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DOE OSTI2026

ARM Radiosondes for SNPP/JPSS Validation Field Campaign Report

This field campaign extension has been a coordinated effort involving the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) project to validate NOAA Unique Combined Atmospheric Processing System (NUCAPS) temperature and moisture sounding products from the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) instruments on board the NOAA-20 and NOAA-21 satellite platforms. In this arrangement, funding for radiosondes and balloons was provided by the JPSS project to ARM. These radiosondes were launched coincident with NOAA-20 and NOAA-21 satellite overpasses at the ARM field sites at Eastern North Atlantic (ENA), North Slope Alaska (NSA), and Southern Great Plains (SGP). Combined with other ARM data, an assessment of the radiosonde data quality was performed and post-processing corrections applied. The dedicated radiosondes were integrated into the NOAA Products Validation System (NPROVS+), which collocated the radiosondes with satellite products (NOAA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA], European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites [EUMETSAT], Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite [GOES], Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate [COSMIC]) and numerical weather prediction (NWP) forecasts for use in product assessment and algorithm development. This work is a part of the NOAA-20 and NOAA-21 satellite retrieval validation efforts and provides critical accuracy assessments of the temperature and water vapor soundings.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

Monitoring Radiochemical Processing Streams for the 238 Pu Supply Program with Process Pulse II

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is developing advanced spectroscopic and real-time monitoring capabilities to improve the timeliness of analytical measurements and process decisions for the 238Pu Supply Program. Reducing the time, resources, and costs associated with each production campaign is critical because overlapping campaigns will be required to meet the production goals of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Real-time, in situ analytical measurements in the heavily shielded hot cells at the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (REDC) will allow for rapid process information feedback and operational benefits that help the 238Pu supply program scale-up production efforts. Noteworthy steps were taken during Campaign 5 to establish the ability to monitor processing streams in real time with spectrophotometry and a commercially available online monitoring software called The Unscrambler X Process Pulse II (PP) multivariate statistical process monitoring system by Camo Analytics (version 5.60). PP automates univariate-type calculations within the software itself and executes multivariate models built using The Unscrambler X (version 10.4 or newer). The Unscrambler is a commercially available data analysis software made by the same company. PP is composed of easy-to-use-tools for all personnel, including data scientists and technicians. The software can be used to plot analyte concentration profiles, spectral data, and other process variables in real time. All process data are represented in a single view with interactive charts useful for viewing how a process evolves over time.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

DOE OSTI2025

Common practices for quantifying methane emissions from plumes detected by remote sensing

This document provides a set of community-accepted practices for quantifying methane emissions based on plumes detected via spectroscopic remote sensing. Its primary goal is to promote consistency in the generation, validation, reporting, and quality assessment of methane emission estimates derived from remote sensing radiances. Developed by subject matter experts with deep experience across all stages of the measurement process, this guidance reflects a critical evaluation of current methodologies and highlights key practices needed to produce reliable, interoperable, and traceable products. The focus is specifically on methane emissions quantified from distinct plumes originating from localized sources, rather than diffuse emissions spread over large regions, which are beyond the scope of this work. This document is intended to serve both data producers and users. For producers, it offers a framework for aligning with field-recognized standards to ensure their outputs meet rigorous quality and transparency criteria. For users, it provides a reference to assess dataset fitness-for-purpose by highlighting essential metadata, assumptions, and methodological choices that underpin emission estimates. By fostering a shared understanding of best practices, this work aims to enhance comparability, confidence, and utility of remotely sensed methane emission products.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2020

A Decade of Innovative Approaches to Treating and Dispositioning Radioactive Waste at the Savannah River Site - 20620

This year marks the 70. anniversary of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS), located near Aiken, South Carolina. SRS is a key industrial complex responsible for environmental stewardship, environmental cleanup, waste management, and disposition of nuclear materials. SRS also continues to have a role in critical defense-related activities and the reprocessing of used reactor fuel. The SRS encompasses 803 square kilometers (310 square miles) in parts of Aiken, Barnwell, and Allendale counties. The Liquid Waste Mission starts with the safe receipt and storage of radioactive liquid waste in the waste tanks, which principally includes Cold War legacy waste, but also waste from support of National Aeronautics Space Administration missions, medical isotope production, and research activities. This 133,000 cubic meters (m{sup 3}) (35 million gallons [Mgal]) of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) is currently held in 43 large underground waste tanks. The capacity of each of these tanks range from 2,800 m{sup 3} to 5,000 m{sup 3} (0.75 to 1.33 Mgal) and were placed in operation between 1954 and 1986. In July 2009, the DOE awarded a stand-alone contract to execute the Liquid Waste Mission at SRS. The Liquid Waste Contractor selected was Savannah River Remediation LLC1 (SRR), which is responsible for receipt, storage, retrieval and treatment of all HLW, disposal of the decontaminated low-activity waste fraction, as well as operationally closing cleaned HLW tanks. Since July 2009, SRR has successfully grouted and operationally closed six large underground tanks, poured 1,476 canisters of vitrified HLW (a stable glass waste form), treated approximately 34,200 m{sup 3} (9.0 Mgal) of HLW, and dispositioned over 41,200 m{sup 3} (10.9 Mgal) of decontaminated salt solution as low-level waste (LLW) into the Saltstone Disposal Units (SDUs) being constructed by SRR on site. The innovative work performed by SRR in the LLW portion of its mission has earned it the Richard S. Hodes Award. The work conducted by SRR is the same work championed by the late Richard S. Hodes, a respected physician, statesmen, and Chairman of the Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2025

