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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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10 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Reviews and syntheses: Variable inundation across Earth's terrestrial ecosystems

Abstract. The structure, function, and dynamics of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems are profoundly influenced by how often (frequency) and how long (duration) they are inundated with water. A diverse array of natural and human-engineered systems experience temporally variable inundation whereby they fluctuate between inundated and non-inundated states. Variable inundation spans extreme events to predictable sub-daily cycles. Variably inundated ecosystems (VIEs) include hillslopes, non-perennial streams, wetlands, floodplains, temporary ponds, tidal systems, storm-impacted coastal zones, and human-engineered systems. VIEs are diverse in terms of inundation regimes, water chemistry and flow velocity, soil and sediment properties, vegetation, and many other properties. The spatial and temporal scales of variable inundation are vast, ranging from sub-meter to whole landscapes and from sub-hourly to multi-decadal. The broad range of system types and scales makes it challenging to predict the hydrology, biogeochemistry, ecology, and physical evolution of VIEs. Despite all experiencing the loss and gain of an overlying water column, VIEs are rarely considered together in conceptual, theoretical, modeling, or measurement frameworks and approaches. Studying VIEs together has the potential to generate mechanistic understanding that is transferable across a much broader range of environmental conditions, relative to knowledge generated by studying any one VIE type. We postulate that enhanced transferability will be important for predicting changes in VIE function in response to global change. Here we aim to catalyze cross-VIE science that studies drivers and impacts of variable inundation across Earth's VIEs. To this end, we complement expert mini-reviews of eight major VIE systems with overviews of VIE-relevant methods and challenges associated with scale. We conclude with perspectives on how cross-VIE science can derive transferable understanding via unifying conceptual models in which the impacts of variable inundation are studied across multi-dimensional environmental space.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1949

Ditching Tests of a 1/18-Scale Model of the Lockheed Constellation Airplane with Speedpak Attached

Results of previous model ditching tests of the Lockheed Constellation airplane are reported. Further model tests have been made to determine the probable ditching characteristics and the proper ditching technique for the airplane with the Speedpak attached. This paper presents the results of these tests. Design information was furnished by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. A three-vies drawing of the airplane with the Speedpak attached is shown. The tests were made in calm water at the Langley tank no.2 monorail.

Fisher, Lloyd J.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Real-time steerable frequency-stepped Doppler backscattering (DBS) system for local helicon wave electric field measurements on the DIII-D tokamak

A new frequency-stepped Doppler backscattering (DBS) system has been integrated into a real-time steerable electron cyclotron heating launcher system to simultaneously probe local background turbulence (f < 10 MHz) and high-frequency (20–550 MHz) density fluctuations in the DIII-D tokamak. The launcher allows for 2D steering (horizontally and vertically) over wide angular ranges to optimize probe location and wavenumber response. The vertical steering can be optimized during a discharge in real time. The new DBS system employs a programmable frequency synthesizer with adjustable dwell time as a source to launch either O or X-mode polarized millimeter waves. This system can step in real-time over the entire E-band frequency range (60–90 GHz). This combination of capabilities allows for the diagnosis of the complex internal spatial structure of high power (>200 kW) helicon waves (476 MHz) injected from an external antenna during helicon current drive experiments in DIII-D. Broadband density fluctuations around the helicon frequency are observed during real-time scans of measurement location and wavenumber during these experiments. Analysis indicates that these broadband high-frequency fluctuations are a result of backscattering of the DBS millimeter-wave probe beam from plasma turbulence modulated by the helicon wave. It is observed that background turbulence is effectively locally “tagged” with the helicon wave electric field, forming images of the turbulent spectrum in the overall density fluctuation spectrum that appear as high-frequency sidebands of the turbulence. These observations of background turbulence and high-frequency fluctuations open up the possibility of monitoring local helicon wave amplitude by comparing the high-frequency signal amplitude to the simultaneously measured background turbulence. In combination with the real-time measurement location and wavenumber scanning capabilities (offered by real-time frequency-stepping and steering), this allows rapid determination of the spatial distribution of the helicon wave power during steady-state plasma operation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Model Intercomparison of the Impacts of Varying Cloud Droplet–Nucleating Aerosols on the Life Cycle and Microphysics of Isolated Deep Convection

