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At least 145 records · Page 8

Anchoring Strategies for Marine Renewable Energy at the Sandia Water Impact Facility

This report documents the formulation and preliminary analysis of potential anchoring strategies for use in future WEC testing at the Sandia Water Impact Facility given the existing 5-ton and 10-ton concrete blocks at the facility. Three anchoring strategies are created that are applicable to different mooring configurations for existing WECs of interest for testing. The three anchoring strategies have a maximum allowable load of between 24.57 kN and 281.17 kN, depending on whether the 5-ton or 10-ton blocks are used, with Strategy 3 with 10-ton blocks having the highest allowable load. The AquaHarmonics and CalWave xWave WECs can be tested up to a 1:1.5 and 1:1.15 scale, respectively, while maintaining a mooring configuration very close to the one used in ocean deployment. The requirements for the mooring lines, shackles, and triplates needed to support the three strategies are also calculated, with commercially available products specified. Finally, the padeyes connected to the existing concrete blocks are assessed and determined to be satisfactory for the loading expected with these anchoring strategies.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Reference floating wind array designs for three representative regions

This work presents the systematic development of three open-source reference floating wind array designs. The designs are tailored to representative site conditions for three regions of the United States: Humboldt Bay off the coast of California, the Gulf of Maine, and the Gulf of America. We adopted existing reference designs for the individual 15 MW turbines, semisubmersible floating platforms, substations, mooring systems, and power cables – integrating and adapting them as needed for each location. We adapted existing dynamic cable designs to use larger conductor sizes to meet the arrays' power transmission requirements, and we set up redundant mooring systems for each substation. The layout of each array is a uniform-grid design optimized to approximately minimize the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) within a square lease area while satisfying spatial constraints. These constraints ensure adequate clearances between adjacent turbines and between underwater components during the layout optimization to prevent clashing and ensure that all components reside within the lease boundaries. Substations are included to allow accounting for intra-array cable costs. They are placed within the uniform grid to maintain the navigability of the arrays. For each feasible layout considered, annual energy production and cable routing costs are calculated and updated in the LCOE objective function. After the optimization, we refined the cable routing with a mix of algorithmic and manual methods to ensure that the cables avoid mooring system components and approach the substation with adequate clearances. We confirmed the suitability of each reference array's layout by comparing the wake losses at each wind heading angle to the wind rose, observing that the optimized layouts largely avoid wake losses in the predominant wind directions. These reference arrays provide open-source baseline designs to enable future research and innovation of floating wind technology at the array scale.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Analysis of nonlinear internal waves in the New York Bight

An analysis of the nonlinear-internal-wave evolution in the New York Bight was performed on the basis of current meter mooring data obtained in the New York Bight during the SAR Internal Wave Signature Experiment (SARSEX). The solitary wave theory was extended to include dissipation and shoaling effects, and a series of numerical experiments were performed by solving the wave evolution equation, with waveforms observed in the SARSEX area as initial conditions. The results of calculations demonstrate that the relative balance of dissipation and shoaling effects is crucial to the detailed evolution of internal wave packets. From an observed initial wave packet at the upstream mooring, the numerical evolution simulation agreed reasonably well with the measurements at the distant mooring for the leading two large solitons.

Liu, Antony K.↗

Validation of Special Sensor Microwave Imager monthly-mean wind speed from July 1987 to December 1989

Since July 1987, the Remote Sensing Systems (Santa Rosa, California) routinely computes from first principles the wind speed from Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) measurements of the intensity of microwave radiation emitted at the ocean surface. The accuracy of monthly-mean SSM/I wind speeds is determined by comparisons with moored-buoy wind measurements, which were recorded by four different institutions at 44 sites in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans during July 1987 to December 1989. All results for 1988 were virtually identical with 1989. The range of monthly mean moored-buoy wind speeds was 2-10 m/s. The rms difference of 697 monthly-mean matchups of the composite 1988 and 1989 data set was 1.2 m/s. The rms differences were smaller in the equatorial zone and higher in middle latitudes, in accord with the monthly standard deviation. At middle latitudes, the time series of rms differences displayed an annual cycle. In the equatorial zone, the agreement between SSM/I and in situ data was better in regions with a lesser amount of clouds, and vice versa. For SSM/I monthly standard deviations of 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4 m/s, the average absolute values of the monthly-mean difference between SSM/I and moored-buoy wind speeds were 0.6, 0.9, and 1.4 m/s, respectively.