Radioisotope Science and Technology Division FY 2025 Core R&D Summary Report: Competitive Projects, Postdoctoral Researchers, and Student Interns

R&D efforts in support of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Isotope Program Radioisotope Portfolio are led by the Radioisotope Science and Technology Division (RSTD). In addition to supporting the ORNL Isotope Program Radioisotope Portfolio, RSTD supports a portfolio of research related to fundamental properties of radioisotopes and radioisotope applications, including diagnostic and therapeutic uses of medical radioisotopes, radioisotopes for national security, and the production of 238 Pu for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy. RSTD is organized into functional science and engineering groups, with most staff members supporting multiple programs. The goal of this organization is to enable synergy between programs such that R&D advances coming from other programs may provide benefit to the ORNL Isotope Program. R&D within RSTD is focused around addressing five grand challenges, as documented in the strategic plan for the DOE Office of Isotope R&D and Production, or DOE Isotope Program (IP), Radioisotope Production R&D activities at ORNL: 1. Maximizing the scientific output of radioisotope transmutation resources, 2. Maximizing the scientific output of radioisotope processing resources, 3. Minimizing waste and having optimal waste disposition, 4. Focusing on product quality and reliability, and 5. Expanding the use of beneficial isotopes. The ORNL Core R&D program, one of the primary R&D components within the ORNL Isotope Program Radioisotope Portfolio, ranges from benchtop to demonstration activities, with a focus on researching enhanced production techniques, developing emerging isotopes, and developing the talent pipeline for radioisotope science and technology. Projects within the Core R&D Program are led primarily by RSTD staff members. In supporting enhanced production techniques, the Core R&D program presents an opportunity to fund novel R&D that might not be tied to a specific radioisotope product but still presents a high potential for broad applicability in the longer term. In supporting the development of emerging isotopes, the Core R&D program develops high-priority isotopes that are not able to be fully supported through production funds.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

DOE OSTI2023

BRR Cask Use for Pu-238 Isotope Production

US Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), needs to produce Pu-238 for space exploration Major activities are focused at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Key part of program is movement of targets between INL and ORNL BEA Research Reactor (BRR) package licensed for transport of unirradiated and irradiated targets

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2022

Comparing Coarse-Resolution Land Surface Temperature Products over Western Australia

Satellite-derived land surface temperature (LST) has commonly been used to monitor global temperature changes. The MODIS MYD11A2 product is the most common coarse-resolution product used for this purpose. An updated MODIS product (MYD21A2) and new VIIRS (VNP21A2) product have also recently become available. This study analyses eight-day, quality-controlled, LST imagery over Western Australia (WA) for the three products for an urban and a non-urban area for the years 2013, 2016, and 2019. An analysis of the data indicates that (i) the averaged daytime LST difference between the three products for Perth city over the three years was 1.32 °C, while at night it was 0.89 °C; (ii) the averaged daytime difference over the Kimberley region was 7.02 °C with a night average difference of 2.39 °C; and (iii) both the MYD21A2 and VNP21A2 products still appear to record anomalous monthly LST values, particularly in the humid Kimberley monsoonal months. The overall objective of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is to ensure that the LST values of the two satellite system products are comparable, so evidence of LST value differences will require further investigation, especially if the older product is to be replaced by the newer systems.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2023

BRR Cask Use for Pu-238 Isotope Production

The Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with its national laboratories and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is responsible to produce Pu-238 isotope in the United States for use in space exploration. Major activities in the DOE complex are focused at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). INL is responsible for storing Np-237 feedstock, irradiation qualification in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), and irradiating targets containing Np-237 to produce Pu-238. ORNL is responsible for target design, target fabrication, irradiation qualification in HFIR, and processing of targets to extract Pu-238 heat source material. A key part of the program lifecycle is moving irradiated targets from INL to ORNL. The BEA Research Reactor (BRR) cask was identified as a potential shipping cask for the transport of both unirradiated and irradiated targets between the project sites. This paper will discuss the production at INL and shipment of Pu-238 to ORNL using the BRR cask.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

