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At least 1,135 records · Page 63
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

An Inventory of AI-ready Benchmark Data for US Fires, Heatwaves, and Droughts

Extreme weather events, including fires, heatwaves, and droughts, have significant impacts on earth, environmental, and energy systems. Mechanistic and predictive understanding, as well as probabilistic risk assessment of these extreme weather events, are crucial for detecting, planning for, and responding to these extremes. Records of extreme weather events provide an important data source for understanding present and future extremes, but the existing data needs preprocessing before it can be used for analysis. Moreover, there are many nonstandard metrics defining the levels of severity or impacts of extremes. In this study, we compile a comprehensive benchmark data inventory of extreme weather events, including fires, heatwaves, and droughts. The dataset covers the period from 2001 to 2020 with a daily temporal resolution and a spatial resolution of 0.5°×0.5° (~55km×55km) over the continental United States (CONUS), and a spatial resolution of 1km × 1km over the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region, together with the co-located and relevant meteorological variables. By exploring and summarizing the spatial and temporal patterns of these extremes in various forms of marginal, conditional, and joint probability distributions, we gain a better understanding of the characteristics of climate extremes. The resulting AI/ML-ready data products can be readily applied to ML-based research, fostering and encouraging AI/ML research in the field of extreme weather. This study can contribute significantly to the advancement of extreme weather research, aiding researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in developing improved preparedness and response strategies to protect communities and ecosystems from the adverse impacts of extreme weather events.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Status of Modifications to the AGR-3/4 Fission Product Transport Model

A one-dimensional (1D) finite-element model of the AGR 3/4 experiment fission product distributions based on the Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) framework has been revised and implemented within BISON, with improvements which allow for detailed temperature histories to be used for analyses. Empirically determined concentration profiles and ring inventories from the AGR-3/4 experiment have been compiled for comparison purposes. Ongoing efforts to build fission product diffusion models which can describe the applicable physics for isotopic concentration profiles in each AGR-3/4 capsule are discussed, as well as the suitability of each isotopic concentration profile in each capsule for obtaining transport parameters.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Refining Processing Engines from SAPHIRE: Initialization of Fault Tree/Event Tree Solver

SAPHIRE has been extensively employed for over 35 years to model risk-important systems and quantify risk models. As a well-established and thoroughly documented Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) tool, SAPHIRE has continuously tracked computational trends and received regular updates. Despite its ongoing evolution, there remains a need for further enhancements, particularly in dealing with the quantification of exceptionally large models. These improvements could take the form of algorithmic advancements, harnessing the power of parallel computing, and exploring the potential benefits of cloud computing solutions. Considering these aspirations, the notion of a remote solve option was introduced and subsequently evolved into a dedicated project within the SAPHIRE development team. A significant outcome of this initiative is SAPHSOLVE, an engine extracted from the SageRisk API designed specifically for remote solving capabilities. The ongoing project is nearing its culmination, marked by a series of discoveries that have brought undocumented aspects to light. Among these revelations is the intricacy of the input and output format for the SAPHSOLVE engine. This document serves the crucial purpose of meticulously delineating the precise formats for both input and output, as they form an indispensable foundation. The importance of documenting these formats cannot be overstated, as it is a pivotal step in facilitating rigorous testing and comparison. Whether it involves scrutinizing SAPHSOLVE results against those of the internal integrated solver or other external solvers, the ability to construct models or transform existing ones into a compatible SAPHSOLVE format is imperative. Chapter 1 offers a succinct introduction to both SAPHIRE and SAPHSOLVE, followed by Chapter 2 which outlines the roadmap for enhancing SAPHSOLVE. The core of this report is Chapter 3, which intricately elucidates the intricacies of the input and output file formats. To provide a tangible illustration of these formats, a rudimentary example has been compiled and is available in Appendix. SAPHSOLVE represents a novel external solving mechanism developed by the SAPHIRE team, although it has not yet reached the full spectrum of capabilities possessed by SAPHIRE's internal solver. However, the SAPHIRE team has set a comprehensive course for incorporating the functionalities of SAPHSOLVE. A comprehensive outlook on the future of SAPHSOLVE is expounded upon in Chapter 4.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Thermal Capture and Prompt Capture Gamma Databases

