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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Spatial Study 2021: Sensor-Based Time Series of Surface Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, Total Dissolved Solids, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen from across Multiple Watersheds in the Yakima River Basin, Washington, USA (v3)

This dataset supports a broader study examining the drivers of spatial variability in sediment respiration rates in the Yakima River Basin. The dataset provides two-hour time series hydrological and water chemistry sensor data, manual chamber open channel respiration data, handheld sensor water chemistry data, river substrate grain size photos, general environmental context photos, and field metadata (including qualitative information on instream and river corridor characteristics) collected during the same two-week period at 47 sites within multiple rivers throughout the Yakima River Basin in Washington, USA. Grain size photos can be used to improve estimates of channel substrate D50 data. Related sample-based water chemistry data are published separately at https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/datasets/doi:10.15485/1898914.This dataset is comprised of four main folders, one containing three sensor-specific subfolders and the others containing photographs. The SFA_SpatialStudy_2021_SensorData main data folder includes file-level metadata (FLMD), data dictionary (dd), installation methods, field metadata, Ultrameter water chemistry data, field data collection protocols, international generic sample number (IGSN) mapping file, and a readme file. The “Sensor_Manual_Specifications” subfolder contains pdf files from the manufacturer of each sensor with details on the sensor specifications. Each sensor subfolder (BarotrollAtm, MantaRiver, and MinidotManualChamber) contains a sensor data subfolder for timeseries data and a subfolder for plots and summary statistics. The BarotrollAtm Data subfolder contains In Situ Rugged BaroTROLL pressure and temperature data. The MantaRiver Data subfolder contains Eureka Manta+ 35B multisonde temperature, specific conductance, and pH data. The MinidotManualChamber Data subfolder contains PME MiniDOT Logger dissolved oxygen (mg/L and percent saturation) and temperature data. The folder SFA_SpatialStudy_2021_EnvironmentalContextPhotos contains environmental context photographs and videos. The folders SFA_SpatialStudy_2021_SedimentQuadratPhotos_Part1 and SFA_SpatialStudy_2021_SedimentQuadratPhotos_Part2 contain sediment quadrat photographs. All files are .csv, .pdf, .R, .jpg, .jpeg, .mp4, or .mov. This data package was originally published September 2022. It was updated January 2023 (modified files) and June 2024 (new and modified files). See the change history in data package readme for more details.We acknowledge the Yakama Nation as owners and caretakers of the lands where we collected these data. We thank the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and Yakama Nation Fisheries for working with us to facilitate sample collection and optimization of data usage according to their values and worldview.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Temperature, Humidity, and Time-Lapse Video Data from the East River Watershed, Water Years 2024 and 2025

This dataset contains time-lapse imagery and distributed measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, dew point, and soil temperature across the East River basin from 3 October 2023 to 8 August 2025. Instruments were deployed at 19 sites as part of the DOE Grant: Seasonal Cycles Unravel Mysteries of Missing Mountain Water organized by Jessica Lundquist (University of Washington), Rosemary Carroll (Desert Research Institute), and Ethan Gutmann (National Center for Atmospheric Research). The data are published to support studies of surface climate or hydrologic processes in complex terrain. Measurements were collected with low-cost data loggers installed 2 m high on evergreen trees or buried just below the soil surface. Time-lapse cameras were deployed at three sites. Imagery from sites AP BONUS and AP5 (Avery Picnic) provides insight into large-scale seasonal snow cover variability. Imagery from site EL2 (Emerald Lake) shows smaller-scale snow patterns across a nearby meadow. Dataset files are organized by site and variable (air measurements, ground measurements, or time-lapse video). Air and ground measurements are packaged in LoggerData.zip, and time-lapse imagery is compiled into short videos stored in TimelapseVideos.zip. File-level metadata contains details for each file included in the dataset. A data dictionary provides units and descriptions for column or row names in all files. The locations metadata file describes site characteristics, locations, and associated GPS methods.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Temperature, Humidity, and Time-Lapse Video Data from the East River Watershed, Water Year 2024

