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At least 1,387 records · Page 77

Marine Energy Environmental Toolkit for Permitting and Licensing

The permitting and licensing process for marine energy in the U.S. could take up to 7 years for even small demonstrations or pilot studies despite existing resources like Tethys, MarineCadstre, and the FERC E-Library. The goal of the Marine Energy Environmental Toolkit Project was to increase regulators, developers, and marine energy innovators’ understanding of potential environmental effects of marine energy conversion devices deployments and provide information to make efficient and effective determinations during permitting and licensing; develop a one-stop shop for existing environmental, spatial, regulatory, and scientific data that allows users to access disparate sources of data through a series of tags and spatial queries. The Toolkit (marineenergy.app) builds upon prior U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) investments by pulling from WPTO-funded and outside resources to facilitate the permitting and licensing process, inform technology developers of required permits, and disseminate the latest knowledge of the environmental effects of these devices to regulators, developers, and marine energy innovators and stakeholders.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Transformation rate maps of dissolved organic carbon in the contiguous US

Riverine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) plays a vital role in regional and global carbon cycles. However, the processes of DOC conversion from soil organic carbon (SOC) and leaching into rivers are insufficiently understood, inconsistently represented, and poorly parameterized, particularly in land surface and Earth system models. As a first attempt to fill this gap, we propose a generic formula that directly connects SOC concentration with DOC concentration in headwater streams, where a single parameter, the transformation rate from SOC in the soil to DOC leaching flux (P r ), accounts for the overall processes governing SOC conversion to DOC and leaching from soils (along with runoff) into headwater streams. We then derive high-resolution P r maps over the contiguous US (CONUS) using SOC data from two different sources: the Harmonized World Soil Database v1.2 (HWSD) and SoilGrids 2.0. Both maps are developed following the same five major steps: (1) selecting independent catchments where observed riverine DOC data are available with reasonable quality; (2) estimating catchment-average SOC for the independent catchments; (3) estimating the P r values for these catchments based on the generic formula and catchment-average SOC; (4) developing a predictive model of P r with machine learning (ML) techniques and catchment-scale climate, hydrology, geology, and other attributes; and (5) deriving a national map of P r based on the ML model. For evaluation, we compare the DOC concentration derived using the P r map and the observed DOC concentration values at evaluation catchments. The resulting mean absolute scaled error and coefficient of determination are 0.73 and 0.47 for the HWSD-based model and 0.58 and 0.72 for the SoilGrids-based model, respectively, suggesting the effectiveness of the overall methodology. Efforts to constrain uncertainty and evaluate sensitivity of P r to different factors are discussed. To illustrate the use of such maps, we derive a riverine DOC concentration reanalysis dataset over CONUS. The two P r maps, robustly derived and empirically validated, lay a critical cornerstone for better simulating the terrestrial carbon cycle in land surface and Earth system models. Our findings not only set a foundation for improving our predictive understanding of the terrestrial carbon cycle at the regional and global scales, but also hold promises for informing policy decisions related to decarbonization and climate change mitigation. The data presented in this study are publicly available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14563816 (Li et al., 2024).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Users manual for the Variable dimension Automatic Synthesis Program (VASP)

A dictionary and some problems for the Variable Automatic Synthesis Program VASP are submitted. The dictionary contains a description of each subroutine and instructions on its use. The example problems give the user a better perspective on the use of VASP for solving problems in modern control theory. These example problems include dynamic response, optimal control gain, solution of the sampled data matrix Ricatti equation, matrix decomposition, and pseudo inverse of a matrix. Listings of all subroutines are also included. The VASP program has been adapted to run in the conversational mode on the Ames 360/67 computer.

White, J. S.↗

Statistical assessment of a unique time series analysis technique

Empirical tests of a particular least squares multiple prediction program were studied, as well as the relationship of this particular program to general least squares multiple prediction theory. Empirical evaluation and test of the program involved: (1) conversion of the program to run on an IBM 360/44 with replication of test results obtained on a Univac 1108; and (2) generation and analysis of Monte Carlo simulated data with the objective of comparison against results theoretically obtainable from spectrum analysis routines.

