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At least 1,747 records · Page 97
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Observations of wind farm wake recovery at an operating wind farm

Abstract. The interplay of momentum surrounding wind farms significantly influences wake recovery, affecting the speed at which wakes return to their freestream velocities. Under stable atmospheric conditions, wind farm wakes can extend over considerable distances, leading to sustained vertical momentum flux downstream, with variations observed throughout the diurnal cycle. Particularly in regions such as the US Great Plains, stable conditions can induce low-level jets (LLJs), impacting wind farm performance and power output. This study examines the implications of wake recovery using long-term observations of vertical momentum flux profiles across diverse atmospheric conditions. In these observations, several key findings were observed, such as (a) LLJ heights being altered downstream of a wind farm, especially when the LLJs are below 250 m above ground level; (b) a notable impact of LLJ height on wake recovery being observed using momentum flux profiles at upwind and downwind locations, wherein LLJs between 250 and 500 m above ground level resulted in larger momentum transfer within the wake (i.e., smaller velocity deficit) compared to LLJs below 250 m above ground level; (c) the largest momentum flux variability being observed during stable atmospheric conditions, with non-negligible variability observed during neutral and unstable atmospheric conditions; (d) detection of wake effects almost always being observed throughout the atmospheric boundary layer height; and finally (e) enhancement of wake recovery being observed in the presence of propagating gravity waves. These insights deepen our understanding of the intricate dynamics governing wake recovery in wind farms, advancing efforts to model and predict their behavior across varying atmospheric contexts. In addition, the performance of large-eddy-simulation-based semi-empirical internal boundary layer height model estimates incorporating real-world atmospheric and turbine inputs was evaluated using observations during LLJ conditions.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1983

An evaluation of the accuracy of some radar wind profiling techniques

Major advances in Doppler radar measurement in optically clear air have made it feasible to monitor radial velocities in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. For most applications the three dimensional wind vector is monitored rather than the radial velocity. Measurement of the wind vector with a single radar can be made assuming a spatially linear, time invariant wind field. The components and derivatives of the wind are estimated by the parameters of a linear regression of the radial velocities on functions of their spatial locations. The accuracy of the wind measurement thus depends on the locations of the radial velocities. The suitability is evaluated of some of the common retrieval techniques for simultaneous measurement of both the vertical and horizontal wind components. The techniques considered for study are fixed beam, azimuthal scanning (VAD) and elevation scanning (VED).

Koscielny, A. J.↗
DOE OSTI2013

Correlations at large scales and the onset of turbulence in the fast solar wind

We show that the scaling of structure functions of magnetic and velocity fields in a mostly highly Alfvénic fast solar wind stream depends strongly on the joint distribution of the dimensionless measures of cross helicity and residual energy. Already at very low frequencies, fluctuations that are both more balanced (cross helicity ∼0) and equipartitioned (residual energy ∼0) have steep structure functions reminiscent of 'turbulent' scalings usually associated with the inertial range. Fluctuations that are magnetically dominated (residual energy ∼–1), and so have closely anti-aligned Elsasser-field vectors, or are imbalanced (cross helicity ∼1), and so have closely aligned magnetic and velocity vectors, have wide '1/f' ranges typical of fast solar wind. We conclude that the strength of nonlinear interactions of individual fluctuations within a stream, diagnosed by the degree of correlation in direction and magnitude of magnetic and velocity fluctuations, determines the extent of the 1/f region observed, and thus the onset scale for the turbulent cascade.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2003

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory Radiation Environment Model

CRMFLX (Chandra Radiation Model of ion FluX) is an environmental risk mitigation tool for use as a decision aid in planning the operations times for Chandra's Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) detector. The accurate prediction of the proton flux environment with energies of 100 - 200 keV is needed in order to protect the ACIS detector against proton degradation. Unfortunately, protons of this energy are abundant in the region of space Chandra must operate, and the on-board Electron, Proton, and Helium Instrument (EPHIN) does not measure proton flux levels of the required energy range. In addition to the concerns arising from the radiation belts, substorm injections of plasma from the magnetotail may increase the protons flux by orders of magnitude in this energy range. The Earth's magnetosphere is a dynamic entity, with the size and location of the magnetopause driven by the highly variable solar wind parameters (number density, velocity, and magnetic field components). Operational times for the telescope must be made weeks in advance, decisions which are complicated by the variability of the environment. CRMFLX is an engineering model developed to address these problems and provides proton flux and fluence statistics for the terrestrial outer magnetosphere, magnetosheath, and solar wind for use in scheduling ACIS operations. CRMFLX implements a number of standard models to predict the bow shock, magnetopause, and plasma sheet boundaries based on the sampling of historical solar wind data sets. Measurements from the GEOTAIL and POLAR spacecraft are used to create the proton flux database. This paper describes the recently released CRMFLX v2 implementation that includes an algorithm that propagates flux from an observation location to other regions of the magnetosphere based on convective ExB and VB-curvature particle drift motions in electric and magnetic fields. This technique has the advantage of more completely filling out the database and makes maximum use of limited data obtained during high Kp periods or in areas of the magnetosphere with poor satellite coverage.