A new version of this dataset is available at doi:10.15485/3001338 and is the first citation in the 'Related References' section. It is expands on this dataset by appending another water year of data collection and additional logger sites.This dataset contains time-lapse imagery and distributed measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, dew point, and soil temperature across the East River basin from 3 October 2023 to 12 August 2024. Instruments were deployed at 14 sites as part of the DOE Grant: Seasonal Cycles Unravel Mysteries of Missing Mountain Water organized by Jessica Lundquist (University of Washington), Rosemary Carroll (Desert Research Institute), and Ethan Gutmann (National Center for Atmospheric Research). The data are published to support studies of surface climate or hydrologic processes in complex terrain. Measurements were collected with low-cost data loggers installed 2 m high on evergreen trees or buried just below the soil surface. Time-lapse cameras were deployed at three sites. Imagery from sites AP BONUS and AP5 provides insight into large-scale seasonal snow cover variability. Imagery from site EL2 shows smaller-scale snow patterns across a nearby meadow.Dataset files are organized by site and variable (air measurements, ground measurements, or time-lapse video). Air and ground measurements are packaged in LoggerData.zip, and time-lapse imagery is compiled into short videos stored in TimelapseVideos.zip. File-level metadata contains details for each file included in the dataset. A data dictionary provides units and descriptions for column or row names in all files. The locations metadata file describes site characteristics, locations, and associated GPS methods.Dataset update 2025-03-03: Resolved header and datetime formatting inconsistencies within LoggerData.zip files KP1_Air, KP3_Air, KP3_Ground, KP6_Ground, AP3_Ground, AP4_Air, and AP6_Air.Dataset update 2025-11-18: Modified abstract and related references sections to include new version of dataset.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2022

MSL MMRTG Power Modeling for Lifetime Performance Predictions

The Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) has been providing power to the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, Curiosity, for surface operations since 2012. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has employed the Life Performance Prediction Model (LPPM) to generate predictions and outputs based upon flight data from the rover and experimental data from the thermoelectric (TE) couples. In order to make these predictions, LPPM requires various spacecraft inputs relevant to RTG performance such as fin root temperature, load voltage, general purpose heat source (GPHS) inventory, etc., combined with couple data such as thermoelectric properties, interface degradation, and sublimation properties. With tens of thousands of hours of flight data to date, LPPM can not only track performance to date, but also make predictions on the power output of the MMRTG through the 17-year end-of-design-life (EODL). These predictions are useful for mission planners and surface operators who rely on the MMRTG for power in order to perform the critical science necessary during the mission. This paper will showcase the power data extracted from the flight electronics, comparing it to the predictions and outputs generated from LPPM.

Pinkowski, Stanley↗
NASA NTRS2017

Evaluation of HZETRN on the Martian Surface: Sensitivity Tests and Model Results

The Mars Science Laboratory Radiation Assessment Detector (MSLRAD) is providing continuous measurements of dose, dose equivalent, and particle flux on the surface of Mars. These measurements have been highly useful in validating environmental and radiation transport models that will be heavily relied upon for future deep space missions. In this work, the HZETRN code is utilized to estimate radiation quantities of interest on the Martian surface. A description of the modeling approach used with HZETRN is given along with the various input models and parameters used to define the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) environment and Martian geometry. Sensitivity tests are performed to gauge the impact of varying several input factors on quantities being compared to MSLRAD data. Results from these tests provide context for inter-code comparisons presented in a companion paper within this issue. It is found that details of the regolith and atmospheric composition have a minimal impact on surface flux, dose, and dose equivalent. Details of the density variation within the atmosphere and uncertainties associated with specifying the vertical atmospheric thickness are also found to have minimal impact. Two widely used GCR models are used as input into HZETRN and it is found that the associated surface quantities are within several percent of each other.

Tony C Slaba↗
DOE OSTI2022

Temporal Study 2021-2022: Sample-Based Surface Water Chemistry and Organic Matter Characterization across Watersheds in the Yakima River Basin, Washington, USA (v3)