Benignus, V. A.↗

Relative crater production rates on planets

The relative numbers of impacts on different planets, estimated from the dynamical histories of planetesimals in specified orbits (Wetherill, 1975), are converted by a described procedure to crater production rates. Conversions are dependent on impact velocity and surface gravity. Crater retention ages can then be derived from the ratio of the crater density to the crater production rate. The data indicate that the terrestrial planets have crater production rates within a factor ten of each other. As an example, for the case of Mars, least-squares fits to crater-count data suggest an average age of 0.3 to 3 billion years for two types of channels. The age of Olympus Mons is discussed, and the effect of Tharsis volcanism on channel formation is considered.

Hartmann, W. K.↗

Investigation of potential of differential absorption Lidar techniques for remote sensing of atmospheric pollutants

The NASA multipurpose differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system uses two high conversion efficiency dye lasers which are optically pumped by two frequency-doubled Nd:YAG lasers mounted rigidly on a supporting structure that also contains the transmitter, receiver, and data system. The DIAL system hardware design and data acquisition system are described. Timing diagrams, logic diagrams, and schematics, and the theory of operation of the control electronics are presented. Success in obtaining remote measurements of ozone profiles with an airborne systems is reported and results are analyzed.

Butler, C. F.↗

Triton and Nereid astrographic observations from Voyager 2

This article describes the reduced astrographic observations of Triton and Nereid derived from Voyager 2 imaging data. The data set contains 496 sets of spacecraft-centered fight ascension and declination observations and includes all of the observations used in Voyager encounter operations. The details of the conversion process from imaging to astrographic observations are given. The effect of using the astrographic rather than imaging form in ephemeris improvement is evaluated.

Jacobson, R. A.↗

Quantitative Prediction of Perovskite Stability Using Accelerated Testing and Machine Learning

PV technologies based on hybrid perovskites offer the potential for reducing solar cell costs, but they are particularly vulnerable to degradation by environmental factors such as moisture, oxygen, and illumination. Commercialization will require not only stable materials and device architectures but also accelerated testing protocols and models that can predict degradation from the accelerated testing data. Here, we report results from in situ photoluminescence (PL) and photoconductivity (PC) measurements during perovskite degradation with simultaneous optical transmittance (Tr) measurements or reflected dark field (DF) imaging. From PL, PC, Tr, and DF, we determine (respectively) the steady-state quasi-Fermi level splitting, the mean effective carrier diffusion length, the extent of conversion of perovskite to higher bandgap degradation products, and the extent of scattering from domains with different orientation or composition, all as a function of time during degradation. Simultaneous measurement of PL-PC-Tr or PL-PC-DF on perovskite absorbers in an environmental chamber over a wide range of humidity, oxygen, temperature, and illumination levels yields a rich data set. We use machine learning to develop a model that accurately predicts (within 10%) the time for the diffusion length to decrease to 85% of its initial value. The model takes the environmental conditions and the first few measurements from the PL-PC-Tr or PL-PC-DF experiment as input. Thus, the model provides a framework to interpret the results of accelerated testing of absorber materials. One of the dominant features in the model of degradation for CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 is the initial rate at which transmittance increase. For devices with opaque contacts, the pixel-averaged rate of change of the intensity in dark-field images can be used in place of transmittance. Results are also presented on full PV devices with in-situ current-voltage (JV) measurements. Here, the data from simultaneous PL-DF-JV under environmental stresses reveal intimate connection between degradation and shunts and provide a framework to extend accelerated testing to devices. Further, the presentation reveals underlying universal behavior in degradation pathways over a broad range of environmental stresses and perovskite compositions.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Satellite-Based Assessment of Grassland Conversion and Related Fire Disturbance in the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Spruce beetle-induced (Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby)) mortality on the Kenai Peninsula has been hypothesized by local ecologists to result in the conversion of forest to grassland and subsequent increased fire danger. This hypothesis stands in contrast to empirical studies in the continental US which suggested that beetle mortality has only a negligible effect on fire danger. In response, we conducted a study using Landsat data and modeling techniques to map land cover change in the Kenai Peninsula and to integrate change maps with other geospatial data to predictively map fire danger for the same region. We collected Landsat imagery to map land cover change at roughly five-year intervals following a severe, mid-1990s beetle infestation to the present. Landcover classification was performed at each time step and used to quantify grassland encroachment patterns over time. The maps of land cover change along with digital elevation models (DEMs),temperature, and historical fire data were used to map and assess wildfire danger across the study area. Results indicate the highest wildfire danger tended to occur in herbaceous and black spruce land cover types, suggesting that the relationship between spruce beetle damage and wildfire danger in costal Alaskan forested ecosystems differs from the relationship between the two in the forests of the coterminous United States. These change detection analyses and fire danger predictions provide the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (KENWR) ecologists and other forest managers a better understanding of the extent and magnitude of grassland conversion and subsequent change in fire danger following the 1990s spruce beetle outbreak.

