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Characterizing large river sounds: Providing context for understanding the environmental effects of noise produced by hydrokinetic turbines
Underwaternoise associated with the installation and operation of hydrokinetic turbines in rivers and tidal zones presents a potential environmental concern for fish and marine mammals. Comparing the spectral quality of sounds emitted by hydrokinetic turbines to natural and other anthropogenic sound sources is an initial step at understanding potential environmental impacts. Underwater recordings were obtained from passing vessels and natural underwater sound sources in static and flowing waters. Static water measurements were taken in a lake with minimal background noise. Flowing water measurements were taken at a previously proposed deployment site for hydrokinetic turbines on the Mississippi River, where sounds created by flowing water are part of all measurements, both natural ambient and anthropogenic sources. Vessel sizes ranged from a small fishing boat with 60 hp outboard motor to an 18-unit barge train being pushed upstream by tugboat. As expected, large vessels with large engines created the highest sound levels, which were, on average, 40 dB greater than the sound created by an operating hydrokinetic turbine. As a result, a comparison of sound levels from the same sources at different distances using both spherical and cylindrical sound attenuation functions suggests that spherical model results more closely approximate observed sound attenuation.
Interpolated Sounding and Gridded Sounding Value-Added Products
Standard Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility sounding files provide atmospheric state data in one dimension of increasing time and height per sonde launch. Many applications require a quick estimate of the atmospheric state at higher time resolution. The INTERPOLATEDSONDE (i.e., Interpolated Sounding) Value-Added Product (VAP) transforms sounding data into continuous daily files on a fixed time-height grid, at 1-minute time resolution, on 332 levels, from the surface up to a limit of approximately 40 km. The grid extends that high so the full height of soundings can be captured; however, most soundings terminate at an altitude between 25 and 30 km, above which no data is provided. Between soundings, the VAP linearly interpolates atmospheric state variables in time for each height level. In addition, INTERPOLATEDSONDE provides relative humidity scaled to microwave radiometer (MWR) observations.The INTERPOLATEDSONDE VAP, a continuous time-height grid of relative humidity-corrected sounding data, is intended to provide input to higher-order products, such as the Merged Soundings (MERGESONDE; Troyan 2012) VAP, which extends INTERPOLATEDSONDE by incorporating model data. The INTERPOLATEDSONDE VAP also is used to correct gaseous attenuation of radar reflectivity in products such as the KAZRCOR VAP.
A modeling study of tidal energy extraction and the associated impact on tidal circulation in a multi-inlet bay system of Puget Sound
Previous tidal energy projects in Puget Sound have focused on major deep channels such as Admiralty Inlet that have a larger power potential but pose greater technical challenges than minor tidal channels connecting to small sub-basins. This paper focuses on the possibility of extracting energy from minor tidal channels by using a hydrodynamic model to quantify the power potential and the associated impact on tidal circulation. The study site is a multi-inlet bay system connected by two narrow inlets, Agate Pass and Rich Passage, to the Main Basin of Puget Sound. A three-dimensional hydrodynamic model was applied to the study site and calibrated for tidal elevations and currents. We examined three energy extraction scenarios in which turbines were deployed in each of the two passages and concurrently in both. Extracted power rates and associated changes in tidal elevation, current, tidal flux, and residence time were examined. Maximum instantaneous power rates reached 250 kW, 1550 kW, and 1800 kW, respectively, for the three energy extraction scenarios. The model suggests that with the proposed level of energy extraction, the impact on tidal circulation is very small. It is worth investigating the feasibility of harnessing tidal energy from minor tidal channels of Puget Sound.