This dataset supports a broader study examining the drivers of temporal variability in sediment respiration rates in the Yakima River Basin. The dataset provides geochemistry and organic matter characterization data generated from samples collected at weekly or bi-weekly intervals at six sites across the Yakima River Basin in Washington, USA. Related sensor data will be published separately and can be used to link sediment respiration rates to biogeochemical processing rates. The data package was originally published in November 2022. It was updated in November 2023 (v2; modified files) and April 2025 (new and modified files). See the change history section in readme for more details. For details on how to navigate data packages generated by this project, see https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/PNNLRiverCorridorSFA/About. This dataset is comprised of one main data folder containing (1) file-level metadata; (2) data dictionary; (3) field metadata; (4) dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC; reported as non-purgeable organic carbon; NPOC), total nitrogen (TN), total suspended solids (TSS), and ions; (5) averaged values from water chemistry data; (6) surface water sampling protocol; (7) sensor protocol; (8) readme; (9) methods codes; (10) international generic sample number (IGSN) mapping file; and (11) folder of high resolution characterization of organic via 12 Tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) through the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL; https://www.pnnl.gov/environmental-molecular-sciences-laboratory). This folder contains two subfolders, one containing the .xml data files and the other containing instructions for using Formularity (https://omics.pnl.gov/software/formularity) and an R script to process the data based on the user's specific needs. All files are .csv, .pdf, .R, .ref, or .xml. We acknowledge the Yakama Nation as owners and caretakers of the lands where we collected our data. We thank the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and Yakama Nation Fisheries for working with us to facilitate sample collection and optimization of data usage according to their values and worldview.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2010

2011 Mars Science Laboratory Mission Design Overview

Scheduled to launch in the fall of 2011 with arrival at Mars occurring in the summer of 2012, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory will explore and assess whether Mars ever had conditions capable of supporting microbial life. In order to achieve its science objectives, the Mars Science Laboratory will be equipped with the most advanced suite of instruments ever sent to the surface of the Red Planet. Delivering the next mobile science laboratory safely to the surface of Mars has various key challenges derived from a strict set of requirements which include launch vehicle performance, spacecraft mass, communications coverage during Entry, Descent, and Landing, atmosphere-relative entry speeds, latitude accessibility, and dust storm season avoidance among others. The Mars Science Laboratory launch/arrival strategy selected after careful review satisfies all these mission requirements.

Mars↗
DOE OSTI2022

Spatial Study 2021: Sample-Based Surface Water Chemistry and Organic Matter Characterization across Watersheds in the Yakima River Basin, Washington, USA (v3)

This dataset supports a broader study examining the drivers of spatial variability in sediment respiration rates in the Yakima River Basin. The dataset provides geochemistry and organic matter characterization data generated from samples collected during the same two-week period at 47 sites within multiple rivers throughout the Yakima River Basin in Washington, USA. Related sensor data are published at https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/datasets/doi:10.15485/1892054. This data package was originally published September 2022. It was updated May 2023 (modified files) and November 2024 (new and modified files). See the change history section in the readme for more details. This dataset is comprised of one main data folder containing (1) file-level metadata; (2) data dictionary; (3) field metadata; (4) dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC; reported as non-purgeable organic carbon; NPOC), total nitrogen (TN), total suspended solids (TSS), ions, and benzene polycarboxylic acid (BPCA) concentration and stable isotope data; (5) averaged values from water chemistry data; (6) surface water sampling protocol; (7) sensor protocol (8) readme; (9) methods codes; (10) international generic-sample number (IGSN) mapping file; and (11) folder of high resolution characterization of organic matter via 12 Tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) through the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL; https://www.pnnl.gov/environmental-molecular-sciences-laboratory). This folder contains two subfolders, one containing the .xml data files and the other containing instructions for using Formultitude (https://github.com/PNNL-Comp-Mass-Spec/Formultitude) and an R script to process the data based on the user's specific needs. All files are .csv, .pdf, .R, .ref, or .xml. We thank the United States Forest Service, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Parks, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and Cowiche Canyon Conservancy for access to field locations where these samples were collected. We also thank the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and Yakama Nation Fisheries for working with us to facilitate sample collection and optimization of data usage according to their values and worldview.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2001

Broad Perspectives on Mars Landing Site Selection: Geological Factors from Centimeter to Kilometer Scales

Selection of a landing site for the '03 and later Mars surface missions represents a balance between potential science results and landing site safety. Although safety has to be the prime consideration, it is the melding together of spacecraft hazard analysis with science analysis that provides the key to understanding the nature of the surface for determining both its safety for landing and its scientific potential. Our goal here is to discuss the geological factors that go into a determination of site safety, at scales from centimeters up to kilometers, and to understand the implications for the resulting scientific return that can be expected.