Halpern, David↗

Evaluation of two January - June 1992 ERS-1 AMI wind vector data sets

A Jan. - Jun. 1992 10 m height wind vector field was computed with the CMOD2 model function. Freilich and Dunbar used ESA measurements of AMI (Active Microwave Instrument) sigma-naught to derive a refined model function and to produce an alternate Jan. - Jun. 1992 10 m height wind vector field, named FD data. The ESA and FD model functions and algorithms were substantially different. The FD wind vectors were in better agreement with the climatological mean wind field and with moored buoy wind measurements. The average correlation coefficients between monthly mean and daily averaged FD and moored buoy matchups of the Cartesian wind components were 0.84 and 0.74, respectively. The average root mean square differences between the monthly mean and daily averaged FD and moored buoy matchups of the Cartesian wind components were 1.25 and 3.0 m/s, respectively.

Halpern, D.↗

ERS-1 scatterometer estimates of annual variations of Atlantic ITCZ and Pacific NECC

A 10 m height wind vector data set, named CMODFD, from ERS-1 Active Microwave Instrument (AMI) measurements, was compared with moored buoy wind observations. The CMODFD wind vectors compared favorably with moored buoy wind observations at about 60 sites. Satisfactory results were obtained from intercomparisons between CMODFD and moored buoy estimates of horizontal wind divergence and wind stress curl. The CMODFD positions of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) at 28 deg west were nearly equal to those determined from satellite images of clouds. The CMODFD data were employed to compute the Ekman vertical velocity in the region of the Pacific North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC), and a correlative relation was found between the annual cycles and longitudinal variations of the NECC and Ekman vertical motion.

Halpern, D.↗

The Parent Magmas of the Cumulate Eucrites: A Mass Balance Approach

The cumulate eucrite meteorites are gabbros that are related to the eucrite basalt meteorites. The eucrite basalts are relatively primitive (nearly flat REE patterns with La approx. 8-30 x CI), but the parent magmas of the cumulate eucrites have been inferred as extremely evolved (La to greater than 100 x CI). This inference has been based on mineral/magma partitioning, and on mass balance considering the cumulate eucrites as adcumulates of plagioclase + pigeonite only; both approaches have been criticized as inappropriate. Here, mass balance including magma + equilibrium pigeonite + equilibrium plagiociase is used to test a simple model for the cumulate eucrites: that they formed from known eucritic magma types, that they consisted only of magma + crystals in chemical equilibrium with the magma, and that they were closed to chemical exchange after the accumulation of crystals. This model is tested for major and Rare Earth Elements (REE). The cumulate eucrites Serra de Mage and Moore County are consistent, in both REE and major elements, with formation by this simple model from a eucrite magma with a composition similar to the Nuevo Laredo meteorite: Serra de Mage as 14% magma, 47.5% pigeonite, and 38.5% plagioclase; Moore County as 35% magma, 37.5% pigeonite, and 27.5% plagioclase. These results are insensitive to the choice of mineral/magma partition coefficients. Results for the Moama cumulate eucrite are strongly dependent on choice of partition coefficients; for one reasonable choice, Moama's composition can be modeled as 4% Nuevo Laredo magma, 60% pigeonite, and 36% plagioclase. Selection of parent magma composition relies heavily on major elements; the REE cannot uniquely indicate a parent magma among the eucrite basalts. The major element composition of Y-791195 can be fit adequately as a simple cumulate from any basaltic eucrite composition. However, Y-791195 has LREE abundances and La/Lu too low to be accommodated within the model using any basaltic eucrite composition and any reasonable partition coefficients. Postcumulus loss of incompatible elements seems possible. It is intriguing that Serra de Mage, Moore County, and Moama are consistent with the same parental magma; could they be from the same igneous body on the eucrite parent asteroid (4 Vesta)?

