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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Eddy Correlation Flux Measurement System (ECOR) Instrument Handbook

The eddy correlation (ECOR) flux measurement system provides in situ, half-hour measurements of the surface turbulent fluxes of momentum, sensible heat, latent heat, and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) (and methane at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility’s North Slope of Alaska central facility [NSA Barrow], and at the ARM Mobile Facility (AMF) deployment at Oliktok Point). The fluxes are obtained with the eddy covariance technique, which involves correlation of the vertical wind component with the horizontal wind component, the air temperature, the water vapor density, and the CO 2 concentration. The instruments used are: a fast-response, three-dimensional (3D) wind sensor (sonic anemometer) to obtain the orthogonal wind components and the speed of sound (SOS) (used to derive the air temperature), an open-path infrared gas analyzer (IRGA) to obtain the water vapor density and the CO 2 concentration, and an open-path infrared gas analyzer (IRGA) to obtain methane density and methane flux at NSA Barrow and at the AMF deployment at Oliktok Point. The ECOR systems are deployed at the locations where other methods for surface flux measurements (e.g., energy balance Bowen ratio [EBBR] systems) are difficult to employ, primarily at the north edge of a field of crops. A surface energy balance system (SEBS) has been installed collocated with each deployed ECOR system in SGP, NSA, Tropical Western Pacific (TWP), and each of three ARM Mobile Facilities. The surface energy balance system consists of upwelling and downwelling solar and infrared radiometers within one net radiometer, a wetness sensor, and soil measurements. Finally, the SEBS measurements allow the comparison of ECOR sensible and latent heat fluxes with the energy balance determined from the SEBS and provide information on wetting of the sensors for data quality purposes.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

DUNE and MINERvA Flux Studies and a Measurement of the Charged-Current Quasielastic Antineutrino Scattering Cross Section with $<E_{\nu}> \sim 6 $ GeV on a CH Target

One of the biggest open questions in physics is the prevalence of matter over anti-matter in the present universe. One of possible answers lies in the violation of charge and parity symmetry in the lepton sector that would favor matter over anti-matter so that the universe becomes dominated by matter over time. Recent results from neutrino experiments like T2K and NOvA have indicated that there is CP violation in the leptonic sector \citep{Abe:2019vii}. However, the precise measurement of CP violation will require an unprecedented level of accuracy in these oscillation experiments. One of the challenges lies with the systematic uncertainties that come with the measurements, which include uncertainties related to the neutrino flux modeling, interaction modeling and detector related systematic uncertainties.\\ The first part of this thesis will go through the challenges related to flux uncertainties. It will discuss the flux uncertainties related to hadron production in the LBN F beamli ne for the DUNE experiment. Hadron production models used in flux simulations vary widely depending on the simulation and choice of physics models used to simulate the hadron production. This thesis will explain the method of using existing hadron production data to constrain these uncertainties, a method which has been used in MINERvA experiment.\\ The second part of the thesis goes through the effect of possible flux mismodeling and MINERvA's approach to address this effect. In doing so, we discovered that the suspected mismodeling could also result from incorrect estimation of the energy scale of the muons. This project not only demonstrated the challenges of flux modeling but also led to a novel approach of using neutrino energy spectra to understand the correlation between detector and neutrino beamline parameters. \\ A high statistics measurement of the anti-neutrino scattering cross section in the charged current quasielastic (CCQE) channel is the final part of the th esis. Th e 2-body interactions in this channel have the advantage of allowing reconstruction of the interaction kinematics from the outgoing muon trajectory which can be measured very well. Double differential cross sections as a function of muon kinematics, one of the deliverables of this analysis, will help future oscillation experiments understand their data. The cross-section as a function of the four-momentum transferred from the leptonic system to the hadronic system ($Q^{2}_{QE}$) can be used to test models used in simulating antineutrino interactions and the nuclear effects that can modify the predicted cross sections. Nuclear effects arise from the complex nuclear environment and both modify the initial scattering and change the fate of the particles produced from in neutrino-nucleus interactions. Study of nuclear effects will help to understand the structure of the atomic nucleus and its impact on neutrino interactions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Sensitivity of Surface Resistance to Trapped Flux in High-Purity Large-Grain Niobium

