SCAN_43-01

43-01 EARTH RESOURCES
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

Title:
Verification of Atmospheric Signals Associated with Major Seismicity by Space and Terrestrial Observations
Document ID:
20090002166
Report #:
None
Sales Agency:
Other Sources No Copyright
Author(s):
Taylor, Patrick
Published:
20081214
Source:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Pages:
1
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
Observations from the last twenty years suggest the existence of electromagnetic (EM) phenomena during or preceding some earthquakes [Haykawa et a!, 2004; Pulinets at al, 1999,2004, 2006, Ouzounov et all 2007 and Liu et all 20041. Both our previous studies [Pulinets at al, 2005, 2006, Ouzounov et al, 2006, 20071 and the latest review by the Earthquake Remote Precursor Sensing panel [ERPS; 2003- 20051; have shown that there were precursory atmospheric TIR signals observed on the ground and in space associated with several recent earthquakes. [Tramutoli at al, 2005, 2006, Cervone et al, 2006, Ouzounov et all 2004,2006JT.o study these signals, we applied both multi parameter statistical analysis and data mining methods that require systematic measurements from an Integrated Sensor Web of observations of several physical and environmental parameters. These include long wave earth infra-red radiation, ionospheric electrical and magnetic parameters, temperature and humidity of the boundary layer, seismicity and may be associated with major earthquakes. Our goal is to verify the earthquake atmospheric correlation in two cases: (i) backward analysis - 2000-2008 hindcast monitoring of multi atmospheric parameters over the Kamchatka region, Russia ; and (ii) forward real-time alert analysis over different seismo-tectonic regions for California, Turkey, Taiwan and Japan. Our latest results, from several post-earthquake independent analyses of more then 100 major earthquakes, show that joint satellite and some ground measurements, using an integrated web, could provide a capability for observing pre-earthquake atmospheric signals by combining the information from multiple sensors into a common framework. Using our methodology, we evaluated and compared the observed signals preceding the latest M7.9 Sichuan earthquake (0511212008), M8.0 earthquake in Peru (0811512007), M7.6 Kashmir earthquake (1010812005) and M9.0 Sumatra earthquake (1212812004). We found evidence of the systematic appearance of both atmospheric and ionospheric anomalies preceding most of the major events during the period of our analysis 2001 -2008.
Language:
English
Notes:
Fall American Geophysical Union California 14 - 20 Dec. 2008

Title:
Exploitation of Thermal Signals in a Tidal Flat Environment -- Planning
Document ID:
20090003771
Report #:
AD-A490460
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA490460
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Thomson, Jim Chickadel, Chris
Published:
20081209
Source:
Washington Univ. (Seattle, WA United States)
Pages:
4
Contract #:
N00014-07-1-0682
Abstract:
Investigators participated within the planning phase of the Tidal Flats Department Research Initiative (DRI) to help design and site a series of large collaborative field experiments. The work included meetings and field trips to characterize potential sites, as well as logistical concerns. Emphasis was on integrating remote (infrared imagery) and in situ (thermistor) field sensing of thermal signals into the experiment plan. Investigators attended DRI planning meetings in Hawaii and South Korea, scouted field sites in Washington State, began development of new methods, and collected preliminary data. The preliminary data include infrared images from Korean sites, and sediment temperature profiles from Washington State sites.
Language:
English

43-02 GEODESY AND CARTOGRAPHY
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

Title:
Web-Based Mapping Puts the World at Your Fingertips
Document ID:
20090002478
Report #:
None
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20090002478
Sales Agency:
CASI Hardcopy A01 No Copyright
Author(s):
(Author(s) Not Available)
Journal:
Spinoff 2008: 50 Years of NASA-Derived Technologies (1958-2008), Page: 122-123
Published:
20080901
Source:
DATASTAR, Inc. (Picayune, MS, United States)
Pages:
2
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
NASA's award-winning Earth Resources Laboratory Applications Software (ELAS) package was developed at Stennis Space Center. Since 1978, ELAS has been used worldwide for processing satellite and airborne sensor imagery data of the Earth's surface into readable and usable information. DATASTAR Inc., of Picayune, Mississippi, has used ELAS software in the DATASTAR Image Processing Exploitation (DIPEx) desktop and Internet image processing, analysis, and manipulation software. The new DIPEx Version III includes significant upgrades and improvements compared to its esteemed predecessor. A true World Wide Web application, this product evolved with worldwide geospatial dimensionality and numerous other improvements that seamlessly support the World Wide Web version.
Language:
English

Title:
Automap User's Guide 2008
Document ID:
20090003239
Report #:
AD-A487723, CMU-ISR-08-123
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA487723
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Carley, Kathleen M Columbus, Dave DeReno, Matthew J Diesner, Jana
Published:
20080701
Source:
Carnegie-Mellon Univ. (Pittsburgh, PA United States)
Pages:
232
Contract #:
N00014-06-1-0772 N00014-06-10921
Abstract:
AutoMap is software for computer-assisted Network Text Analysis (NTA). NTA encodes the links among words in a text and constructs a network of the linked words. AutoMap subsumes classical Content Analysis by analyzing the existence, frequencies, and covariance of terms and themes.
Language:
English
Notes:
Sponsored in part by ARL grant DAAD19-01-2-0009