A summary is given of the IAEA Technical Meeting on Thermal Capture and Prompt Capture Gamma Databases. The program to compile and evaluate thermal capture cross sections is discussed. An update of the prompt gamma activation database EGAF is planned. Technical discussions and the resulting work plan are summarized, along with planned actions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Preliminary Enhanced LAW Glass Formulation Algorithm

This report summarizes the Preliminary Enhanced Low-Activity Waste Glass Formulation Algorithm (GFA), its background information, and the calculations it performs. The Preliminary Enhanced Low-Activity Waste GFA is a tool developed in MATLAB to formulate glass for a given waste composition while attempting to maximize waste loading. It is intended for use at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, where nuclear waste will be vitrified into glass. The formulated glass is required to satisfy several processing and product quality constraints. In addition, calculations must account for associated uncertainties in constraint prediction and measurement. The GFA adheres to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory nuclear quality assurance procedures and has been validated and verified. In this second revision to the report, two constraints: the lithium and zirconia target constraints were amended to Table 3.1 and programmed into the algorithm. Additionally, three sections were added. Section 3.2.1 includes the Enhanced LAW Correlation Rules, an addition to the glass optimality criteria. Section 4.0 discusses a stepped process approach taken to ensure the algorithm can adequately react to differences between its recommended output and the actual measurements and transfers made during plant operation, and calculation of specific radionuclide concentrations. Section 5.2 describes changes to the user interaction with the algorithm program including the addition of a graphical user interface and compilation of the software.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2023

A commentary on thallium radiochemistry in conjunction with OPEX23

Thallium radiochemistry was developed as a routine analytical capability at Los Alamos, dating from some of its earliest history after WWII. The first post-war compilation of radiochemical procedures published by the Radiochemistry Group J-11 is dated February 1953 as Los Alamos report LA-1566. The thallium radiochemistry procedure was authored by René J. Prestwood, and the details of the method as documented in 1953 are nearly identical to the thallium procedure contained in the most recent Collected Radiochemical and Geochemical Procedures (Fifth Edition) contained in Los Alamos report LA-1721 issued May 1990. René was a talented and well-respected member of the Radiochemistry Group. He first came to the lab in 1943 as an undergraduate student from UC Berkeley to join the Manhattan Project. After the war, René earned his PhD in Nuclear Chemistry with Art Wahl at Washington University in St. Louis. He then returned to Los Alamos as a technical staff member and retired in 1984. René passed away at the age of 92 on December 21, 2012.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2023

Resonance Parameter Evaluation of n + 88 Sr reactions for ENDF/B-VIII.1 Library

An evaluation of n+ 88 Sr reactions up to 950 keV was compiled from a publicly available set of resonance parameters. Starting from the repository of the ENDF/B-VIII.0 library, an evaluated nuclear data file was assembled and submitted for inclusion to the Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF)/B-VIII.1 release. This evaluation features an external function representation defined by pole strengths and R ∞ parameters over the entire resolved resonance range. This work improves the modeling of the R-matrix parameterization from multi-Level Breit-Wigner resonance parameters to Reich-Moore formalism, and it also extends thrice the upper energy range of the current ENDF/B-VIII.0 resolved resonance evaluation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Final Co-op Presentation Fall 2023

This presentation is an overview of the four projects I worked on during my first co-op term. The first project was a 3D-printed support for a horn that was being X-rayed. My second project was a website that compiled all data available on outgassing and created a comprehensive database. My third project was creating a cart for a PIP-II absorber that needs to be transported down the beamline using NX. My fourth and final project was testing a prototype of a collimator.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Using Likwid and Byfl to Benchmark Hardware Performance