Surface resistance arising from trapped flux is experimentally measured, by which the sensitivity to trapped flux is derived. Measurements are carried out with single-cell L-band SRF cavities made of high-purity large-grain niobium materials, immersed in a uniform externally applied magnetic field generated by a solenoid with its axis overlapping the cavity axis. The surface resistance is found by using the standard technique for Q0 measurement and the customary G/Q0 analysis. Q0 values at a fixed low surface field are used. The trapped flux is found by measuring flux densities at a selected location using a single-axis fluxgate magnetometer attached to the cavity outer surface: Ba*[1-(Bsc-Bnc)/(Bsc0-Bnc)], where Ba is the applied external field, Bnc and Bsc is the local flux density measured just above and below Tc, respectively, during a field-cooling of the cavity and afterwards its Q0 is measured, Bsc0 is measured in a separate zero-field-cooling while the cavity being kept in the same location after turning on the identical applied field Ba at a temperature well below Tc . Several magnetometers are placed at various locations. It is found that the sensitivity to trapped flux in high-purity large-grain niobium to be 1.9 n?/µT on average. This is to be compared to 3-9 n?/µT in high purity fine-grain niobium and 10-50 n?/µT in nitrogen-doped high-purity niobium reported by other groups. We will discuss the measurement results as well as the measurement techniques.

Geng, Rongli↗
DOE OSTI2025

Greenhouse gas flux response in biochar- and compost-amended urban soils under simulated soil hydrologic dynamics

Understanding greenhouse gas emission dynamics in lawn soils is essential for improving climate change mitigation strategies in urban and suburban environments. This project measured fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) fluxes from turfgrass soil columns amended with biochar, compost, biochar-compost blend, control (no amendment) in a controlled greenhouse mesocosm experiment. This project simulated contrasting water saturation regimes consisting of normal irrigation with sprinkler, transient half or full saturation by water table manipulation, and subsequent drying phase under both sod or seeded grass conditions. Compost-amended columns (compost or biochar-compost blend) exhibited higher average CO 2 fluxes (6 µmol m-2 s-1) compared to biochar or control columns (4.5 – 5.0 µmol m-2 s-1) across all saturation levels under sod conditions. Seeded grass conditions generally resulted in less CO 2 emissions. The CO 2 fluxes were positively correlated with air temperature and negatively correlated with soil moisture. Biochar-amended columns retained high soil moisture (~95 %) throughout experiments, demonstrating superior moisture retention compared to compost. CH 4 and N 2 O fluxes exhibited temporal increases (5-8 nmol m-2 s-1) during saturation and drainage phases, indicating their sensitivity to hydrologic conditions. These findings suggest that temperature and amendment types are primary driver of CO 2 emissions, while CH 4 and N 2 O fluxes are more responsive to water saturation dynamics in lawn soils.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

A Correction for IUE UV Flux Distributions from Comparisons with CALSPEC

A collection of spectral energy distributions (SEDs) is available in the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) CALSPEC database that is based on calculated model atmospheres for pure hydrogen white dwarfs (WDs). A much larger set (∼100,000) of UV SEDs covering the range (1150–3350 Å) with somewhat lower quality are available in the IUE database. IUE low-dispersion flux distributions are compared with CALSPEC to provide a correction that places IUE fluxes on the CALSPEC scale. While IUE observations are repeatable to only 4%–10% in regions of good sensitivity, the average flux corrections have a precision of 2%–3%. Our re-calibration places the IUE flux scale on the current UV reference standard and is relevant for any project based on IUE archival data, including our planned comparison of GALEX to the corrected IUE fluxes. IUE SEDs may be used to plan observations and cross-calibrate data from future missions, so the IUE flux calibration must be consistent with HST instrumental calibrations to the best possible precision.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Effect of aerosols and NO 2 concentration on ultraviolet actinic flux near Mexico City during MILAGRO: measurements and model calculations