Neutronic Safety Analysis of Pu-238 Production at Idaho National Laboratory

This analysis was completed to support the irradiation of plutonium fuel services (PFS) targets in the NEFT in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) as a part of the campaign to restart domestic production of plutonium-238 used in radioisotope power systems (RPS) by the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) and Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Office of Nuclear Infrastructure Program (NE-3). Referred to as the PFS-ATR-GEN1-NEFT experiment, the assembly was designed to hold 46 PFS targets in the NEFT. The scope of this paper is to outline the MOPY method used to calculate the heat generation rates (HGRs), flux, fission density, and quantify the viability of the target design for Pu-238 production in ATR.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

DOE OSTI2026

An Overview of Potential Future Aviation Energy Carriers

Global jet fuel demand is projected to grow to 165 billion gallons by 2050 and there is growing interest in the aviation industry to understand the capabilities of alternative energy carriers. This report considers several potential energy carriers, reviewing their production potential, operational considerations, and economic implications to inform potential next steps in aeronautics research. The following energy carriers (i.e., fuels) were evaluated in this study for future use in aviation: sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) - both biomass-based and power-to-liquids (PtL) - based SAF - cryogenic hydrogen (LH 2 ) - also known as liquid hydrogen - liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied ethane (LE), and Jet X. The barriers and opportunities for the evaluated energy carriers vary. SAF is a commercially available drop-in fuel compatible with existing aircraft and infrastructure. SAF is limited by both higher prices and slow commercialization of multiple pathways using different feedstocks necessary to significantly grow supply. Cryogenic fuels, in contrast, have very different thermal, physical, and chemical properties than SAF and Jet A, requiring the construction of new airport storage and dispensing infrastructure and the design of new aircraft energy systems capable of mitigating heat transfer and boil-off. Cryogenic fuels offer an opportunity to diversify aviation fuel carriers from domestic energy relevant for both energy security and resilience. This means cryogenic fuels are more of a longer-term solution for aircraft but are worth exploring for potential future cost savings and emissions benefits. Jet X refers to non-drop-in liquid hydrocarbon fuels in the early stages of investigation seeking favorable properties. There are substantial barriers to non-drop-in liquid aviation fuels that are not compatible with existing aircraft and fuel infrastructure.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Recent 238 Pu Production Activities at Idaho National Laboratory

The Plutonium-238 ( 238 Pu) Production program at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is actively qualifying irradiation targets containing 237 Np for the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) to produce 238 Pu for future National Aeronautics and Space Administration missions. INL qualified and loaded seven targets in the ATR’s south flux trap for cycle 169A, which occurred in Spring 2021. The irradiation qualification program has expanded to additional ATR irradiation positions after two baseline production targets in three positions validated significant production of 238 Pu. The validation model was followed by the PFS-1 experimental test in the ATR Critical Facility that verified 238 Pu production cross sections. This paper outlines the progress and status of the 238 Pu production program at INL. The qualification effort, safety analysis, hardware status, and future activities for qualification of an updated target design for use in the ATR are discussed.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

RBSP-ECT Combined Pitch Angle Resolved Electron Flux Data Product

We describe a new data product combining pitch angle resolved electron flux measurements from the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Energetic Particle Composition and Thermal Plasma (ECT) suite on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Van Allen Probes. Here, we describe the methodology used to combine each of the data sets and produce a consistent set of pitch-angle-resolved spectra for the entire Van Allen Probes mission. Three-minute-averaged flux spectra are provided spanning energies from 15 eV up to 20 MeV. This new data product offers researchers a consistent cross calibrated data set to explore the particle dynamics of the inner magnetosphere across a wide range of energies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2020

ECOSTRESS: NASA's Next Generation Mission to Measure Evapotranspiration From the International Space Station

Abstract The ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) was launched to the International Space Station on 29 June 2018 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary science focus of ECOSTRESS is centered on evapotranspiration (ET), which is produced as Level‐3 (L3) latent heat flux ( LE ) data products. These data are generated from the Level‐2 land surface temperature and emissivity product (L2_LSTE), in conjunction with ancillary surface and atmospheric data. Here, we provide the first validation (Stage 1, preliminary) of the global ECOSTRESS clear‐sky ET product (L3_ET_PT‐JPL, Version 6.0) against LE measurements at 82 eddy covariance sites around the world. Overall, the ECOSTRESS ET product performs well against the site measurements (clear‐sky instantaneous/time of overpass: r 2 = 0.88; overall bias = 8%; normalized root‐mean‐square error, RMSE = 6%). ET uncertainty was generally consistent across climate zones, biome types, and times of day (ECOSTRESS samples the diurnal cycle), though temperate sites are overrepresented. The 70‐m‐high spatial resolution of ECOSTRESS improved correlations by 85%, and RMSE by 62%, relative to 1‐km pixels. This paper serves as a reference for the ECOSTRESS L3 ET accuracy and Stage 1 validation status for subsequent science that follows using these data.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2023