Sound velocities of aluminum-bearing stishovite in the mantle transition zone: Sound Velocities of Al-Stishovite
Abstract not provided
Observation of second sound in graphite at temperatures above 100 K
Wavelike thermal transport in solids, referred to as second sound, is an exotic phenomenon previously limited to a handful of materials at low temperatures. The rare occurrence of this effect restricted its scientific and practical importance. We directly observed second sound in graphite at temperatures above 100 kelvins by using time-resolved optical measurements of thermal transport on the micrometer-length scale. Our experimental results are in qualitative agreement with ab initio calculations that predict wavelike phonon hydrodynamics. We believe that these results potentially indicate an important role of second sound in microscale transient heat transport in two-dimensional and layered materials in a wide temperature range.
Interpolated Sounding and Gridded Sounding Value-Added Products
Standard Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility sounding files provide atmospheric state data in one dimension of increasing time and height per sonde launch. Many applications require a quick estimate of the atmospheric state at higher time resolution. The INTERPOLATEDSONDE (i.e., Interpolated Sounding) Value-Added Product (VAP) transforms sounding data into continuous daily files on a fixed time-height grid, at 1-minute time resolution, on 332 levels, from the surface up to a limit of approximately 40 km. The grid extends that high so the full height of soundings can be captured; however, most soundings terminate at an altitude between 25 and 30 km, above which no data is provided. Between soundings, the VAP linearly interpolates atmospheric state variables in time for each height level. In addition, INTERPOLATEDSONDE provides relative humidity scaled to microwave radiometer (MWR) observations.
Speed of Sound Measurements of Binary Mixtures of Hydrofluorocarbons [Pentafluoroethane (R-125), 1,1-Difluoroethane (R-152a), or 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-Heptafluoropropane (R-227ea)] with Hydrofluoroolefins [2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf) or trans-1,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze(E))]
In this article, speed of sound data measured using a dual-path pulse-echo instrument are reported for three binary refrigerant mixtures, R-125/1234yf, R-1234yf/152a, and R-1234ze(E)/227ea, at compositions of (0.33/0.67) and (0.67/0.33) mole fraction. The speed of sound was studied at temperatures ranging from 230 K to 345 K from pressures slightly above the bubble point curve up to 20 MPa for the mixtures containing R-1234yf and 49 MPa for the R-1234ze(E)/227ea mixtures. The relative combined expanded speed of sound uncertainty ranged from 0.039 % to 0.317 % with a mean uncertainty over all state points of less than 0.10 %. The reported data are compared to the most recent mixture models in REFPROP for each blend studied. Comparisons of available mixture models for the R-125/1234yf and R-1234yf/152a blends exhibit average absolute deviation values ranging from 0.10 % to 0.27 %, and the average absolute deviations for R-1234ze(E)/227ea blends range from 0.62 % to 0.94 %. The comparisons show that only minor adjustments are required to the R-125/1234yf and R-1234yf/152a mixture models to represent the speed of sound data within its uncertainty. However, significant adjustments are needed to improve the current mixture models for the R-1234ze(E)/227ea blend. Deficiencies with the R-1234ze(E)/227ea mixture model are not unexpected since it (1) utilizes a pure-fluid EOS R-1234ze(E) that has been shown to inaccurately represent R-1234ze(E) speed of sound values and (2) uses binary interaction parameters for the chemically similar mixture of R-1234yf/227ea.
The Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) sounding network: operations, processing and analysis
The Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) took place during the spring of 2011 centered in north-central Oklahoma, USA. The main goal of this field campaign was to capture the dynamical and microphysical characteristics of precipitating convective systems in the US Central Plains. A major component of the campaign was a six-site radiosonde array designed to capture the large-scale variability of the atmospheric state with the intent of deriving model forcing data sets. Over the course of the 46-day MC3E campaign, a total of 1362 radiosondes were launched from the enhanced sonde network. This manuscript provides details on the instrumentation used as part of the sounding array, the data processing activities including quality checks and humidity bias corrections and an analysis of the impacts of bias correction and algorithm assumptions on the determination of convective levels and indices. It is found that corrections for known radiosonde humidity biases and assumptions regarding the characteristics of the surface convective parcel result in significant differences in the derived values of convective levels and indices in many soundings. In addition, the impact of including the humidity corrections and quality controls on the thermodynamic profiles that are used in the derivation of a large-scale model forcing data set are investigated. The results show a significant impact on the derived large-scale vertical velocity field illustrating the importance of addressing these humidity biases.