Treiman, Allan H.↗

[MODIS Investigation]

The objectives of the last six months were: Continue analysis of Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) bio-optical mooring data, Recover instrumentation from JGOFS cruises in the Southern Ocean and analyze data Maintain documentation of MOCEAN algorithms and software for use by MOCEAN and GLI teams Continue chemostat experiments on the relationship of fluorescence quantum yield to environmental factors. Continue to develop and expand browser-based information system for in situ bio-optical data Work Analysis of Field Data from Hawaii We are continuing to analyze bio-optical data collected at the Hawaii Ocean Time Series mooring. The HOT bio-optical mooring was recovered in May 1998. After retrieving the data, the sensor package was serviced and redeployed. We now have over 18 months of data. These are being analyzed as part of a larger study of mesoscale processes at this JGOFS time series site. We have had some failures in the data logger which have affected the fluorescence channels. These are being repaired. We also had an instrument housing failure, and minor modifications have been made to avoid subsequent problems. In addition, Ricardo Letelier is funded as part of the SeaWiFS calibrator/validation effort (through a subcontract from the University of Hawaii, Dr. John Porter), and he is collecting bio-optical and fluorescence data as part of the HOT activity.

Abbott, Mark R.↗

Advances in Understanding Decadal Climate Variability

Recently, a joint Brazil-France-U.S. program, known as PIRATA (Pilot Research moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic), was proposed to begin the deployment of moored measurement platforms in the tropical Atlantic in order to enhance the existing observational data base and subsequent understanding of the processes by which the ocean and atmosphere couple in key regions of the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Empirical studies have suggested that there are strong relationships between tropical Atlantic upper ocean variability, SST, ocean-atmosphere coupling and regional climate variability. During the early 1980's a coordinated set of surface wind, subsurface thermal structure, and subsurface current observations were obtained as part of the U.S.-France SEQUAL-FOCAL process experiment designed to observe the seasonal response of the tropical Atlantic Ocean to surface forcing. Since that time, however, the observational data base for the tropical Atlantic Ocean has disintegrated to a few ship-tracks measuring ocean temperatures and a small collection of tide gauge stations measuring sea level. A more comprehensive set of observations, modeling and empirical studies is now in order to make progress on understanding the regional climate variability. The proposed PIRATA program will use mooring platforms similar to the tropical Pacific Ocean TAO array to measure surface fluxes of momentum and heat and the corresponding changes in the upper ocean thermal structure. It is anticipated that the oceanic data from this monitoring array will also be used in a predictive mode for initialization studies of regional coupled climate models. Of particular interest are zonal and meridional modes of ocean-atmosphere variability within the tropical Atlantic basin that have significant impacts on the regional climate of the bordering continents.

Busalacchi, Antonio J.↗

Advances in Understanding Decadal Climate Variability

Recently, a joint Brazil-France-U.S. program, known as PIRATA (Pilot Research moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic), was proposed to begin the deployment of moored measurement platforms in the tropical Atlantic in order to enhance the existing observational data base and subsequent understanding of the processes by which the ocean and atmosphere couple in key regions of the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Empirical studies have suggested that there are strong relationships between tropical Atlantic upper ocean variability, SST, ocean-atmosphere coupling and regional climate variability. During the early 1980's a coordinated set of surface wind, subsurface thermal structure, and subsurface current observations were obtained as part of the U.S.-France SEQUAL- FOCAL process experiment designed to observe the seasonal response of the tropical Atlantic Ocean to surface forcing. Since that time, however, the observational data base for the tropical Atlantic Ocean has disintegrated to a few shiptracks measuring ocean temperatures and a small collection of tide gauge stations measuring sea level. A more comprehensive set of observations, modeling and empirical studies is now in order to make progress on understanding the regional climate variability. The proposed PIRATA program will use mooring platforms similar to the tropical Pacific Ocean TAO array to measure surface fluxes of momentum and heat and the corresponding changes in the upper ocean thermal structure. It is anticipated that the oceanic data from this monitoring array will also be used in a predictive mode for initialization studies of regional coupled climate models. Of particular interest are zonal and meridional modes of ocean-atmosphere variability within the tropical Atlantic basin that have significant impacts on the regional climate of the bordering continents.