This paper outlines a benchmarking study conducted during my internship at LANL, focusing on CPU (Computer Processing Unit) and program performance assessment. The primary goal was to gather memory access data using three methods across five polybench kernels The data gathered would then be used to compare and contrast to one another and calculate operational intensity for performance comparisons. Benchmarking tools like Byfl and Likwid were employed, with Byfl offering hardware-independent data through LLVM compiler communication and Likwid directly interacting with computer hardware. The study considered various benchmarking factors, including optimization levels, Big O notation ((n)), CPU diversity and specific kernel equations. Big O notation was utilized to simplify code complexity, with detailed breakdwons of operations and memory components for each polybench application. Specific O(n) equations enabled nuanced kernel compariosns, facilitating the identification of performance variations. CPU efficiency assessments were conducted using Likwid tests on two CPUs. The central focus on code optimization aimed at achieving higher speeds and reduced memory usage through streamlined code. Future work propsoes creating a roofline model, synthesizing benchmarking data into a comprehensive data graph to assist in optimizing code and improving hardware performance. The potential impact on the laboratory or national mission was underscored, emphasizing the importance of optimizing applications and hardware to conserve resources and accelerate program execution. The specific relevance to LANL’s operations in math-intensive fields such as Nuclear Fission, Space Exploration, and Nanotechnology highlights the necessity of efficient benchmarking for resource conservation and proram speed. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of CPU and program performance, providing insights for future optimization efforts in a laboratory setting

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Task 12 PV Sustainability - Life Cycle Inventories and Life Cycle Assessments of Photovoltaic Systems

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a structured, comprehensive method of quantifying material- and energy-flows and their associated impacts in the life cycles of products (i.e., goods and services). One of the major goals of IEA PVPS Task 12 is to provide guidance on assuring consistency, balance, transparency and quality of LCA to enhance the credibility and reliability of the results. The current report presents the latest consensus life cycle inventories among the authors, PV LCA experts in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. At this time consensus is limited to four technologies for which there are well-established and up-to-date life cycle inventory (LCI) data (mono- and multi-crystalline Si, CdTe, CIGS, as well as one emerging technology (perovskite silicon tandem). LCIs are necessary for LCA and the availability of such data is often the greatest barrier for conducting LCA. The Task 12 LCA experts have put great efforts in gathering and compiling the LCI data presented in this report. These include detailed inputs and outputs during manufacturing of cell, wafer, module, and balance-of-system (i.e., structural and electrical components) that were estimated from actual production and operation facilities. In addition, data are presented to enable analyses of various types of PV installations; these include operational data of rooftop and ground-mount PV systems and country-specific PV-mixes. The LCI datasets presented in this report are the latest that are available to the public describing the status in 2018 for crystalline Si (some manufacturing data from 2011 were not updated), 2015 and 2017-2018 for CdTe, 2010 for CIGS, 2010 for HCPV, and 2017 for perovskite silicon tandem technology.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Industrial Assessment Center Program Final Progress Report

This final progress report details the work completed between Fiscal Years 2017 and 2021, including a no-cost extension partially through FY2022. Dr. Bryan Rasmussen served as the center director (2017-2022), with James Eggebrecht (2017-2022) and Heather Lewis (2021-2022) as Assistant Directors. The results in this report were compiled by Dr. Rasmussen from available records, and are correct to the best of our knowledge. The following should only be considered a partial listing of center activities.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2024

Developing And Scaling an OpenFOAM Model to Study Turbulent Flow in a HFIR Coolant Channel