The microphysical impacts of aerosol particles on scattered isolated deep convective cells near Houston, Texas, on 19 June 2013, are examined using multiple cloud-resolving model (CRM) simulations initialized with vertical profiles of low and high concentrations of cloud droplet–nucleating aerosols. These simulations formed part of the Model Intercomparison Project (MIP) conducted by the Deep Convective Working Group of the Aerosol, Cloud, Precipitation and Climate (ACPC) initiative. Each CRM generated a field of convective cells representing those observed during the case study with varying degrees of accuracy. The Tracking and Object-Based Analysis of Clouds (tobac) cell-tracking algorithm was applied to each MIP CRM simulation to track relatively long-lived convective cells (20–60 min). Most of the CRMs produced similar aerosol loading impacts on the warm phase of tracked cell properties with reduced autoconversion and accretion growth of rain, increased cloud water, reduced rainfall, and reduced near-surface evaporation of rain. The sign of aerosol impacts on the warm-phase properties of the convective cells was also quite consistent over cell lifetimes with the greatest magnitude of influence in the first half of the life cycle in most CRMs. In contrast, the ice-phase response to aerosol loading was highly variable among CRMs and included increases or decreases in ice amounts at inconsistent stages of the cell life cycle and midlevel versus upper-level changes in ice. This intermodel variability in ice is indicative both of the complex indirect interactions between aerosols and ice-phase processes in deep convection and their associated parameterizations.

Aerosol-cloud interaction↗
DOE OSTI2025

WHONDRS River Corridor Sediment and Water Geochemistry and In Situ Sensor Data from 7 Perennial and 7 Intermittent Streams across San Antonio, Texas (v3)

This dataset supports a broader study examining the effects of intermittency on sediment respiration. The dataset provides sediment and surface water geochemistry and in situ sensor data from 7 perennial and 7 intermittent streams in San Antonio, Texas. Each stream/site was visited both in summer during base flow (July-September 2023) and winter during peak flow (January-February 2024). Related data were collected and will be published separately in collaboration with A. Veach. The data package was originally published in April 2025. It was updated in June 2025 (v2; modified and new files) and September 2025 (v3; modified files). See the change history section in the readme for more details. For details on how to navigate data packages generated by this project, see https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/PNNLRiverCorridorSFA/About. This dataset is comprised of two folders of field photos and videos, one folder of raw Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) data and one main data folder containing (1) file-level metadata; (2) data dictionary; (3) field metadata; (4) readme; (5) international generic sample number (IGSN) mapping file; (6) field protocol; (7) a subfolder with sample data; and (8) a subfolder with sensor data. The sample data subfolder contains (1) surface water and sediment dissolved organic carbon (DOC, measured as non-purgeable organic carbon, NPOC) data and averages; (2) surface water and sediment total nitrogen data and averages; (3) sediment grain size data; (4) sediment iron (II) data and averages; (5) wet sediment mass, dry sediment mass, water mass, and wet sediment volume in incubation and sediment ICR vials; (7) sediment incubation respiration rate data and averages; (8) normalized respiration rate data and averages; (9) methods codes; (10) sediment percent carbon and nitrogen; (11) sediment X-ray diffraction (XRD) data; (12) gravimetric moisture and averages; (13) a subfolder with sediment incubation respiration data, scripts, and plots; (14) surface water and sediment FTICR methods; and (15) a subfolder of 9.4 Tesla (9.4T) FTICR-MS data. This folder contains five subfolders, one containing the sediment .xml data files, one containing the water .xml files, one containing the sediment CoreMS output files, one containing the water CoreMS output files, and the other containing instructions and scripts for processing the files in CoreMS (https://github.com/EMSL-Computing/CoreMS). The sensor data subfolder contains (1) a subfolder with miniDOT dissolved oxygen and temperature data and plots; (2) miniDOT dissolved oxygen and temperature summary data; and (3) miniDOT installation methods. All files are .csv, .pdf, .R, .xml, .d, .html, .Rmd, .py, .cal, .json, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .mov, or .mp4. CORRECTION: The data processing methods for FTICR described in “v3_WHONDRS_AV1_Methods_Codes.csv” mistakenly indicate that users should process the data in Formultitude. The corrected description should read: “Both unprocessed and processed data are provided to allow users flexibility in data processing. Instructions and scripts for processing the data using CoreMS are included.” CORRECTION: Carbon and nitrogen content are reported as percentages. The current column headers "01395_C_percent_per_mg" and "01397_N_percent_per_mg" are incorrect. These should read "01395_C_percent" and "01397_N_percent" and will be corrected in the next version of this data package.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Laboratory time series moisture manipulative experiment from sediment across San Antonio, Texas: time series aerobic respiration and geochemistry