Ultraviolet (UV) actinic fluxes (AF) measured with three Scanning Actinic Flux Spectroradiometers (SAFS) are compared with the Tropospheric Ultraviolet-Visible (TUV) model v.5 in order to assess the effects of aerosols and NO 2 concentrations on the radiation. Measurements were made during the MILAGRO campaign near Mexico City in March 2006, at a ground-based station near Mexico City (the T1 supersite) and from the NSF/NCAR C-130 aircraft. At the surface, measurements are typically smaller by up to 25 % in the morning, 10% at noon, and 40% in the afternoon, than actinic flux modeled for clean, cloud-free conditions. When measurements of PBL height, NO 2 concentration and aerosols optical properties are included in the model, the agreement improves to within ±10% in the morning and afternoon, and ±3% at noon. Based on daily averages, aerosols account for 68%, NO 2 for 25%, and residual uncertainties for 7% of these AF reductions observed at the surface. Several overpasses from the C-130 aircraft provided the opportunity to examine the actinic flux perturbations aloft, and also show better agreement with the model when aerosol and NO 2 effects are included above and below the flight altitude. TUV model simulations show that the vertical structure of the actinic flux is sensitive to the choice of the aerosol single scattering albedo (SSA) at UV wavelengths. Typically, aerosols caused enhanced AF above the PBL and reduced AF near the surface. However, for highly scattering aerosols (SSA > 0.95), enhancements can penetrate well into the PBL, while for strongly absorbing aerosols (SSA<0.7) reductions in AF are computed in the free troposphere as well as in the PBL. Finally, additional measurements of the SSA at these wavelengths are needed to better constrain the effect of aerosols on the vertical structure of the actinic flux.

Palancar, G. G.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Intraseasonal to interannual variability of Kelvin wave momentum fluxes as derived from high-resolution radiosonde data

Abstract. Observational estimates of Kelvin wave momentum fluxes in the tropical lower stratosphere remain challenging. Here we extend a method based on linear wave theory to estimate daily time series of these momentum fluxes from high-resolution radiosonde data. Daily time series are produced for sounding sites operated by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and from the recent Dynamics of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (DYNAMO) field campaign. Our momentum flux estimates are found to be robust to different data sources and processing and in quantitative agreement with estimates from prior studies. Testing the sensitivity to vertical resolution, our estimated momentum fluxes are found to be most sensitive to vertical resolution greater than 1 km, largely due to overestimation of the vertical wavelength. Climatological analysis is performed over a selected 11-year span of data from DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) radiosonde sites. Analyses of this 11-year span of data reveal the expected seasonal cycle of momentum flux maxima in boreal winter and minima in boreal summer, and variability associated with the quasi-biennial oscillation of maxima during easterly phase and minima during westerly phase. Comparison between periods with active convection that is either strongly or weakly associated with the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) suggests that the MJO provides a nontrivial increase in the lowermost stratospheric momentum fluxes.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Estimating turbulent energy flux vertical profiles from uncrewed aircraft system measurements: exemplary results for the MOSAiC campaign