Blackwell, W. C.↗
DOE OSTI2013

SUPERNOVAE AND AGN DRIVEN GALACTIC OUTFLOWS

We present analytical solutions for winds from galaxies with a Navarro-Frank-White (NFW) dark matter halo. We consider winds driven by energy and mass injection from multiple supernovae (SNe), as well as momentum injection due to radiation from a central black hole. We find that the wind dynamics depends on three velocity scales: (1) v{sub *}{approx}( E-dot / 2 M-dot ){sup 1/2} describes the effect of starburst activity, with E-dot and M-dot as energy and mass injection rate in a central region of radius R; (2) v {sub .} {approx} (GM {sub .}/2R){sup 1/2} for the effect of a central black hole of mass M {sub .} on gas at distance R; and (3) v{sub s}=(GM{sub h} / 2Cr{sub s}){sup 1/2}, which is closely related to the circular speed (v{sub c} ) for an NFW halo, where r{sub s} is the halo scale radius and C is a function of the halo concentration parameter. Our generalized formalism, in which we treat both energy and momentum injection from starbursts and radiation from the central active galactic nucleus (AGN), allows us to estimate the wind terminal speed to be (4v {sup 2} {sub *} + 6({Gamma} - 1)v {sub .} {sup 2} - 4v {sup 2} {sub s}){sup 1/2}, where {Gamma} is the ratio of force due to radiation pressure to gravity of the central black hole. Our dynamical model also predicts the following: (1) winds from quiescent star-forming galaxies cannot escape from 10{sup 11.5} M {sub Sun} {<=} M{sub h} {<=} 10{sup 12.5} M {sub Sun} galaxies; (2) circumgalactic gas at large distances from galaxies should be present for galaxies in this mass range; (3) for an escaping wind, the wind speed in low- to intermediate-mass galaxies is {approx}400-1000 km s{sup -1}, consistent with observed X-ray temperatures; and (4) winds from massive galaxies with AGNs at Eddington limit have speeds {approx}> 1000 km s{sup -1}. We also find that the ratio [2v {sup 2} {sub *} - (1 - {Gamma})v {sub .} {sup 2}]/v {sup 2} {sub c} dictates the amount of gas lost through winds. Used in conjunction with an appropriate relation between M {sub .} and M{sub h} and an appropriate opacity of dust grains in infrared (K band), this ratio has the attractive property of being minimum at a certain halo mass scale (M{sub h} {approx} 10{sup 12}-10{sup 12.5} M {sub Sun }) that signifies the crossover of AGN domination in outflow properties from starburst activity at lower masses. We find that stellar mass for massive galaxies scales as M {sub *}{proportional_to}M {sup 0.26} {sub h}, and for low-mass galaxies, M {sub *}{proportional_to}M {sup 5/3} {sub h}.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1974

Further analysis of broadband noise measurements for a rotating blade operating with and without its shed wake blown downstream

An experimental investigation has been conducted to investigate the broadband noise generated by a rotating-blade system. Tests were made with circular and NACA 0012 rotor-blade sections. The blades were operated only with zero lift at each radial station. Tests were made both with zero axial velocity, so that the blades operated in their own turbulent wake, and with a small axial velocity imposed by the wind tunnel to blow the wake of one blade away before the passage of the next blade. The rotor with cylindrical blades generally radiated more noise throughout the noise spectrum than did the rotor with airfoil blades. Blowing the blade wake away from the rotor with cylindrical blades did not have any appreciable effect on the amplitude frequency spectrum, and the predominant noise was broadband, either with tunnel wind on or off. For the rotor with airfoil blades, however, blowing the blade wake away changed the character of the noise spectrum completely in that broadband noise was eliminated or diminished to such an extent as to be indistinguishable. The broadband noise of the airfoil-bladed rotor with zero axial velocity is apparently caused by lift fluctuations due to velocity components of the turbulence normal to the plane of rotation.