This dataset supports a broader study examining the effects of wetting and drying on hyporheic zone respiration. The dataset provides data generated from a laboratory moisture manipulation experiment. The contents include time series aerobic respiration and moisture; dissolved oxygen; sediment geochemistry data; and field metadata (including qualitative information on instream and river corridor characteristics). Samples were collected as part of the WHONDRS Allison Veach collaboration (AV1). The data package associated with the AV1 study is available at https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/datasets/doi:10.15485/2529428. AV1 sampling occurred across 7 perennial and 7 intermittent streams in San Antonio, Texas. Each stream/site was visited both in summer during base flow (July-September 2023) and winter during peak flow (January-February 2024). This study uses subsamples from a subset of AV1 samples. The original field samples were labeled as AV1_###. Subsequent subsamples for this study were labeled as EV_###. The labels from the field samples and the EV subsamples can be mapped directly based on the digits following the prefix and underscore (i.e., EV_001 is a subsample from AV1_001). See the critical details section below for more details on sample naming. For details on how to navigate data packages generated by this project, see https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/PNNLRiverCorridorSFA/About. This dataset is comprised of one main data folder containing (1) file-level metadata; (2) data dictionary; (3) field metadata; (4) readme; (5) field protocol; and a (6) a subfolder with sediment sample data from the incubation experiment. The sample data subfolder contains (1) effect size; (2) iron (II); (3) gravimetric moisture; (4) respiration rates; (5) raw dissolved oxygen values and plots; (6) specific conductance; (7) pH; (8) temperature; (9) a summary containing mean, median, and standard deviation values of each data type for each treatment (wet and dry); and (10) methods codes. All files are .csv or.pdf.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

WHONDRS laboratory time series moisture manipulative experiment from soil core layers across eastern contiguous US: time series aerobic respiration, geochemistry, and aggregates

This dataset supports a broader study examining the effects of wetting and drying on soil layers across the eastern contiguous United States (CONUS). The dataset provides data generated from a laboratory moisture manipulation experiment. The contents include time series aerobic respiration and moisture; dissolved oxygen; sediment geochemistry data; and field metadata. Samples were collected as part of a collaboration between WHONDRS (Worldwide Hydrobiogeochemistry Observation Network for Dynamic River Systems; https://whondrs.pnnl.gov) and MONet (Molecular Observation Network; https://www.emsl.pnnl.gov/monet). The field samples (soil cores) were labeled as MEL_##_COR and subsequent subsamples begin with MEL_##. Additional subsamples were taken for the laboratory experiment and were labeled as EL_##. The labels from the MEL field samples and the EL subsamples can be mapped directly based on the digits following the prefix and underscore (i.e., EL_01 is a subsample from MEL_01). See the critical details section below for more details on sample naming and experimental design.For details on how to navigate this data package, see this infographic from the River Corridor SFA https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/PNNLRiverCorridorSFA/About.In addition to this readme, this data package also includes a file-level metadata (FLMD) file that describes each file and a data dictionary (DD) that describes all column/row headers and variable definitions.This dataset is comprised of (1) a folder containing environmental context photos; (2) file-level metadata; (3) data dictionary; (4) field metadata; (5) readme; (6) international generic sample number (IGSN) mapping file; and (7) a subfolder with soil sample data from field samples and the incubation experiment. The sample data subfolder contains (1) effect size; (2) gravimetric moisture from field samples and incubation experiment; (3) respiration rates, raw dissolved oxygen values, and plots; (4) specific conductance, pH, and temperature from the incubation; (5) soil aggregates; (6) a summary containing median values of each data type for each treatment (wet and dry) in the incubation; (7) a summary containing averages for each data type of each soil layer; and (8) methods codes. All files are .csv, .pdf, .jpeg, or .jpg.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Remote sensing images, DEM, and point clouds associated with “Accuracy evaluation of cost-effective 3D reconstruction approaches for hydrobiogeochemical processes in non-perennial stream riverbeds”

This data package is associated with the publication “Accuracy evaluation of cost-effective 3D reconstruction approaches for hydrobiogeochemical processes in non-perennial stream riverbeds” published in Frontiers in Environmental Science, Environmental Informatics and Remote Sensing (Bao et al., 2026; doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2026.1725258). This data package includes the drone photos for a section of Umtanum Creek in Washington, Unted States. The photos were used to reconstruct the 3-dimensional (3D) digital elevation model (DEM) of the riverbed for the investigated stream section. The reconstruction results from four approaches are provided: (1) unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV, colloquially known as drone) imagery-based Structure-from-Motion (SfM), (2) a machine learning-based 3D reconstruction model, Visual Geometry Grounded Deep Structure from Motion (VGGSfM), (3) Visual Geometry Grounded Transformer for long sequence of images (VGGT-Long), and (4) handheld smartphone LiDAR scanning. The ground truth measurements by tripod-mounted optical level kit and ground control points GPS locations for evaluating the accuracy of the four reconstruction approaches are also provided in this data package. A preliminary version of this data package was published in October 2025 at the time of manuscript submission. It was updated in March 2026, at the time of manuscript acceptance, to include additional metadata (this readme, data dictionary, and file level metadata). The data did not change. For details on how to navigate data packages generated by this project, see https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/PNNLRiverCorridorSFA/About. In addition to a readme, this data package also includes a file-level metadata (FLMD) file that describes each file and a data dictionary (DD) that describes all column/row headers and variable definitions. This dataset is comprised of (1) 8 folders; (2) the detailed flight configuration html files; (3) field metadata; (4) a readme; (5) a data dictionary; and (6) file-level metadata. The folders “2024_10_18_d01” and “2024_10_18_d02” contain the original drone photos for the two drone flights (d01 and d02) on October 18, 2024. The reconstruction results from each of the approaches are in the folders called “ODM_SfM”, “VGGSfM”, “VGGTLong”, and “LiDAR”. The ground truth measurements are in the folder called “optical_level_kit”. Lastly, results comparing the different approaches are in the folder called “comparisons”. All files are .csv, .html, .jpg, .obj, .txt, and .npy. For information on using the .obj and .npy files, see the readme files within the same folder as the files.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Surface water and groundwater FTICR-MS, NPOC, and TN from nine wetlands and three upland wells at the Tanglewood Biological Station, Alabama