Real-Time, Simultaneous Soil Water Content and Meteorological Data Measurement to Support TRACER over Harris County, Texas (Field Campaign Report: Part I)

The main purpose of this project was to provide ground-truth and satellite-based soil water content data in the Houston, Texas, area to support the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility’s 2022 field campaign, the Tracking Aerosol Convection Interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER). This involved installing four soil monitoring stations at different locations in the Houston area, two of which were part of the ARM facility and two were ancillary. The two stations associated directly with ARM were installed alongside other facilities managed and maintained by the TRACER research team during the intensive operational period (IOP), one located at the La Porte, Texas airport and the other near Guy, Texas. Data from these stations were assimilated with similar data collected by the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) to improve the spatial coverage of the real-time monitoring network. The ground-truth data were compared to the satellite-based (National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]’s Soil Moisture Active Passive [SMAP] mission) data in the TRACER area of interest, and analyzed further to nowcast gridded data over the Houston area. The nowcasted, gridded data product was made available to TRACER researchers for use in climate and land-atmosphere interaction modeling that can help understand formation and persistence of convective storms in dense urban areas, and predict possible environmental events such as floods.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2023

Real-Time, Simultaneous Soil Water Content and Meteorological Data Measurement to Support TRACER over Harris County, Texas Field Campaign Report: Part II

The main purpose of this project was to provide ground-truth and satellite-based soil water content data in the Houston, Texas, area to support the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility’s 2022 field campaign, the Tracking Aerosol Convection Interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER). This involved installing four soil monitoring stations at different locations in the Houston area, two of which were part of the ARM facility and two were ancillary. The two stations associated directly with ARM were installed alongside other facilities managed and maintained by the TRACER research team during the intensive operational period (IOP), one located at the La Porte, Texas airport and the other located near Guy, Texas. Data from these stations were assimilated with similar data collected by the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) to improve the spatial coverage of the real-time monitoring network. The ground-truth data were compared to the satellite-based (National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]’s Soil Moisture Active Passive [SMAP] mission) data in the TRACER area of interest, and analyzed further to nowcast gridded data over the Houston area. The nowcasted, gridded data product was made available to TRACER researchers for use in climate and land-atmosphere interaction modeling that can help understand formation and persistence of convective storms in dense urban areas, and predict possible environmental events such as floods.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

Materials and Fuels Complex Five-Year Mission Strategy (FY21- FY25)

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL), through its designated mission of advancing innovative nuclear energy solutions, is actively engaged in the research, development, demonstration and deployment of advanced nuclear technology, as well as in fostering private-public partnership for technology development. Key to the success of INL’s mission is the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC), the only complex in the U.S. that hosts a world-class assemblage of facilities, capabilities and instruments for handling, testing, and characterizing radioactive materials. Driven by its mission/vision of “Engineering and Experiments that Drive the World’s Nuclear Energy Future,” MFC is at the center of INL’s – and indeed the Department of Energy’s – advanced nuclear technology development initiatives, providing essential capabilities such as engineering-scale high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel production, reactor demonstration facilities, post-irradiation examination, and transient irradiation testing. Furthermore, MFC provides an ideal environment for test beds that are utilized for research, development and demonstration (RD&D) activities on used fuel treatment, nuclear non-proliferation, forensics, and nuclear power sources used for space exploration missions conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Materials and Fuels Complex (FY2021-2025 Five-Year Mission Strategy)

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Materials and Fuels Complex FY-22 – FY-26 Five-Year Mission Strategy

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL), through its designated mission of advancing innovative nuclear energy solutions, is actively engaged in the research, development, demonstration and deployment of advanced nuclear technology. Key to the success of INL’s mission is the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC), the only complex in the U.S. that hosts a world-class assemblage of facilities, capabilities and instruments for handling, testing, and characterizing nuclear fuel and radioactive materials. Driven by its mission/vision of “Engineering and Experiments that Drive the World’s Nuclear Energy Future,” MFC is at the center of INL’s – and indeed the Department of Energy’s – advanced nuclear technology development initiatives, providing essential capabilities such as research-scale high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel production, reactor demonstration facilities, post-irradiation examination, and transient irradiation testing. Furthermore, MFC provides an ideal environment for test beds that are utilized for research, development and demonstration (RD&D) activities on used fuel treatment, nuclear non-proliferation, forensics, and nuclear power sources used for space exploration missions conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