Scheiman, J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Mass loss from cool stars, facts, fads, and fallacies

The accumulation of observational material (ultraviolet spectroscopic measures, quantitative optical spectroscopy, and X-ray photometry) and its use in discerning the presence and character of mass loss across the cool half of the H-R diagram and establishing constraints on theoretical models are discussed. Analogies with closed and open solar magnetic structures are found. Two determinants of atmospheric wind structure, temperature and gravity, may suffice in a most superficial way to define the wind and atmospheric structure in a star, however it is apparent that there is still a missing parameter which may stem from magnetic activity and its particular configuration. Theories that appear successful in reproducing observed line profiles, wind temperatures, and terminal velocities incorporate Alfven wave heating and momentum deposition. Successive observations of an active binary (lambda and G8III-IV) and a supergiant star, alpha Aqr (G2 Ib) revealed that magnetic activity and perhaps mass loss occur on restricted regions of a stellar surface and that long-term structures are present in the wind. These phenomena are present in the solar atmosphere and wind and may be considered a general characteristic of stellar winds.

Dupree, A. K.↗
DOE OSTI2017

ALMA observations of the water fountain pre-planetary nebula IRAS 16342-3814: high-velocity bipolar jets and an expanding torus

We have mapped {sup 12}CO J = 3–2 and other molecular lines from the “water fountain” bipolar pre-planetary nebula (PPN) IRAS 16342-3814 with ∼0.″35 resolution using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. We find (i) two very high-speed knotty, jet-like molecular outflows; (ii) a central high-density (>few×10{sup 6} cm{sup −3}), expanding torus of diameter 1300 au; and (iii) the circumstellar envelope of the progenitor AGB, generated by a sudden, very large increase in the mass-loss rate to >3.5×10{sup −4} M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1} in the past ∼455 years. Strong continuum emission at 0.89 mm from a central source (690 mJy), if due to thermally emitting dust, implies a substantial mass (0.017 M{sub ⊙}) of very large (∼millimeter-sized) grains. The measured expansion ages of the above structural components imply that the torus (age ∼160 years) and the younger high-velocity outflow (age ∼110 years) were formed soon after the sharp increase in the AGB mass-loss rate. Assuming a binary model for the jets in IRAS 16342, the high momentum rate for the dominant jet-outflow in IRAS 16342 implies a high minimum accretion rate, ruling out standard Bondi–Hoyle–Lyttleton wind accretion and wind Roche-lobe overflow (RLOF) models with white-dwarf or main-sequence companions. Most likely, enhanced RLOF from the primary or accretion modes operating within common-envelope evolution are needed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1994

Shortwave feedbacks and El Nino-Southern Oscillation: Forced ocean coupled ocean-atmosphere experiments

Changes in tropical sea surface temperature (SST) can produce changes in cloudiness that modify incoming solar shortwave (SW) radiation, which in turn affects SST. The effects of this negative feedback on Pacific interannual variability are examined in forced ocean model and hybrid coupled ocean-atmosphere model simulations. Two empirical schemes are used to model the large-scale, low-frequency response of surface SW to SST anomalies. The first scheme attempts to account for the nonlocal nature of the atmospheric response to SST based patterns of covariability analyzed through singular value decomposition. In the observations the primary coupled mode of variability is composed of a SW anomaly in the central Pacific that covaries with anomalous SST in the eastern Pacific. This is applied in the model as a nonlocal feedback. The second scheme examines the effects of a purely local feedback with a spatially varying coefficient of magnitude chosen similar to the first scheme. In almost all cases the second scheme behaved similarly to the first, presumably because the correlation scale of SST is large enough for El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) dynamics that there is little sensitivity to the local approximation in the SW feedback. In simulations forced by time series of observed wind stress the SW feedback induced very minor SST damping. Results for a simpified heat budget analysis showed that while the SW feedback increased the local heat flux damping on SST, it also induced a mean shallowing of the mixed layer. The resulting changes in both the local mean vertical temperature gradient and the zonal velocity response to the wind stress acted to oppose the local heat flux damping effects. When the observed SW anomalies were applied to forced simulations, the simulated SST anomalies were modified as expected, and agreement with observed SST improved. In coupled simulations the SW feedbacks had greater impact than in the case of specified stress. The main effects were to decrease the magnitude of the warm and cold SST anomalies in the central Pacific, while leaving the pattern and evolution of ENSO anomalies essentially unchanged elsewhere. The SW feedbacks thus produce a modest improvement of the model ENSO SST pattern compared with observations, although they tended to shorten the period of the model ENSO cycle. Overall the results suggest that large-scale SW feedbacks are of quantitative importance to simulating some aspects of the ENSO cycle but are not critical to the overall occurrence of the phenomenon.