Improving the understanding of how computational fluid dynamics (CFD) direct numerical simulations (DNS) of flows in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) perform when run in parallel using the high performance computing (HPC) platform Summit at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) is of particular importance to boost the computational tools used to support HFIR conversion to low enriched fuel (LEU). Evaluation of scaling performance was driven by the increasing importance of graphics processing unit (GPU) usage in HPC, which is becoming the standard for modern supercomputers such as Summit. The desired results are to obtain a strong positive correlation between the computational resources dedicated to a problem and the relative speed-up of the simulation in comparison to a benchmark. This capability will allow substantially improvement in HFIR flow analytical capabilities, specifically when predicting turbulence properties at high Reynolds numbers. The study leverages previous simulation results performed with code PHASTA (finite element) on HPC platforms Cori (NERSC) and Theta (ALCF) [1] with computing options provided in the computing platform OpenFOAM (finite volume) at OLCF. Transitioning from PHASTA to OpenFOAM will (1) eliminate dependence on third-party software for mesh generation and manipulation, (2) reduce resource needs by employing modern architectures, and (3) build expertise for future modeling of HFIR-specific problems like heat transfer in involute geometry, entrance effects, flow structure in channel corners, and so on—all important issues when defining the available thermal margins in the transition to LEU. CPUs and GPUs differ significantly in their architecture and utilization, as discussed in the literature [2]. The most important differences are in the approach to computations and their memory. A single GPU contains a large quantity of cores, enabling it to perform with a much higher throughput than a CPU, but execution requires a different approach. GPU codes execute instructions using the Single-Instruction Multiple-Thread (SIMT) approach in which a single instruction is used for groups of threads called warps. A warp typically consists of 32 threads which must execute the same set of instructions, although on separate threads. Alternately, a CPU has far fewer cores that are much more flexible in their operation, excelling at quickly performing more complex serial computations. This is why GPUs have greater throughput when properly utilized. The second important difference is seen when comparing their memory spaces. Limited memory allocations and CPU–GPU communications cause a significant bottleneck in GPU-accelerated programs. Further study was required to properly take advantage of GPU resources. A comprehensive analysis of code performance and the model-specific features of turbulence constitutes the core of this work. In this study, a DNS simulation of HFIR channel turbulence was performed with the finite volume CFD code OpenFOAM v2112 and CUDA v11.0 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux v8.2. The OpenFOAM installation had AMGx integrated to enable GPU acceleration and utilizes the PETSc4FOAM library. The computational resources and the problem size were scaled on CPU and CPU + GPU architectures to gain a better understanding of the performance of a DNS problem on modern computing hardware. The study aimed to analyze the scaling of the code exclusively on CPUs and then to examine the scaling of the codes with GPU acceleration enabled. Scaling studies included CPU and GPU acceleration on a mesh of varying resolution to analyze the impact of problem size relative to computational resources. In the course of preparing the GPU configuration on Summit, mainly using the AMGX solvers, difficulties were encountered stemming from constant changes resulting from extensive ongoing development activities and the changing environment. This resulted in the inability to complete the GPU portion of the work. The code was compiled and tested, but production runs to assess acceleration were not performed because the used discretional compute time allocation expired as year-end approached. The Summit HPC platform is scheduled for decommissioning in 2024, making it unattractive for future use with Nvidia-based GPUs. Therefore, the work will be moved onto NERSC machines in FY24. An application was prepared and submitted, and sufficient node-hours were awarded to continue the research in the next calendar year. This report summarizes work performed thus far, which mostly focused on CPU OpenFOAM computing.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Addendum to Underground Test Area (UGTA) Closure Report for Corrective Action Unit 98: Frenchman Flat Nevada National Security Site, Nevada

This addendum to the CR for CAU 98, Frenchman Flat, NNSS, Nevada (compiled in DOE/EMNV, 2019) defines the long-term monitoring approach after a five-year evaluation of water sampling results, water-level measurements, and trends in water-level measurements. The approach was developed by Navarro and discussed in the report Corrective Action Unit 98: Frenchman Flat Five-Year Evaluation Nevada National Security Site, Nevada (DOE/EMNV, 2022), which was approved by NDEP. Sections 4.0 and 5.0 of the CR were rewritten to reflect the approach discussed in the five-year evaluation. Appendix C contains well construction diagrams that have been updated since the original CR was published. Appendix D contains updated Use Restriction (UR) forms and maps. NDEP requested an addendum instead of a complete revision to the Frenchman Flat CR so the history of the CR would not be lost.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Application of a Prize Mechanism to Address Data Utilization Challenges at Utilities

The electric industry sector is facing an “explosion” of data from a variety of sources. Electric sector stakeholders need to define how to capitalize on large datasets, both those they create and those from other sources (like data on weather, buildings, electric vehicles, etc.), to improve reliability and resilience and meet the changing system dynamics from renewable integration. For the electricity sector to fully utilize these vast new datasets, it must undergo a transformation in how it manages data quality, storage, and processing. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE) is committed to accelerating research, development, and demonstration of new technologies and tools within the electricity sector to advance reliability, resilience, and affordable operation of the power system. Through the prize mechanism, OE identified two widespread data-related challenges for utilities—load modeling and data analysis automation—and offered an opportunity for utilities and teams of software engineers to identify additional challenges faced by utilities. After completing one round of the American-Made Digitizing Utilities Prize, OE, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as the prize administrator, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) as the domain experts have compiled the results and lessons learned to feed into the second round of the prize.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2024