Busalaacchi, Antonio J.↗

New Chemical, Bio-Optical and Physical Observations of Upper Ocean Response to the Passage of a Mesoscale Eddy Off Bermuda

A mesoscale eddy advected across the Bermuda Testbed Mooring site over a 30-day period centered on July 14, 1995. Temperature and current measurements along with biogeochemical measurements were used to characterize the biological response of the upper ocean associated with the introduction of nitrate into the euphotic layer due to the doming of isotherms associated with the eddy. Complementary shipboard data showed an anomalous water mass, which extended from a depth of approximately 50 to 1000 m, manifesting as a cold surface expression and warm anomaly at depth. Although mesoscale eddies are frequently observed in the Sargasso Sea, the present observations are particularly unique because of the high-temporal-resolution measurements of the new instrumentation deployed on the mooring. Analyzers that measure nitrate plus nitrite were placed at depths of 80 and 200 m and bio-optical sensors were located at depths of 20, 35, 45, 71, and 86 m. Peak nitrate values of nearly 3.0 micro-M at 80 m and chlorophyll a values of 1.4 mg/cubic m at 71 m were observed, a well as a 25- to 30-meter shoaling of the 1% light level depth. A Doppler shift from the inertial period (22.8 hours) to 25.2 hours was observed in several time series records due to the movement of the eddy across the mooring. Inertial pumping brought cold, nutrient-rich waters farther into the euphotic zone than would occur solely by isothermal lifting. Silicic acid was depleted to undetectable levels owing to the growth of diatoms within the eddy. The chlorophyll a values associated with the eddy appear to be the largest recorded during the eight years of the ongoing US JGOFS Bermuda Atlantic Time Series Study program.

McNeil, J. D.↗

New Chemical, Bio-Optical and Physical Observations of Upper Ocean Response to the Passage of a Mesoscale Eddy off Bermuda

A mesoscale eddy advected across the Bermuda Testbed Mooring site over a 30-day period centered on July 14, 1995. Temperature and current measurements along with biogeochemical measurements were used to characterize the biological response of the upper ocean associated with the introduction of nitrate into the euphoric layer due to the doming of isotherms associated with the eddy. Complementary shipboard data showed an anomalous water mass, which extended from a depth of approximately 50 to 1000 m, manifesting as a cold surface expression and warm anomaly at depth. Although mesoscale eddies are frequently observed in the Sargasso Sea, the present observations are particularly unique because of the high-temporal-resolution measurements of the new instrumentation deployed on the mooring. Analyzers that measure nitrate plus nitrite were placed at depths of 80 and 200 m and bio-optical sensors were located at depths of 20, 35, 45, 71, and 86 m. Peak nitrate values of nearly 3.0 microns at 80 m and chlorophyll alpha values of 1.4 mg/cu m at 71 m were observed, as well as a 25- to 30-meter shoaling of the 1% light level depth. A Doppler shift from the inertial period (22.8 hours) to 25.2 hours was observed in several time series records due to the movement of the eddy across the mooring. Inertial pumping brought cold, nutrient-rich waters farther into the euphotic zone than would occur solely by isothermal lifting. Silicic acid was depleted to undetectable levels owing to the growth of diatoms within the eddy. The chlorophyll alpha values associated with the eddy appear to be the largest recorded during the 8 years of the ongoing U.S. JGOFS Bermuda Atlantic Time Series Study (BATS) program.