Speed of Sound Measurements of Binary Mixtures of Difluoromethane (R-32) with 2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf) or trans-1,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze(E)) Refrigerants
In this article, sound speed data measured using a dual-path pulse-echo instrument are reported for binary mixtures of difluoromethane (R-32) with 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf) or trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze(E)). The sound speed is reported at two compositions for each binary mixture of approximately (0.33/67) and (0.67/0.33) mole fraction at temperatures between 230 K and 345 K. Data are reported from pressures slightly above the bubble point to 12 MPa for R-32/1234yf mixtures to avoid potential polymerization reactions and to 53 MPa for the R-32/1234ze(E) mixtures. The mean uncertainty of the sound speed data are less than 0.1% of the measured value where uncertainties at individual state points range from 0.04% to 0.5% of the measured value as the conditions approach the mixture critical region. The reported data are compared to available Helmholtz-energy-explicit EOS included in REFPROP and all systems studied have average absolute deviations greater than 2%. The comparisons show that further adjustments to the mixture models are needed to provide a reasonable representation of the data within its experimental uncertainty.
Speed of Sound Measurements of Binary Mixtures of 1,1-Difluoroethylene (R-1132a) + Propane and Derived Speed of Sound of Pure R-1132a
Speed of sound data, measured using a dual-path pulse-echo instrument, are reported for three binary mixtures of 1,1-difluoroethylene (R-1132a) with propane at temperatures ranging from 230 to 345 K and pressures ranging from slightly above the bubble curve to a maximum pressure of 50 MPa. Significant attenuation of the pulse-echo signals was observed for measurements on pure R-1132a. Therefore, the R-1132a sample was doped with propane at mole fractions ranging from 0.0274 to 0.0887 and the propane + R-1132a mixture data was used to derive sound speeds for pure R-1132a. The data were compared to a preliminary equation of state for R-1132a, and deviations ranged from 2 % to 8 %. This demonstrates that the preliminary R-1132a EoS needs to be refit to better represent the speed of sound.
Sound velocities of iron-nickel (Fe90Ni10) alloy up to 8 GPa and 773 K: The effect of nickel on the elastic properties of bcc-iron at high P-T
Sound velocities of iron and iron-based alloys at high pressure and high temperature are crucial for understanding the composition and structure of Earth’s and other telluric planetary cores. In this study, we performed ultrasonic interferometric measurements of both compressional (ν P ) and shear (ν S ) velocities on a polycrystalline body-centered-cubic (bcc)-Fe 90 Ni 10 up to 8 GPa and 773 K. The elastic moduli and their pressure and temperature derivatives are derived from least-square fits to third-order finite strain equations, yielding K S0 = 154.2(8) GPa, G 0 = 73.2(2) GPa, K' S0 = 4.6(2), G' 0 = 1.5(1), ∂K S /∂T = –0.028(1) GPa/K, and ∂G/∂T = –0.023(1) GPa/K. Furthermore, a comparison with literature data on bcc-Fe suggests that nickel not only decreases both P and S wave velocities but also weakens the temperature effects on the elastic moduli of Fe-Ni alloys.