wildfire↗

Models, In situ, and Remote Sensing of Aerosols (MIRA)

There is a natural partitioning of scientific interest amongst three specialties of aerosol re-search: modeling, in situ measurements, and remote sensing. The broader aerosol community benefits when these groups interact, and this strengthens overall scientific impact on climate and air quality research and predictions. The new MIRA working group establishes a forum for identifying collaborations and improving discussions amongst specialties and across regional boundaries. One area of keen interest is uniting satellite and ground-based lidar groups with other aerosol disciplines. Elastic backscatter lidars depend upon a priori knowledge of aerosol properties to convert measured lidar profiles into aerosol extinction profiles. Acquiring additional insight on aerosol properties and transport is highly valuable to these lidar groups to improve the data quality and aid in their scientific interpretation. Another area of interest is to facilitate the incorporation of measurements into global aerosol models. Modelers need aerosol optical look-up tables that enable quick conversions of hydrated (and dry) polydisperse size distributions into aerosol optical properties (extinction, scattering, etc.), but many of the existing tables are based upon outdated measurements. Thus, MIRA is building the Tables of Aerosol Optics (TAO), which is a community collection of aerosol optical calculations. This expands on the historical efforts of Shettle and Fenn, d’Almeida, GADS, OPAC, etc., except that TAO seeks continual input from the community. Thus, as aerosol measurement and computational techniques advance, so does the TAO collective. Since TAO is a community collective, it is expected that users will optionally upload computations for aerosol type as well as computations for all of the traditional aerosol species(like amm sulfate, amm nitrate, organics, etc.). The near-term purpose of the MIRA working group is to: *Characterize regional aerosol lidar ratios to support improvements of aerosol extinction profiles and understanding of aerosol typing. *Create TAO --a community cooperative of aerosol optical tables. *Facilitate international communications between aerosol measurement and modeling groups. *Encourage the use of regional knowledge to develop and improve remote sensing techniques for current and future backscatter lidars located in space. *Enable and foster communication between the scientists who run global aerosol models and scientists who analyze space-based lidar data. We will discuss how a collaborative aerosol working group will be organized on this topic. Those who are interested in MIRA can sign up for the MIRA email listserver at https://forms.gle/qdbCnngzNJc5YJi57.

Greg Schuster↗

Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA): Formation of an International Working Group

There is a natural partitioning of scientific interest amongst three specialties of aerosol re- search: modeling, in situ measurements, and remote sensing. The broader aerosol community benefits when these groups interact, and this strengthens overall scientific impact on climate and air quality research and predictions. The new MIRA working group establishes a forum for identifying collaborations and improving discussions amongst specialties and across regional boundaries. One area of keen interest is uniting satellite and ground-based lidar groups with other aerosol disciplines. Elastic backscatter lidars depend upon a priori knowledge of aerosol properties to convert measured lidar profiles into aerosol extinction profiles. Acquiring additional insight on aerosol properties and transport is highly valuable to these lidar groups to improve the data quality and aid in their scientific interpretation. Another area of interest is to facilitate the incorporation of measurements into global aerosol models. Modelers need aerosol optical look-up tables that enable quick conversions of hydrated (and dry) polydisperse size distributions into aerosol optical properties (extinction, scattering, etc.), but many of the existing tables are based upon outdated measurements. Thus, MIRA is building the Tables of Aerosol Optics (TAO), which is a community collection of aerosol optical calculations. This expands on the historical efforts of Shettle and Fenn, d’Almeida, GADS, OPAC, etc., except that TAO seeks continual input from the community. Thus, as aerosol measurement and computational techniques advance, so does the TAO collective. Since TAO is a community collective, it is expected that users will optionally upload computations for aerosol type as well as computations for all of the traditional aerosol species (like amm sulfate, amm nitrate, organics, etc.). The near-term purpose of the MIRA working group is to: * Characterize regional aerosol lidar ratios to support improvements of aerosol extinction profiles and understanding of aerosol typing. * Create TAO -- a community cooperative of aerosol optical tables. * Facilitate international communications between aerosol measurement and modeling groups. * Encourage the use of regional knowledge to develop and improve remote sensing techniques for current and future backscatter lidars located in space. * Enable and foster communication between the scientists who run global aerosol models and scientists who analyze space-based lidar data. We will discuss how a collaborative aerosol working group will be organized on this topic. Send email to calipso_v5alr-join@lists.nasa.gov with the word `subscribe' in the subject line to join MIRA.

