensor suite. NASA GRC has developed an approach to sensor data qualification that applies empirical relationships, threshold detection techniques, and Bayesian belief theory to a network of sensors related by physics (i.e., analytical redundancy) in order to identify the failure of a given sensor within the network. This data quality validation approach extends the state-of-the-art, from red-lines and reasonableness checks that flag a sensor after it fails, to include analytical redundancy-based methods that can identify a sensor in the process of failing. The focus of this effort is on understanding the proper application of analytical redundancy-based data qualification methods for onboard use in monitoring Upper Stage sensors.

Garg, Sanjay↗

Formaldehyde Column Density Measurements as a Suitable Pathway to Estimate Near-Surface Ozone Tendencies from Space

In support of future satellite missions that aim to address the current shortcomings in measuring air quality from space, NASA's Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ) field campaign was designed to enable exploration of relationships between column measurements of trace species relevant to air quality at high spatial and temporal resolution. In the DISCOVER-AQ data set, a modest correlation (r2 = 0.45) between ozone (O3) and formaldehyde (CH2O) column densities was observed. Further analysis revealed regional variability in the O3-CH2O relationship, with Maryland having a strong relationship when data were viewed temporally and Houston having a strong relationship when data were viewed spatially. These differences in regional behavior are attributed to differences in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. In Maryland, biogenic VOCs were responsible for approx.28% of CH2O formation within the boundary layer column, causing CH2O to, in general, increase monotonically throughout the day. In Houston, persistent anthropogenic emissions dominated the local hydrocarbon environment, and no discernable diurnal trend in CH2O was observed. Box model simulations suggested that ambient CH2O mixing ratios have a weak diurnal trend (+/-20% throughout the day) due to photochemical effects, and that larger diurnal trends are associated with changes in hydrocarbon precursors. Finally, mathematical relationships were developed from first principles and were able to replicate the different behaviors seen in Maryland and Houston. While studies would be necessary to validate these results and determine the regional applicability of the O3-CH2O relationship, the results presented here provide compelling insight into the ability of future satellite missions to aid in monitoring near-surface air quality.

Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Reso↗