Waliser, Duane E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Spectra and cross spectra of solar wind parameters from Mariner 5

The spectra of the radial (V sub R) and nonradial (V sub T, V sub N) velocity components of the solar wind, the proton density (rho) and the proton thermal speed (W), show increasing power with increasing period up to a period of about 1 day. The powers tend to level off above 1 day except for that of V sub R which continues to increase up to a period of 10 days. At all periods, the power is V sub R is greater than that in V sub T V sub N, and W, and the difference becomes very large at the longest periods because of the increasing power in V sub R. The powers in V sub T V sub N, and W are similar at all periods. The cross spectra reveal a sharp change in behavior at periods above and below approximately 1 day, suggesting that two distant types of physical processes must dominate above and below this dividing period. In general, the coherences at the long periods are larger than at the short periods suggesting that the physical situation in the long period regime may be simpler than in the short period regime where multiple processes appear to be required to account for the low coherences.

Goldstein, B.↗
NASA NTRS1921

Design of Wind Tunnels and Wind Tunnel Propellers II

This report is a continuation of National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics report no. 73. The variations in velocity and direction of the wind stream were studied by means of a recording air speed meter and a recording yawmeter. The work was carried on both in a 1-foot diameter model tunnel and in a 5-foot full-size tunnel, and wherever possible comparison was made between them. It was found that placing radial vanes directly before the propeller in the exit cone increased the efficiency of the tunnel to a considerable extent and also gave a steadier flow.

Norton, F H↗
DOE OSTI2026

WINDPROF: Merged Best-Estimate Wind Profile Data – Nantucket (WFIP3 Campaign)

WINDPROF provides 10-minute wind and turbulence profiles, integrating Doppler lidars, wind profiling radars, and sonic anemometers across Northeast U.S. coastal/offshore sites during the WFIP3 campaign. Key data include wind speed, direction, vertical velocity, and turbulence parameters, with standardized quality control (e.g., instrument-specific thresholds and inter-instrument validation). Profiles are interpolated to a height grid (20 m spacing below 100 m; 30 m above) and include comprehensive uncertainty estimates. The Nantucket dataset covers February 2024–September 2025, offering reproducible methods for atmospheric research, model validation, and wind energy studies.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Synchrotron Polarization Signatures of Surface Waves in Supermassive Black Hole Jets

Abstract Supermassive black holes in active galactic nuclei are known to launch relativistic jets, which are observed across the entire electromagnetic spectrum and thought to be efficient particle accelerators. Their primary radiation mechanism for radio emission is polarized synchrotron emission produced by a population of nonthermal electrons. In this Letter, we present a global general relativistic magnetohydrodynamical (GRMHD) simulation of a magnetically arrested disk (MAD). After the simulation reaches the MAD state, we show that waves are continuously launched from the vicinity of the black hole and propagate along the interface between the jet and the wind. At this interface, a steep gradient in velocity is present between the mildly relativistic wind and the highly relativistic jet. The interface is, therefore, a shear layer, and due to the shear, the waves generate roll-ups that alter the magnetic field configuration and the shear layer geometry. We then perform polarized radiation transfer calculations of our GRMHD simulation and find signatures of the waves in both total intensity and linear polarization, effectively lowering the fully resolved polarization fraction. The telltale polarization signatures of the waves could be observable by future very long baseline interferometric observations, e.g., the next-generation Event Horizon Telescope.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
NASA NTRS1993

Diagnostic calculations of the circulation in the Martian atmosphere

The circulation of the martian atmosphere during late southern summer is inferred from observed atmospheric temperature and dust distributions. We use global maps of temperature and dust optical depth (approximately 0-60 km) retrieved from a subset of the Mariner 9 IRIS thermal emission spectra spanning L(sub s) equals 343-348 deg. This thermal structure is characterized by a reversed meridional temperature gradient at altitudes above about 40 km, and temperatures that decrease from equator to pole at lower altitudes. Zonal-mean zonal winds are derived from the zonally averaged temperatures assuming gradient wind balance and midlatitude westerly jets with velocities of 80-90 m s(exp -1) near 50 km; in the southern tropics the winds are easterly with velocities of 40 m s(exp -1) near 50 km. The north-south atmospheric transport includes contributions from both the zonal mean meridional circulation and large-scale waves.