Gregory Schuster↗

Annual Technology Baseline (ATB): The 2024 Transportation Update

The Transportation Annual Technology Baseline (ATB) provides detailed cost and performance data, estimates, and assumptions for vehicle and fuel technologies in the United States. It includes current and projected estimates for vehicle technologies as well as fuels, and it details the assumptions used to calculate those costs, such as gas and electricity prices, discount rates, and vehicle miles traveled. The 2024 update added more biofuels pathways to align with pathways used in the Biomass Scenario Model.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS,DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSI↗

International Space Station Remote Sensing Pointing Analysis

This paper analyzes the geometric and disturbance aspects of utilizing the International Space Station for remote sensing of earth targets. The proposed instrument (in prototype development) is SHORE (Station High-Performance Ocean Research Experiment), a multiband optical spectrometer with 15 m pixel resolution. The analysis investigates the contribution of the error effects to the quality of data collected by the instrument. This analysis supported the preliminary studies to determine feasibility of utilizing the International Space Station as an observing platform for a SHORE type of instrument. Rigorous analyses will be performed if a SHORE flight program is initiated. The analysis begins with the discussion of the coordinate systems involved and then conversion from the target coordinate system to the instrument coordinate system. Next the geometry of remote observations from the Space Station is investigated including the effects of the instrument location in Space Station and the effects of the line of sight to the target. The disturbance and error environment on Space Station is discussed covering factors contributing to drift and jitter, accuracy of pointing data and target and instrument accuracies.

Jacobson, Craig A.↗

Molecular Structure of Sphingomyelin in Fluid Phase Bilayers Determined by the Joint Analysis of Small-Angle Neutron and X-ray Scattering Data

In this work, we have determined the fluid bilayer structure of palmitoyl sphingomyelin (PSM) and stearoyl sphingomyelin (SSM) by simultaneously analyzing small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering data. Using a newly developed scattering density profile (SDP) model for sphingomyelin lipids, we report structural parameters including the area per lipid, total bilayer thickness, and hydrocarbon thickness, in addition to lipid volumes determined by densitometry. Unconstrained all-atom simulations of PSM bilayers at 55 °C using the C36 CHARMM force field produced a lipid area of 56 Å 2 , a value that is 10% lower than the one determined experimentally by SDP analysis (61.9 Å2). Furthermore, scattering form factors calculated from the unconstrained simulations were in poor agreement with experimental form factors, even though segmental order parameter (S CD ) profiles calculated from the simulations were in relatively good agreement with S CD profiles obtained from NMR experiments. Conversely, constrained area simulations at 61.9 Å 2 resulted in good agreement between the simulation and experimental scattering form factors, but not with S CD profiles from NMR. We discuss possible reasons for the discrepancies between these two types of data that are frequently used as validation metrics for molecular dynamics force fields.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Obtaining Accurate Change Detection Results from High-Resolution Satellite Sensors

Multi-date acquisitions of high-resolution imaging satellites (e.g. GeoEye and WorldView), can display local changes of current economic interest. However, their large data volume precludes effective manual analysis, requiring image co-registration followed by image-to-image change detection, preferably with minimal analyst attention. We have recently developed an automatic change detection procedure that minimizes false-positives. The processing steps include: (a) Conversion of both the pre- and post- images to reflectance values (this step is of critical importance when different sensors are involved); reflectance values can be either top-of-atmosphere units or have full aerosol optical depth calibration applied using bi-directional reflectance knowledge. (b) Panchromatic band image-to-image co-registration, using an orthorectified base reference image (e.g. Digital Orthophoto Quadrangle) and a digital elevation model; this step can be improved if a stereo-pair of images have been acquired on one of the image dates. (c) Pan-sharpening of the multispectral data to assure recognition of change objects at the highest resolution. (d) Characterization of multispectral data in the post-image ( i.e. the background) using unsupervised cluster analysis. (e) Band ratio selection in the post-image to separate surface materials of interest from the background. (f) Preparing a pre-to-post change image. (g) Identifying locations where change has occurred involving materials of interest.