This study analyzes turbulent energy fluxes in the Arctic atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) using measurements with a small uncrewed aircraft system (sUAS). Turbulent fluxes constitute a major part of the atmospheric energy budget and influence the surface heat balance by distributing energy vertically in the atmosphere. However, only few in situ measurements of the vertical profile of turbulent fluxes in the Arctic ABL exist. The study presents a method to derive turbulent heat fluxes from DataHawk2 sUAS turbulence measurements, based on the flux gradient method with a parameterization of the turbulent exchange coefficient. This parameterization is derived from high-resolution horizontal wind speed measurements in combination with formulations for the turbulent Prandtl number and anisotropy depending on stability. Measurements were taken during the MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) expedition in the Arctic sea ice during the melt season of 2020. For three example cases from this campaign, vertical profiles of turbulence parameters and turbulent heat fluxes are presented and compared to balloon-borne, radar, and near-surface measurements. The combination of all measurements draws a consistent picture of ABL conditions and demonstrates the unique potential of the presented method for studying turbulent exchange processes in the vertical ABL profile with sUAS measurements.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Water, Energy, and Carbon with Artificial Neural Networks (WECANN): a statistically based estimate of global surface turbulent fluxes and gross primary productivity using solar-induced fluorescence

A new global estimate of surface turbulent fluxes, latent heat flux (LE) and sensible heat flux ( H ), and gross primary production (GPP) is developed using a machine learning approach informed by novel remotely sensed solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) and other radiative and meteorological variables. This is the first study to jointly retrieve LE, H , and GPP using SIF observations. The approach uses an artificial neural network (ANN) with a target dataset generated from three independent data sources, weighted based on a triple collocation (TC) algorithm. The new retrieval, named Water, Energy, and Carbon with Artificial Neural Networks (WECANN), provides estimates of LE, H , and GPP from 2007 to 2015 at 1° × 1° spatial resolution and at monthly time resolution. The quality of ANN training is assessed using the target data, and the WECANN retrievals are evaluated using eddy covariance tower estimates from the FLUXNET network across various climates and conditions. When compared to eddy covariance estimates, WECANN typically outperforms other products, particularly for sensible and latent heat fluxes. Analyzing WECANN retrievals across three extreme drought and heat wave events demonstrates the capability of the retrievals to capture the extent of these events. Uncertainty estimates of the retrievals are analyzed and the interannual variability in average global and regional fluxes shows the impact of distinct climatic events – such as the 2015 El Niño – on surface turbulent fluxes and GPP.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

On the role of climate modes in modulating the air–sea CO 2 fluxes in eastern boundary upwelling systems

Abstract. The air–sea CO 2 fluxes in eastern boundary upwelling systems (EBUSs) vary strongly in time and space, with some of the highest flux densities globally. The processes controlling this variability have not yet been investigated consistently across all four major EBUSs, i.e., the California (CalCS), Humboldt (HumCS), Canary (CanCS), and Benguela (BenCS) Current systems. In this study, we diagnose the climatic modes of the air–sea CO 2 flux variability in these regions between 1920 and 2015, using simulation results from the Community Earth System Model Large Ensemble (CESM-LENS), a global coupled climate model ensemble that is forced by historical and RCP8.5 radiative forcing. Differences between simulations can be attributed entirely to internal (unforced) climate variability, whose contribution can be diagnosed by subtracting the ensemble mean from each simulation. We find that in the CalCS and CanCS, the resulting anomalous CO 2 fluxes are strongly affected by large-scale extratropical modes of variability, i.e., the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), respectively. The CalCS has anomalous uptake of CO 2 during the positive phase of the NPGO, while the CanCS has anomalous outgassing of CO 2 during the positive phase of the NAO. In contrast, the HumCS is mainly affected by El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), with anomalous uptake of CO 2 during an El Niño event. Variations in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and sea surface temperature (SST) are the major contributors to these anomalous CO 2 fluxes and are generally driven by changes to large-scale gyre circulation, upwelling, the mixed layer depth, and biological processes. A better understanding of the sensitivity of EBUS CO 2 fluxes to modes of climate variability is key in improving our ability to predict the future evolution of the atmospheric CO 2 source and sink characteristics of the four EBUSs.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Scaling carbon fluxes from eddy covariance sites to globe: synthesis and evaluation of the FLUXCOM approach