Jakosky, B. M.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Small-scale roughness entraps water and controls underwater adhesion

While controlling underwater adhesion is critical for designing biological adhesives and in improving the traction of tires, haptics, or adhesives for health monitoring devices, it is hindered by a lack of fundamental understanding of how the presence of trapped water impedes interfacial bonding. Here, by using well-characterized polycrystal diamond surfaces and soft, nonhysteretic, low–surface energy elastomers, we show a reduction in adhesion during approach and four times higher adhesion during retraction as compared to the thermodynamic work of adhesion. Our findings reveal how the loading phase of contact is governed by the entrapment of water by ultrasmall (10-nanometer-scale) surface features. In contrast, the same nanofeatures that reduce adhesion during approach serve to increase adhesion during separation. The explanation for this counterintuitive result lies in the incompressibility-inextensibility of trapped water and the work needed to deform the polymer around water pockets. Unlike the well-known viscoelastic contribution to adhesion, this science unlocks strategies for tailoring surface topography to enhance underwater adhesion.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2012

GeoLab 2011: New Instruments and Operations Tested at Desert RATS

GeoLab is a geological laboratory and testbed designed for supporting geoscience activities during NASA's analog demonstrations. Scientists at NASA's Johnson Space Center built GeoLab as part of a technology project to aid the development of science operational concepts for future planetary surface missions [1, 2, 3]. It is integrated into NASA's Habitat Demonstration Unit, a first generation exploration habitat test article. As a prototype workstation, GeoLab provides a high fidelity working space for analog mission crewmembers to perform in-situ characterization of geologic samples and communicate their findings with supporting scientists. GeoLab analog operations can provide valuable data for assessing the operational and scientific considerations of surface-based geologic analyses such as preliminary examination of samples collected by astronaut crews [4, 5]. Our analog tests also feed into sample handling and advanced curation operational concepts and procedures that will, ultimately, help ensure that the most critical samples are collected during future exploration on a planetary surface, and aid decisions about sample prioritization, sample handling and return. Data from GeoLab operations also supports science planning during a mission by providing additional detailed geologic information to supporting scientists, helping them make informed decisions about strategies for subsequent sample collection opportunities.

Evans, Cindy A.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Intrinsic Berry curvature driven anomalous Nernst thermopower in the semimetallic Heusler alloy CoFeVSb

Understanding of spin-heat coupling mechanisms and magnetothermoelectric phenomena, including the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE), in emergent quaternary Heusler alloys is of practical importance for applications in thermal management and energy harvesting. Here, we demonstrate an intrinsic Berry curvature mediated anomalous Nernst thermopower in CoFeVSb, which orders magnetically at high temperature ( T C ≈ 850 K ) with a large saturation magnetization of ≈ 2.2 μ B / f . u . at room temperature. We show that the electron-electron elastic and electron-magnon inelastic scattering dominate longitudinal electrical transport at low temperatures ( T ≤ 50 K ), whereas the electron-phonon and electron-magnon scatterings govern it at higher T . The longitudinal thermopower is resulted mainly from the diffusive contribution with a very large longitudinal Seebeck coefficient ( 42 μ V K - 1 at 395 K). The value of the anomalous Nernst coefficient ( S ANE ) for CoFeVSb at room temperature is 0.039 μ V K - 1 which is higher than the compressively strained SrRu O 3 film ( 0.03 μ V K - 1 ) as well as the spin gapless semiconductor CoFeCrGa ( 0.018 μ V K - 1 ). On lowering T , both the ordinary Nernst coefficient and carrier mobility increase but an opposite trend is found for S ANE . Our ab initio simulations reveal the topological semimetallic nature of CoFeVSb with a pair of Weyl points. These Weyl crossings result in a significant contribution to the Berry curvature, leading to an intrinsic anomalous Hall conductivity ( σ x y AHE ) of ≈ 85 S/cm, which matches well with experiment (77 S/cm at 2 K). Our experimental findings and ab initio calculations support the dominance of the intrinsic Berry curvature in the observed ANE. The ratio of σ x y AHE to the transverse anomalous thermoelectric conductivity ( α x y ANE ) shows an increasing trend with T attaining a sizable fraction of k B e ( ≈ 0.35 k B e ) at room temperature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Downscaled precipitation and mean air temperature datasets; East-Taylor subbasin; 2008-2019; daily temporal resolution; 400 m spatial resolution