MARVEL Reactor Fuel Performance Report (Rev.2)

The Microreactor Applications Research Validation and EvaLuation (MARVEL) project is producing a high temperature liquid metal-cooled nuclear test bed at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to ultimately improve the integration of microreactors to end-user applications. This ambitious effort seeks to design, authorize, construct, test, and operate the reactor within five years. In order to construct and operate the MARVEL reactor in a timely manner, the system will utilize materials and component designs which have already been used, qualified, or licensed from previous reactors. The MARVEL reactor will be located at the INL Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility in the north high-bay equipment pit and will use the existing 304 stainless steel-clad U-ZrH1.6 pin-type fuel system developed by General Atomics and purchased from TRIGA International. This fuel has been previously qualified under the United States Department of Energy’s (US DOE) Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) Program. Even though the regulator of the MARVEL reactor is the US DOE, the standards and overall approach recommended by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is well-defined and utilized here. Following NUREG-1537 regulatory guidance, this report documents the authorization case for the MARVEL fuel system’s application to MARVEL and establishes stable and predictable fuel performance during the most thermophysically unfavorable conditions achievable in the MARVEL reactor. To that end, this report provides a comprehensive survey of the known thermophysical properties, performance, and quantitative relationships associated with the MARVEL reactor fuel element and uses this information to determine its mechanical integrity and risk of reaching unacceptable conditions during the most extreme accident scenarios predicted for the reactor using the most conservative assumptions available. The information contained herein is compiled from a combination of historical reports and peer reviewed scientific publication manuscripts. Known mechanisms under which the fuel is susceptible to failure are highlighted and compared to conditions that could exist in the MARVEL reactor during an unanticipated transient or accident scenario. The two scenarios considered for analysis in this report are (1) an unprotected loss of flow accident and (2) a hypothetical unprotected loss of coolant accident during the loss of flow accident. Preliminary 2D steady-state analyses herein indicate that both fuel-cladding chemical interactions and fuel-cladding mechanical interactions are negligible throughout the fuel’s operational cycle under both normal and high temperature accident scenario conditions. Although higher fidelity 3D time-dependent modeling and simulations are planned, the following may be concluded presently. The MARVEL fuel element maintains its geometric stability and structural integrity during the most extreme accident scenarios predicted for the MARVEL reactor. The hoop stress during the unprotected loss of flow accident reaches about -1.27 MPa; this negative stress indicates that it is compressive rather than tensile. The compressive stress is a result of the NaK pressure on the outside of the fuel element, caused by the restricted thermal expansion of the NaK coolant, exceeding the internal pressures generated inside of the fuel element. The hoop stress generated in the cladding during the unprotected loss of coolant accident reaches a maximum of about approximately 10 MPa, which is nearly an order of magnitude less than the predicted yield strength of the cladding under high-temperature accident scenario conditions. Calculations were compared with results from high performance computational simulations using BISON and are in very close agreement. A conservative MARVEL fuel meat peak temperature limit of 900 °C is recommended presently, which is about 180 °C higher than the peak fuel temperature predicted to occur during the most extreme accident. Based on the known properties and behavior of the MARVEL fuel element, the fuel successfully meets its design and safety requirements under normal and most extreme accident conditions with a large safety margin.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Levelized Cost of Energy Comparison of Floating Wind Farms With and Without Shared Anchors

As part of the Innovative Deep-Water Mooring Systems for Floating Wind Farms (DeepFarm) R&D project, led by Principle Power Inc., the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) performed an LCOE analysis to compare the changes in LCOE between floating wind farms with individual anchors versus shared anchors. This report presents a comparative analysis of the LCOE of two different wind farms with different mooring systems: one with taut mooring lines each connected to individual suction pile anchors, and one with taut mooring lines connected to shared anchors. A brief description of the methodology employed to conduct the LCOE comparison is given, including the underlying assumptions. Then, results are presented with a compilation of key findings.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2024

Invasive Plant Species Management Plan for Los Alamos National Laboratory (Rev.3)