Reassessment of Birch's Law on hcp‐Fe From Ultrasonic Sound Velocity Measurement and Implications on the Velocity Profiles of Earth's Inner Core
Here, we performed in situ X-ray diffraction and ultrasonic sound velocity measurements on hcp-Fe up to 15 GPa, 873 K in a multi-anvil apparatus. The elastic moduli and their pressure and temperature derivatives were determined by fitting the velocity and density data to the third-order finite strain equations, yielding K S0 = 169.0(57) GPa, K$^{′}_{S0}$ = 5.4(6), (∂K S /∂T) P = −0.031(3) GPa/K, G 0 = 104.5(27) GPa, G$^{′}_{0}$ = 1.7(2), (∂G/∂T) P = −0.060(2) GPa/K. Within the experimental P-T range, we find significant temperature effect on the density-velocity (ρ − V P or S ) relations and caution the use of the temperature-independent Birch's law for extrapolation to core conditions. Furthermore, temperature-induced velocity decrease is more significant in V S than in V P , offering a possible explanation for the high Poisson's ratio in the core. Extrapolations based on our results together with previous experimental data suggest that V P of hcp-Fe aligns with PREM at Earth's core conditions, while Vs and density are approximately 10% and 2.7% higher than PREM, respectively.
On a Riesz basis of exponentials related to the eigenvalues of an analytic operator and application to a non-selfadjoint problem deduced from a perturbation method for sound radiation
In the present paper, we prove that the family of exponentials associated to the eigenvalues of the perturbed operator T(ε) ≔ T{sub 0} + εT{sub 1} + ε{sup 2}T{sub 2} + … + ε{sup k}T{sub k} + … forms a Riesz basis in L{sup 2}(0, T), T > 0, where ε∈C, T{sub 0} is a closed densely defined linear operator on a separable Hilbert space H with domain D(T{sub 0}) having isolated eigenvalues with multiplicity one, while T{sub 1}, T{sub 2}, … are linear operators on H having the same domain D⊃D(T{sub 0}) and satisfying a specific growing inequality. After that, we generalize this result using a H-Lipschitz function. As application, we consider a non-selfadjoint problem deduced from a perturbation method for sound radiation.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in plasma from E-waste recyclers, outdoor and indoor workers in the Puget Sound, WA region
Not Available
Occupational and dietary differences in hydroxylated and methoxylated PBDEs and metals in plasma from Puget Sound, Washington, USA region volunteers
BACKGROUND: Electronic waste (E-waste) recycling is a rapidly growing occupation in the USA with the potential for elevated exposure to flame retardants and metals associated with electronic devices. We previously measured polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in plasma from E-waste workers and found them similar to non-E-waste workers. OBJECTIVES: This study focused on structurally related PBDE derivatives, the hydroxylated (OH-PBDEs) and methoxylated (MeO-PBDEs) forms along with metals known to occur in E-waste. Humans can metabolize PBDEs and some MeO-PBDEs into OH-PBDEs, which is a concern due to greater health risks associated with OH-PBDEs METHODS: We measured 32 different OH-PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs in plasma samples provided by 113 volunteers living in the greater Puget Sound region of Washington State, USA. We measured 14 metals in a subset of 10 E-waste and 10 non-E-waste volunteers. Volunteers were classified based on occupational and dietary habits: work outdoors and weekly consume = 5 seafood servings (outdoor), electronic waste recycling (E-waste) or non-specific indoor occupations (indoor). A two-week food consumption diary was obtained from each volunteer prior to blood sampling. RESULTS: OH-PBDEs were detected in all volunteers varying between 0.27 – 102 ng/g/g-lipid. The MeO-PBDEs were detected in most, but not all volunteers varying between 0 – 60.4 ng/g/g-lipid. E-waste recyclers had OH-PBDE and MeO-PBDE plasma levels that were similar to the indoor group. The outdoor group had significantly higher levels of MeO-PBDEs, but not OH-PBDEs. Comparison of plasma concentrations of BDE-47 with its known hydroxylated metabolites suggested OH-PBDE levels were likely determined by biotransformation and at least two subpopulations identified differing in their apparent rates of OH-PBDE formation. The metals analysis indicated no significant differences between E-waste workers and non-E-waste workers. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate E-waste workers do not have elevated plasma levels of these contaminants relative to non-E-waste workers with similar dietary habits.
Sounding System - UMBC Soundings - Raw Data
Sounding data from Watertank (site of NOAA's High Resolution Doppler Lidar) for comparison with microwave profilers.