This dataset provides gridded meteorological forcing data (specifically, daily precipitation and daily mean air temperature). The dataset has been generated by downscaling the Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) dataset from a spatial resolution of 800 m to 400 m. The time period is 2008-2019, and the mapped area is East Taylor subbasin in Upper Colorado. The data are in the form of NetCDF files, arranged by year. Compared to the PRISM dataset, the dates of the downscaled dataset are shifted backwards by one (e.g., downscaled data for May 25 corresponds to PRISM data for May 26). This temporal shifting makes the meteorological forcing correspond more closely to the prescribed date. The NetCDF format is a standard raster format that can be read using any Geographic Information System (GIS) software; plenty of modules exist in popular scripting languages (such as Python, R and Matlab) that can also be used to read NetCDF files.East_Taylor_Tavg_PRISM400 corresponds to mean air temperature.East_Taylor_Precip_PRISM400.zip corresponds to precipitation.The proprietary PRISM data (800 m resolution) were purchased with funding from the Watershed Function Scientific Focus Area supported by U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research under award no. DE-AC02-05CH11231.Dataset update on March 9, 2022:Uploaded new data files that are identical to the earlier files but are now in the NetCDF format, arranged by year. Earlier, the files were in the GeoTiff format, arranged by date.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Weather data at The Morton Arboretum 2017-2023

We have been monitoring long-term weather patterns using two weather stations at The Morton Arboretum to link environmental conditions to tree growth and other tree responses. This data package contains weather data at The Morton Arboretum from 2017-08-23 to 2023-12-31; data is located in the "MortonWeatherData2017_2023.csv" file. The two weather stations are located on each side of The Arboretum (e.g., the Nursery station on the East side and the Ware Field station on the West side; the two weather stations are 3.23 km apart and coordinates are included in the "Location_metadata.csv" file). Measured variables include rain accumulation, air temperature, relative humidity, three soil moisture/temperature measurements at various depths (10, 30, and 50 cm for the Nursery weather station, and 10, 25, and 50 cm for the Ware Field), solar radiation, saturation vapor pressure, and vapor pressure deficit.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

CROCUS Optical All Precipitation Gauge Data at Argonne National Laboratory Prairie Site

The APG (Optical Scientific Inc. All-Precipitation Gauge 815-DS) dataset contains one-minute measurements of precipitation rate, precipitation accumulation, air temperature, and present weather detection, both in 4680 format and decoded. Data were collected at the Argonne Testbed for Multiscale Observational Science (ATMOS), a 20-acre prairie site at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois. The data is presented as daily NetCDF (.nc) files, each containing approximately 24 hours of observations. Files follow the naming convention of: the project (CROCUS), location (atmos), instrument name (apg), data level (raw, a1), and date (year, month, day). The NetCDF format can be accessed using common scientific software such as Python using xarray, netCDF4 or act-doe.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Meteorological Variables and Energy Fluxes at the Pumphouse Site, Crested Butte, CO 2017-2019

This data contains output from the pumphouse eddy covariance tower that includes shortwave radiation, longwave radiation, net radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, as well as sensible, latent, and ground heat fluxes. Also included is calculated evapotranspiration from the latent heat flux and the latent heat of vaporization. All data are on a daily timestep and displayed in Mountain Time. The data has been processed, and Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) was done, but any daily gaps in the data have not been filled in. This research was funded by the Department of Energy and performed as part of the Watershed Function Scientific Focus Area. This research aimed to constrain evapotranspiration in a high-elevation catchment.The dataset includes one comma-separated values (CSV) data file (EddyCovariance_MeteorlogicalVariables_CrestedButtePumphouse.csv). Additionally, three metadata CSV files are included: (1) location metadata file (locations.csv), which contains location metadata and coordinates; (2) a file-level metadata (flmd.csv) file that lists each file contained in the dataset with associated metadata; and (3) a data dictionary (dd.csv) file that contains column/row headers used throughout the files along with a definition, units, and data type.This work was supported by the Watershed Function Science Focus Area at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory funded by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1990

Life sciences research using a lunar laboratory

The necessity for life sciences research on the lunar surface in order to determine the consequences of returning from extended missions in various low gravity environments and of transiting through high multiple gravity forces during decelerations is discussed. The functions of a lunar gravitational biology laboratory are outlined. Lunar science objectives include investigations in developmental biology including the evaluation of the capacity of diverse organisms to undergo normal development and the evaluation of the use of the lunar environment to study specific developmental phenomena in ways that cannot be accomplished by earth-based research. The need for musculoskeletal studies to examine the dynamics of osteoclast and osteoblast formation and breakdown and to address bone and demineralization problems is discussed. Biological adaptation to hypogravic environments and the effects of radiation and electromagnetic environmental factors are also considered.

Cipriano, Leonard F.↗