McNeil, J. D.↗

Evaluation of Arctic Sea Ice Thickness Simulated by AOMIP Models

We compare results from six AOMIP model simulations with estimates of sea ice thickness obtained from ICESat, moored and submarine-based upward looking sensors, airborne electromagnetic measurements and drill holes. Our goal is to find patterns of model performance to guide model improvement. The satellite data is pan-arctic from 2004-2008, ice-draft data is from moored instruments in Fram Strait, the Greenland Sea and the Beaufort Sea from 1992-2008 and from submarines from 1975-2000. The drill hole data are from the Laptev and East Siberian marginal seas from 1982-1986 and from coastal stations from 1998-2009. While there are important caveats when comparing modeled results with measurements from different platforms and time periods such as these, the models agree well with moored ULS data. In general, the AOMIP models underestimate the thickness of measured ice thicker than about 2 m and overestimate thickness of ice thinner than 2 m. The simulated results are poor over the fast ice and marginal seas of the Siberian shelves. Averaging over all observational data sets, the better correlations and smaller differences from observed thickness are from the ECCO2 and UW models.

Johnson, Mark↗

Near Real-Time Applications of Earth Remote Sensing for Response to Meteorological Disasters

Numerous on‐orbit satellites provide a wide range of spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions supporting the use of their resulting imagery in assessments of disasters that are meteorological in nature. This presentation will provide an overview of recent use of Earth remote sensing by NASA's Short‐term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center in response to disaster activities in 2012 and 2013, along with case studies supporting ongoing research and development. The SPoRT Center, with support from NASA's Applied Sciences Program, has explored a variety of new applications of Earth‐observing sensors to support disaster response. In May 2013, the SPoRT Center developed unique power outage composites representing the first clear sky view of damage inflicted upon Moore and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma following the devastating EF‐5 tornado that occurred on May 20. Subsequent ASTER, MODIS, Landsat‐7 and Landsat‐8 imagery help to identify the damaged area. Higher resolution imagery of Moore, Oklahoma were provided by commercial satellites and the recently available International Space Station (ISS) SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System (ISERV) instrument. New techniques are being explored by the SPoRT team in order to better identify damage visible in high resolution imagery, and to monitor ongoing recovery for Moore, Oklahoma. Other applications are being developed to refine light source detections with the VIIRS day‐night band and to map hail during the growing season through combination of available satellite and radar imagery. The aforementioned products and support are not useful unless they are distributed in a timely manner and within an appropriate decision support system. This presentation will provide an update on ongoing activities to support inclusion of these data sets within the NOAA National Weather Service Damage Assessment Toolkit, which allows meteorologists in the field to consult available satellite imagery while performing their damage assessment.

Molthan, Andrew L.↗

Near Real-­Time Applications of Earth Remote Sensing for Response to Meteorological Disasters

Numerous on‐orbit satellites provide a wide range of spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions supporting the use of their resulting imagery in assessments of disasters that are meteorological in nature. This presentation will provide an overview of recent use of Earth remote sensing by NASA's Short‐term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center in response to disaster activities in 2012 and 2013, along with case studies supporting ongoing research and development. The SPoRT Center, with support from NASA's Applied Sciences Program, has explored a variety of new applications of Earth‐observing sensors to support disaster response. In May 2013, the SPoRT Center developed unique power outage composites representing the first clear sky view of damage inflicted upon Moore and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma following the devastating EF‐5 tornado that occurred on May 20. Subsequent ASTER, MODIS, Landsat‐7 and Landsat‐8 imagery help to identify the damaged area. Higher resolution imagery of Moore, Oklahoma were provided by commercial satellites and the recently available International Space Station (ISS) SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System (ISERV) instrument. New techniques are being explored by the SPoRT team in order to better identify damage visible in high resolution imagery, and to monitor ongoing recovery for Moore, Oklahoma. Other applications are being developed to refine light source detections with the VIIRS day‐night band and to map hail during the growing season through combination of available satellite and radar imagery. The aforementioned products and support are not useful unless they are distributed in a timely manner and within an appropriate decision support system. This presentation will provide an update on ongoing activities to support inclusion of these data sets within the NOAA National Weather Service Damage Assessment Toolkit, which allows meteorologists in the field to consult available satellite imagery while performing their damage assessment.