Native species are plants and animals that continually occupy a natural range without direct or indirect introduction and/or care by humans. They are adapted to the environmental conditions and processes of the ecosystem in which they reside. A species introduced into a novel ecosystem can either exploit that ecosystem and thrive or be unable to survive in that ecosystem (Hobbs et al. 2006). Alien or non-native species are species that are intentionally or accidentally introduced into a novel ecosystem and are capable of living and propagating within the physical parameters of that ecosystem. Invasive species is a species that is non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and a noxious species are those whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm. The term invasive species is applicable to plants and animals alike; however, this invasive species management plan currently focuses on invasive vegetation. Invasive plant species are usually capable of rapid colonization of disturbed ground, such as after a change in wildfire regime intensity and frequency (Reilly et al. 2020) or anthropogenic ground disturbance (Burke and Grime 1996; Hobbs and Huenneke 1992). Climate change facilitates the spread and establishment of many alien species and creates new opportunities for them to become invasive (Turbelin and Catford 2021). As climate change impacts increase in the coming decades, we may see in an increase in invasive species establishment. See a list of definitions of terms pertinent to this document in Appendix A: Definitions. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) hosts populations of non-native and invasive species all typical of the northern New Mexico region (Martin 2004; NMDA 2020). By implementing an invasive species management plan, LANL will have readily accessible management strategies for invasive species that are found on-site. The benefits of managing invasive species include a decrease in wildland fire risks, an increase in soil productivity, an increase in (productive or beneficial) wildlife habitat, an increase in water quantity and quality, and the restoration of impacted areas (Burke and Grime 1996; Hobbs and Huenneke 1992; D’Antonio and Hobbie 2005; MacDougall et al. 2013; Reilly et al. 2020). The aforementioned benefits from invasive species management directly enable the LANL mission by ensuring compliance requirements are met and site-wide programs, such as the Vulnerability Assessment and Resilience Plan, are supported for a mutually beneficial outcome. An example for the LANL site specifically, controlling non-native annual plant species, for example, could reduce the costs associated with stabilizing soils during the stormwater pollution prevention compliance process. Roadway and utility right-of-way areas are another place where an integrated vegetation management strategy would promote low growing perennial plants in a way that is mutually beneficial to habitat and the institution through lowered maintenance costs. There is also an economic benefit to managing invasive species. In one nationwide study, invasive plants had an estimated impact cost of $190.45 billion (Fantel-Lepczyk et al. 2022). Investing in preventative measures and surveillance could help to offset future control and management costs of invasive species that have the potential to become established. The State of New Mexico has developed plant species lists and recommendations through the New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s Noxious Weeds Management Act, Article 7D (NM Statute § 76-7D-4 2021); however, effective invasive species management must rely on local knowledge of the site and region. Los Alamos County (LAC) has already compiled a target invasive plant species list and species-specific management objectives (Martin 2004). Therefore, the New Mexico Noxious Weed List and the LAC invasive plant species list, as well as management objectives from those documents, are integrated into LANL’s invasive plant species management plan.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

The geology, geochemistry, and geographic distribution of southern Idaho obsidian

The Snake River Plain Volcanic Province of Southern Idaho is host to an abundance of pyroclastic obsidian deposits that constitute the principal lithic raw material utilized by Native Americans of the region throughout the Precontact Period. Archaeologists have long looked to obsidian as a source of information on past patterns of raw material selection, landscape use, and mobility through geochemical analysis of obsidian artifacts and lithic raw materials. Formation of the Snake River Plain through cataclysmic “super-eruptions” of the Yellowstone hotspot, however, presents one of the most complex and poorly understood obsidian source-scapes of North America. To clarify the geographic distribution of Southern Idaho obsidian source groups, the INL CRMO has compiled a comprehensive reference library of geologic obsidian from 138 source locales distributed across the southern half of the state. In this report, we define 28 geochemically distinct obsidian source groups that occur at these deposits through X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry and contextualize the geographic distribution of each source group relative to the history of silicic magmatism on the Snake River Plain. This research facilitates ongoing investigations at the INL CRMO into patterns of obsidian procurement, conveyance, and exchange in Southern Idaho throughout the Precontact Period.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