Santee, Michelle↗
NASA NTRS2020

An Obscured, Seyfert 2-like State of the Stellar-mass Black Hole GRS 1915+105 Caused by Failed Disk Winds

We report on Chandra grating spectra of the stellar-mass black hole GRS 1915+105 obtained during a novel, highly obscured state. As the source entered this state, a dense, massive accretion disk wind was detected through strong absorption lines. Photoionization modeling indicates that it must originate close to the central engine, orders of magnitude from the outer accretion disk. Strong, nearly sinusoidal flux variability in this phase yielded a key insight: the wind is blueshifted when its column density is relatively low, but redshifted as it approaches the Compton-thick threshold. At no point does the wind appear to achieve the local escape velocity; in this sense, it is a “failed wind.” Later observations suggest that the disk ultimately fails to keep even the central engine clear of gas, leading to heavily obscured and Compton-thick states characterized by very strong Fe K emission lines. Indeed, these later spectra are successfully described using models developed for obscured active galactic nuclei (AGNs). We discuss our results in terms of the remarkable similarity of GRS 1915+105 deep in its “obscured state” to Seyfert 2 and Compton-thick AGNs, and we explore how our understanding of accretion and obscuration in massive black holes is impacted by our observations.

Black holes↗
DOE OSTI2026

WINDPROF: Merged Best-Estimate Wind Profile Data – Block Island (WFIP3 Campaign)

WINDPROF provides 10-minute wind and turbulence profiles, integrating Doppler lidars, wind profiling radars, and sonic anemometers across Northeast U.S. coastal/offshore sites during the WFIP3 campaign. Key data include wind speed, direction, vertical velocity, and turbulence parameters, with standardized quality control (e.g., instrument-specific thresholds and inter-instrument validation). Profiles are interpolated to a height grid (20 m spacing below 100 m; 30 m above) and include comprehensive uncertainty estimates. The Block Island dataset covers February 2024–September 2025, offering reproducible methods for atmospheric research, model validation, and wind energy studies.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1984

Windblown sand on Venus - Preliminary results of laboratory simulations

Small particles and winds of sufficient strength to move them have been detected from Venera and Pioneer-Venus data and suggest the existence of aeolian processes on Venus. The Venus wind tunnel (VWT) was fabricated in order to investigate the behavior of windblown particles in a simulated Venusian environment. Preliminary results show that sand-size material is readily entrained at the wind speeds detected on Venus and that saltating grains achieve velocities closely matching those of the wind. Measurements of saltation threshold and particle flux for various particle sizes have been compared with theoretical models which were developed by extrapolation of findings from Martian and terrestrial simulations. Results are in general agreement with theory, although certain discrepancies are apparent which may be attributed to experimental and/or theoretical-modeling procedures. Present findings enable a better understanding of Venusian surface processes and suggest that aeolian processes are important in the geological evolution of Venus.

Greeley, R.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Study of the Kinematic and Dynamic Processes associated with Mesoscale Snowbands in a Midwest United States Snowstorm on 5 February 2020

Mesoscale snowbands are frequently responsible for dumping large amounts of snow over a relatively small region and pose a considerable forecasting challenge. The present study focuses on the mesoscale snowbands observed on 5 February 2020 over the Midwest United States. In order to improve the forecasting of mesoscale snowbands, it is important to understand the processes that organize these features. To this end, we are investigating the kinematic and dynamic processes that shape the mesoscale snowbands using a combination of high-altitude airborne radar, in-situ aircraft measurements, surface observations, and model simulations. This presentation will primarily focus on the three-dimensional structure of the mesoscale snowbands in terms of EXRAD reflectivity and horizontal winds. The horizontal winds are retrieved from the EXRAD scanning-beam Doppler velocities using a VAD technique. These winds, in combination with virtual potential temperature taken from the HRRR operational analysis, are used to compute the bulk Richardson number in order to investigate any contributions to banding features that might be tied to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. Our analysis does not support the presence of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. That said, low, but not subcritical, Richardson numbers were found near the top of some banding features in this event and it is possible that the model analysis is smoothing out the virtual potential temperature fields. Finally, we present arguments for using a flight module designed to sample the along-band structures with particular emphasis on observing generating cells and low-level microphysics.

Charles N. Helms↗