Molthan, Andrew L.↗

Applications of Satellite Remote Sensing for Response to and Recovery from Meteorological Disasters

Numerous on‐orbit satellites provide a wide range of spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions supporting the use of their resulting imagery in assessments of disasters that are meteorological in nature. This presentation will provide an overview of recent use of Earth remote sensing by NASA's Short‐term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center in response to disaster activities in 2012 and 2013, along with case studies supporting ongoing research and development. The SPoRT Center, with support from NASA's Applied Sciences Program, has explored a variety of new applications of Earth‐observing sensors to support disaster response. In May 2013, the SPoRT Center developed unique power outage composites representing the first clear sky view of damage inflicted upon Moore and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma following the devastating EF‐5 tornado that occurred on May 20. Subsequent ASTER, MODIS, Landsat‐7 and Landsat‐8 imagery help to identify the damaged areas. Higher resolution imagery of Moore, Oklahoma were provided by commercial satellites and the recently available International Space Station (ISS) SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System (ISERV) instrument. New techniques are being explored by the SPoRT team in order to better identify damage visible in high resolution imagery, and to monitor ongoing recovery for Moore, Oklahoma. This presentation will provide an overview of near real‐time data products developed for dissemination to SPoRT's partners in NOAA's National Weather Service, through collaboration with the USGS and other federal agencies. Specifically, it will focus on integration of various data sets within the NOAA National Weather Service Damage Assessment Toolkit, which allows meteorologists in the field to consult available satellite imagery while performing their damage assessment.

Molthan, Andrew I.↗

Applications of Satellite Remote Sensing for Response to and Recovery from Meteorological Disasters

Numerous on‐orbit satellites provide a wide range of spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions supporting the use of their resulting imagery in assessments of disasters that are meteorological in nature. This presentation will provide an overview of recent use of Earth remote sensing by NASA's Short‐term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center in response to disaster activities in 2012 and 2013, along with case studies supporting ongoing research and development. The SPoRT Center, with support from NASA's Applied Sciences Program, has explored a variety of new applications of Earth‐observing sensors to support disaster response. In May 2013, the SPoRT Center developed unique power outage composites representing the first clear sky view of damage inflicted upon Moore and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma following the devastating EF‐5 tornado that occurred on May 20. Subsequent ASTER, MODIS, Landsat‐7 and Landsat‐8 imagery help to identify the damaged areas. Higher resolution imagery of Moore, Oklahoma were provided by commercial satellites and the recently available International Space Station (ISS) SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System (ISERV) instrument. New techniques are being explored by the SPoRT team in order to better identify damage visible in high resolution imagery, and to monitor ongoing recovery for Moore, Oklahoma. This presentation will provide an overview of near real‐time data products developed for dissemination to SPoRT's partners in NOAA's National Weather Service, through collaboration with the USGS and other federal agencies. Specifically, it will focus on integration of various data sets within the NOAA National Weather Service Damage Assessment Toolkit, which allows meteorologists in the field to consult available satellite imagery while performing their damage assessment.

Molthan, Andrew L.↗

Radiation Testing Electronics with Heavy Ions-The Best Way to Hit a Target Moving Ever Exponentially Faster

In 1972, when engineers at Hughes Aircraft Corporation discovered that errors in their satellite avionics were being caused by cosmic rays (so-called single-event effects, or SEE), Moore's Law was only 7 years old. Now, more than 45 years on, the scaling that drove Moore's Law for its first 35 years has reached its limits. However, electronics technology continues to evolve exponentially and SEE remain a formidable issue for use of electronics in space. SEE occur when a single ionizing particle passes through a sensitive volume in an active semiconductor device and generates sufficient charge to cause anomalous behavior or failure in the device. Because SEE can occur at any time during the mission, the emphasis of SEE risk management methodologies is ensuring that all SEE modes in a device under test are detected by the test. Because a particle's probability of causing an SEE generally increases as the particle becomes more ionizing, heavy-ion beams have been and remain the preferred tools for elucidating SEE vulnerabilities. In this talk we briefly discuss space radiation environments and SEE mechanisms, describe SEE test methodologies and discuss current and future challenges for use of heavy-ion beams for SEE testing in an era when the continued validity of Moore's law depends on innovation rather than CMOS scaling.

space radiation environments↗