This dataset supports a broader study examining wetland hydrobiogeochemical responses to flood disturbance and the subsequent impacts on watershed nutrient export. The study was designed following ICON (integrated, coordinated, open, and networked) principles. Samples were collected from nine wetlands and three upland wells at the Tanglewood Biological Station, Alabama in August 2024 and February 2025, during the dry and wet season, respectively. The contents include geochemistry (dissolved organic carbon measured as non-purgeable organic carbon; total dissolved nitrogen) and organic matter characterization (FTICR-MS). Related water level data from the same locations can be found at https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/view/doi:10.15485/2530253. Additional geochemistry will be published in a separate data package. For details on how to navigate this data package, see this infographic from the River Corridor SFA https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/PNNLRiverCorridorSFA/About. In addition to a readme, this data package also includes a file-level metadata (FLMD) file that describes each file and a data dictionary (DD) that describes all column/row headers and variable definitions.This dataset is comprised of (1) a folder containing environmental context photos; (2) file-level metadata; (3) data dictionary; (4) field metadata; (5) readme; (6) international generic sample number (IGSN) mapping file; (7) the field protocol; and (8) a subfolder with sample data. The sample data subfolder contains (1) dissolved organic carbon (DOC, measured as non-purgeable organic carbon, NPOC) data and averages; (2) total nitrogen data and averages; (3) methods codes; and (4) a subfolder of 12 Tesla (12T) Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) data. All files are .csv, .pdf, .jpeg, or .jpg.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Pyrogenic Organic Matter Laboratory Experiment: Aerobic Respiration and Geochemistry from Variably Inundated Stream Sediments (v3)

This dataset supports a broader study examining the effects of variable inundation and pyrogenic organic matter on ecosystem respiration. The dataset provides data generated from a laboratory batch experiment investigating the interaction between variable inundation conditions (wet and dry sediment) and pyrogenic organic matter (burned and unburned treatments). The contents include time series dissolved oxygen, sediment geochemistry data, and field metadata (including qualitative information on instream and river corridor characteristics). This data package was originally published in November 2025. It was updated in April 2026 (v2; new and modified files) and May 2026 (v3; modified files). See the change history section in the readme for more details For details on how to navigate data packages generated by this project, see https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/PNNLRiverCorridorSFA/About. In addition to a readme, this data package also includes a file-level metadata (FLMD) file that describes each file and a data dictionary (DD) that describes all column/row headers and variable definitions. This dataset is comprised of (1) file-level metadata; (2) data dictionary; (3) field metadata; (4) international generic sample number (IGSN) mapping file; (5) readme; (6) field protocol; (7) sample name metadata; (8) an environmental context picture for the dry and inundated sampling locations; and (9) a subfolder with sample data from the sediment incubation experiment. The sample data subfolder contains (1) dissolved organic carbon (DOC, measured as non-purgeable organic carbon, NPOC); (2) total nitrogen (TN); (3) gravimetric moisture; (4) partial pressure and production rates of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide; (5) field wet sediment mass, dry sediment mass, water mass, and field wet sediment volume in incubation and sediment NPOC/TN vials; (6) methods codes; (7) respiration rates, pH, and temperature from after the incubation, raw time series dissolved oxygen and temperature, and a subfolder containing associated plots and scripts; (8) ions; (9) FTICR-MS methods; and (10) a subfolder of 12 Tesla (12T) FTICR-MS data. This folder contains the CoreMS processed data and three subfolders, one containing the .xml files, one containing the CoreMS output files, and the other containing instructions and scripts for processing the files in CoreMS (https://github.com/EMSL-Computing/CoreMS). All files are .csv, .pdf, .R, .xml, .html, .Rmd, .py, .cal, .json, or .jpg.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