multispectral↗

Substrate–Support Interactions Mediate Hydrogenation of Phenolic Compounds by Pd/CeO 2 Nanorods

Ceria-supported palladium (Pd/CeO 2 ) has spawned significant attention in recent years due to its ability to catalyze selective hydrogenation of phenolic compounds to cyclohexanones and cyclohexanols at a mild temperature and pressure. However, the mechanistic basis by which ceria enhances catalytic conversion is still unclear. Here, we use the increase in the 13 C transverse relaxation rate upon the addition of nanoparticles (NPs) ( 13 C ΔR 2 ) to investigate the adsorption of phenolic compounds on the surface of the Pd/CeO 2 catalyst by solution NMR. We show that hydroxyphenols adsorb on the support more efficiently than underivatized phenol and methoxyphenols and that phenol derivatives with an oxygen atom at position 2 (i.e., 2-hydroxyphenol and 2-methoxyphenol) form very stable interactions with the Pd site of Pd/CeO 2 . An analysis of the kinetics of hydrogenation revealed that catalytic conversion is linearly correlated with the ability of the substrate to form interactions with the CeO 2 support and is inhibited by the formation of stable substrate–Pd adducts. Our data suggest that CeO 2 –substrate interactions mediate phenol hydrogenation more efficiently than Pd–substrate interactions and explain the exceptional catalytic performance reported for Pd/CeO 2 .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Catalytic Reduction of Esters over Zirconia-Supported Metal Catalysts

Esters are often produced as unwanted byproducts during the catalytic upgrading of ethanol to diesel fuel precursors through Guerbet coupling. Removal of esters from the product stream is important to prevent the loss of downstream catalyst activity from ester-derived carboxylic acids. In this work, we studied ester hydrogenolysis to the parent alcohols as a viable route for enhanced diesel fuel production. Specifically, we investigated the reduction of hexyl acetate in butanol over ZrO 2 -supported Ni, Co, Cu, Rh, Pd, and Pt catalysts, where Cu/ZrO 2 was the most selective catalyst for the hydrogenolysis of hexyl acetate into hexanol and ethanol. Thermodynamic analysis reveals that a 90% alcohol yield can be obtained at 200 °C, 30 bar, and a relatively high H 2 :hexyl acetate molar ratio of 480:1. Experimentally, an alcohol yield of 88% yield was obtained with a 10 wt % Cu/ZrO 2 catalyst at these conditions with a residence time of 5.4 h kg cat kmol gas –1 . Catalytic tests on the support revealed that ZrO 2 catalyzes the transesterification reaction between hexyl acetate and butanol. However, only the Cu sites can catalyze the hydrogenolysis of the esters into the final alcohols. We developed a kinetic model for our experimental results, which shows that the transesterification and hydrogenolysis reactions run at two different timescales, the former being 10 times faster than the latter. Data regression has been used to develop a model to predict the mole fraction distribution of ester hydrogenolysis products over a wide range of contact times. Cu/ZrO 2 loses half its catalytic activity after 80 h of time on stream. Modeling of deactivation data reveals that the ZrO 2 support conserves a residual activity due to external active sites, while active sites over the Cu surface deactivate at different rates. Furthermore, the catalytic conversion of esters into their parent alcohols is relevant to the production of surrogate liquid fuels since alcohols can be bimolecularly dehydrated to produce a blend of ethers with diesel fuel-like properties.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Multi-modality deep learning for pulse prediction in homogeneous nonlinear systems via parametric conversion

In this Letter, we introduce FusionNet, a multi-modality deep learning framework designed to predict and analyze output pulses in high-power rare-earth-doped laser systems driving parametric conversion in homogeneous guided nonlinear media. FusionNet integrates temporal, spectral, and physical experimental conditions to model ultrafast nonlinear phenomena, including parametric nonlinear frequency conversion, self-phase modulation, and cross-phase modulation in homogeneous guided systems such as gas-filled hollow-core fibers. These systems bridge physical models with experimental data, advancing our understanding of light-guiding principles and nonlinear interactions while expediting the design and optimization of on-demand high-power, high-brightness systems. Our results demonstrate a 73% reduction in prediction error and an 83% improvement in computational efficiency compared to conventional neural networks. This work establishes a new paradigm for accelerating parametric simulations and optimizing experimental designs in high-power laser systems, with further implications for high-precision spectroscopy, quantum information science, and distributed entangled interconnects.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