FLUXNET comprises globally distributed eddy-covariance-based estimates of carbon fluxes between the biosphere and the atmosphere. Since eddy covariance flux towers have a relatively small footprint and are distributed unevenly across the world, upscaling the observations is necessary to obtain global-scale estimates of biosphere–atmosphere exchange. Based on cross-consistency checks with atmospheric inversions, sun-induced fluorescence (SIF) and dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs), here we provide a systematic assessment of the latest upscaling efforts for gross primary production (GPP) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of the FLUXCOM initiative, where different machine learning methods, forcing data sets and sets of predictor variables were employed. Spatial patterns of mean GPP are consistent across FLUXCOM and DGVM ensembles (R 2 >0.94 at 1° spatial resolution) while the majority of DGVMs show, for 70 % of the land surface, values outside the FLUXCOM range. Global mean GPP magnitudes for 2008–2010 from FLUXCOM members vary within 106 and 130 PgC yr -1 with the largest uncertainty in the tropics. Seasonal variations in independent SIF estimates agree better with FLUXCOM GPP (mean global pixel-wise R 2 ~0.75) than with GPP from DGVMs (mean global pixel-wise R 2 ~0.6). Seasonal variations in FLUXCOM NEE show good consistency with atmospheric inversion-based net land carbon fluxes, particularly for temperate and boreal regions (R 2 >0.92). Interannual variability of global NEE in FLUXCOM is underestimated compared to inversions and DGVMs. The FLUXCOM version which also uses meteorological inputs shows a strong co-variation in interannual patterns with inversions (R 2 =0.87 for 2001–2010). Mean regional NEE from FLUXCOM shows larger uptake than inversion and DGVM-based estimates, particularly in the tropics with discrepancies of up to several hundred grammes of carbon per square metre per year. These discrepancies can only partly be reconciled by carbon loss pathways that are implicit in inversions but not captured by the flux tower measurements such as carbon emissions from fires and water bodies. We hypothesize that a combination of systematic biases in the underlying eddy covariance data, in particular in tall tropical forests, and a lack of site history effects on NEE in FLUXCOM are likely responsible for the too strong tropical carbon sink estimated by FLUXCOM. Furthermore, as FLUXCOM does not account for CO 2 fertilization effects, carbon flux trends are not realistic. Overall, current FLUXCOM estimates of mean annual and seasonal cycles of GPP as well as seasonal NEE variations provide useful constraints of global carbon cycling, while interannual variability patterns from FLUXCOM are valuable but require cautious interpretation. Exploring the diversity of Earth observation data and of machine learning concepts along with improved quality and quantity of flux tower measurements will facilitate further improvements of the FLUXCOM approach overall.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Using atmospheric observations to quantify annual biogenic carbon dioxide fluxes on the Alaska North Slope

The continued warming of the Arctic could release vast stores of carbon into the atmosphere from high-latitude ecosystems, especially from thawing permafrost. Increasing uptake of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) by vegetation during longer growing seasons may partially offset such release of carbon. However, evidence of significant net annual release of carbon from site-level observations and model simulations across tundra ecosystems has been inconclusive. To address this knowledge gap, we combined top-down observations of atmospheric CO 2 concentration enhancements from aircraft and a tall tower, which integrate ecosystem exchange over large regions, with bottom-up observed CO 2 fluxes from tundra environments and found that the Alaska North Slope is not a consistent net source nor net sink of CO 2 to the atmosphere (ranging from ₋6 to +6 Tg C yr -1 for 2012–2017). Our analysis suggests that significant biogenic CO 2 fluxes from unfrozen terrestrial soils, and likely inland waters, during the early cold season (September–December) are major factors in determining the net annual carbon balance of the North Slope, implying strong sensitivity to the rapidly warming freeze-up period. At the regional level, we find no evidence of the previously reported large late-cold-season (January–April) CO 2 emissions to the atmosphere during the study period. Despite the importance of the cold-season CO 2 emissions to the annual total, the interannual variability in the net CO 2 flux is driven by the variability in growing season fluxes. During the growing season, the regional net CO 2 flux is also highly sensitive to the distribution of tundra vegetation types throughout the North Slope. This study shows that quantification and characterization of year-round CO 2 fluxes from the heterogeneous terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the Arctic using both site-level and atmospheric observations are important to accurately project the Earth system response to future warming.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

The ABCflux database: Arctic–boreal CO 2 flux observations and ancillary information aggregated to monthly time steps across terrestrial ecosystems

Past efforts to synthesize and quantify the magnitude and change in carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems across the rapidly warming Arctic–boreal zone (ABZ) have provided valuable information but were limited in their geographical and temporal coverage. Furthermore, these efforts have been based on data aggregated over varying time periods, often with only minimal site ancillary data, thus limiting their potential to be used in large-scale carbon budget assessments. To bridge these gaps, we developed a standardized monthly database of Arctic–boreal CO 2 fluxes (ABCflux) that aggregates in situ measurements of terrestrial net ecosystem CO 2 exchange and its derived partitioned component fluxes: gross primary productivity and ecosystem respiration. The data span from 1989 to 2020 with over 70 supporting variables that describe key site conditions (e.g., vegetation and disturbance type), micrometeorological and environmental measurements (e.g., air and soil temperatures), and flux measurement techniques. Here, we describe these variables, the spatial and temporal distribution of observations, the main strengths and limitations of the database, and the potential research opportunities it enables. In total, ABCflux includes 244 sites and 6309 monthly observations; 136 sites and 2217 monthly observations represent tundra, and 108 sites and 4092 observations represent the boreal biome. The database includes fluxes estimated with chamber (19 % of the monthly observations), snow diffusion (3 %) and eddy covariance (78 %) techniques. The largest number of observations were collected during the climatological summer (June–August; 32 %), and fewer observations were available for autumn (September–October; 25 %), winter (December–February; 18 %), and spring (March–May; 25 %). ABCflux can be used in a wide array of empirical, remote sensing and modeling studies to improve understanding of the regional and temporal variability in CO 2 fluxes and to better estimate the terrestrial ABZ CO 2 budget.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Simulations of divertor heat flux width using transport code with cross-field drifts under the BOUT++ framework

The fluid transport code [trans-electric field (Er) module] under the BOUT++ framework has been used to simulatedivertor heat flux width and boundary Er with all drifts and the sheath potential in the scrape-off layer. The calculated steady state radial Er in the pedestal region has been compared with that of experimental measurements from the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. The magnitude and shape of Er are similar to those of the experimental data. In order to understand the relative role of cross-field drifts vs turbulent transport in setting the heat flux width, four C-Mod enhanced Dα H-mode discharges with a lower single null divertor configuration should be simulated. BOUT++ transport simulations with cross-field drifts included yield similar heat flux width λq to that of experimental measurements (within a factor of 2) from both the probe and the surface thermocouple diagnostics and show a similar trend with plasma current to that of the Eich experimental scaling. The simulations show that both drifts and turbulent transport compete to determine the heat flux width. The magnetic drifts play a dominant role in setting the divertor heat-flux width, while the E × B drift decreases the heat flux width by 10%–25%, leading to improved agreement with the experiment relative to Goldston’s model. A turbulence diffusivity scan (χ) identifies two distinct regimes: a drift dominant regime when χ is small and a turbulence dominant regime when χ is large. The Goldston heuristic drift model yields a lower limit of the width λq.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Surface heat flux feedback controlled impurity seeding experiments with Alcator C-Mod’s high-Z vertical target plate divertor: performance, limitations and implications for fusion power reactors

The Alcator C-Mod team has recently developed a feedback system to measure and control surface heat flux in real-time. The system uses real-time measurements of surface heat flux from surface thermocouples and a pulse-width modulated piezo valve to inject low-Z impurities (typically N2) into the private flux region. It has been used in C-Mod to mitigate peak surface heat fluxes >40 MW/m2 down to <10 MW/m2 while maintaining excellent core confinement, H98>1. While the system works quite well under relatively steady conditions, use of it during transients has revealed important limitations on feedback control of impurity seeding in conventional vertical target plate divertors. In some cases, the system is unable to avoid plasma reattachment to the divertor plate or the formation of a confinement-damaging x-point MARFE. This is due to the small operational window for mitigated heat flux in the parameters of incident plasma heat flux, plasma density, and impurity density as well as the relatively slow response of the impurity gas injection system compared to plasma transients. Given the severe consequences for failure of such a system to operate reliably in a reactor, there is substantial risk that the conventional vertical target plate divertor will not provide an adequately controllable system in reactor-class devices. These considerations motivate the need to develop passively stable, highly compliant divertor configurations and experimental facilities that can test such possible solutions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1977

Vertical and horizontal fluxes of ozone at the tropopause from the first year of GASP data

Ozone measurements taken from commercial airlines (GASP data) are used to estimate the vertical and horizontal fluxes of ozone near the tropopause. The annual average flux of O3 into the troposphere at 30 to 50 deg N is nearly the same as indirect estimates based on surface O3 data, thus supporting the hypothesis that the amount of ozone in the troposphere is essentially controlled by injection from the stratosphere. The present GASP estimates of the total flux of O3 into the troposphere verify the model results of Cunnold et al. (1975), although the distribution of flux between mean motions and diffusion is different and suggests that models with coarse horizontal resolution must continue to parameterize much vertical transport by diffusion coefficients. A significant variation in the east-west spatial autocorrelation function of O3 near the tropopause is found to be about 1900 km. Monthly estimates of the horizontal transient eddy flux of ozone are generally smaller than seasonal or yearly results based on ozonesonde data. This is perhaps because the present estimates are made over monthly periods to reduce the influence of correlation between the annual variations in ozone and meridional wind. The available data support the hypothesis that transient eddy fluxes of O3 have large longitudinal variations.

Nastrom, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Use of global atmospheric data sets to test quasi-geostrophic eddy momentum flux convergence

The quasi-geostrophic relation between the fluxes of momentum, potential vorticity, and potential temperature is tested with global sets of atmospheric wind and temperature data by computing the convergence of momentum flux as a residual of the potential temperature and potential vorticity flux and comparing it to the momentum flux convergence computed directly. It is shown that in the troposphere between 18 N and 74 N the observed momentum flux convergence differs from the quasi-geostrophic convergence by 25%-60%, with the larger errors only occurring where the convergence is small. These results indicate that momentum flux convergence obtained from quasi-geostrophic theory is adequate for qualitative studies of the general circulation, and is comparable in accuracy to values obtained in general circulation models. For simple climate models and qualitative process studies, it can thus provide a useful approach.

Heck, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Light ion concentrations and fluxes in the polar regions during magnetically quiet times

Ion concentrations, flow velocities, and fluxes, measured by the ion mass spectrometer on the Isis 2 satellite for periods around the solstices and equinoxes of 1971 and 1972, have been used in a study of the polar wind morphology during magnetically quiet times. The results confirm the major tenets of polar wind theories; namely, that an upward flow of both H(+) and He(+) ions exists at all times over the entire polar region; H(+) fluxes are of the order of 10 to the 8th ions/sq cm s in both summer and winter polar regions. O(+) is the dominant ion specie at 1400-km altitude in regions of strong H(+) flows, and H(+) is depleted over the entire region where the polar wind flows. H(+) fluxes tend to be lower in winter than in summer, whereas He(+) fluxes are a factor of 10 higher in winter and tend to follow the neutral helium concentration near the F2 maximum. The latter agree well with model calculations of flux in the winter but lie above the model values by a factor of 2 in the summer. H(+) fluxes also agree well with ion flow models.

Hoffman, J. H.↗