Title:
Geo-location Requirements for UXO Discrimination (Guidance Document)
Document ID:
20090003609
Report #:
AD-A487619
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Bell, Thomas
Published:
20080501
Source:
Science Applications International Corp. (Arlington, VA United States)
Pages:
23
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
The Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) sponsored the development and operation of Standardized Test Sites at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland, and Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), Arizona. The purpose of these sites is to provide a means for characterizing the performance of technologies under development for the detection and discrimination of Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC), which include Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Discarded Military Munitions (DMM). ESTCP Project MM-0413 implemented standardized, data-level evaluations of demonstration performance at the Standardized UXO Test Sites in order to support an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the various UXO detection and discrimination sensors [2]. Generally speaking the conclusions drawn by MM-0413 were disappointing. Only a relatively small fraction of the survey data analyzed for that project was accurate enough to support reliable feature-based target classification and discrimination. Even when the target Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) was relatively high the quality of the estimated target parameters was frequently relatively poor. This suggests that the problems are due to deficiencies in the surveys, e.g. sensor location errors. This report presents the results on an analysis of the effects of sensor location errors (geo-location errors) on target classification and discrimination performance, and provides guidance on the geo-location accuracy requirements for reliable target classification. This report summarizes the geo-location requirements for UXO discrimination based on inversion of spatially mapped data. We distinguish between absolute position accuracy needed for target reacquisition and the relative accuracy needed to support data inversion. Much of the material in this report was presented at the SERDP/ESTCP Geo-location Workshop held in Annapolis, MD in June 2005.
Language:
English

44-01 ENERGY RESOURCES
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

Title:
New Real-Time Quantum Efficiency Measurement System (Presentation)
Document ID:
20090001923
Report #:
DE2008-939520, NREL/PR-520-43323
Sales Agency:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) No Copyright
Author(s):
Young, D. L. Egaas, B. Stradins, P.
Published:
20080501
Source:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (Golden, CO United States)
Pages:
29
Contract #:
DE-AC36-99-GO10337
Abstract:
We have developed a new technique for measuring the quantum efficiency (QE) in solar cells in real-time using a unique, electronically controlled, full-spectrum light source. Full-spectrum QE graphs can be obtained in less than one second (as opposed to 20 minutes using traditional QE instruments). The high measurement speed is achieved by parallel processing of information from a multitude of spectral channels encoded in modulation frequency bands. The reduction in time scale makes this QE measurement technique compatible with inline production diagnostics, high-fidelity, spectral-matching cell binning, and thin-film module spatial spectral response uniformity tests.
Language:
English

Title:
Optimizing Carbon Nanotube Contacts For Use In Organic Photovoltaics (Presentation)
Document ID:
20090001924
Report #:
DE2008-939523, NREL/PR-520-43262
Sales Agency:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) No Copyright
Author(s):
Barnes, T. Blackburn, J. Morfa, A. Heben, M.
Published:
20080501
Source:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (Golden, CO United States)
Pages:
14
Contract #:
DE-AC36-99-GO10337
Abstract:
Viewgraph presentation on carbon nanotube synthesis.
Language:
English

Title:
Liquid-Phase Quartz Crystal Microbalance for Photovoltaics Research (Presentation)
Document ID:
20090001925
Report #:
DE2008-939526, NREL/PR-520-43324
Sales Agency:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) No Copyright
Author(s):
Perkins, C. L. Li, X.
Published:
20080501
Source:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (Golden, CO United States)
Pages:
9
Contract #:
DE-AC36-99-GO10337
Abstract:
The construction of a new QCM-based flow reactor has been completed. Initial results include: (1) stable oscillation achieved with crystals sputter coated at 200 C with 500 nm ZnO; (2) sub-Hz noise level means << monolayer sensitivity; (3) Operation at elevated temperature possible after installation of membrane contactors; (4) determination of ZnO etch rates using dilute ethanolic NH(sub 4)Cl; (5) demonstration of use of an etchant as a probe of oxide-molecule interactions; (6) and use in flow rate-dependent CdS chemical deposition.
Language:
English

Title:
Assessment of Superstructural Ice Protection as Applied to Offshore Oil Operations Safety
Document ID:
20090002005
Report #:
AD-A486608, ERDC/CRREL-TR-08-14
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA486608
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Ryerson, Charles C
Published:
20080901
Source:
Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab. (Hanover, NH United States)
Pages:
155
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
Superstructure sea spray icing and atmospheric icing from snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle, rime, sleet, and frost reduce the safety of offshore platform and supply boat operations. Though icing reduces safety and reduces operational efficiency, it has not caused the loss of offshore platforms. Supply boats are at greater risk of loss from icing than are platforms. Platforms operating in cold regions are protected primarily by designs that reduce ice accretion, coupled with the selective use of heat. A variety of deicing and anti-icing technologies have been tested on offshore platforms and boats, but with little overall success. New technologies and modern versions of old technologies, now used successfully in aviation, the electric power industry, and on transportation systems in general, may be transferable to the offshore environment. Fifteen classes of deicing and anti-icing technologies are identified, explained, and reviewed, as are numerous ice detection technologies for controlling deicing and anti-icing systems. These technologies are the population from which new marine ice protection systems may be selected.
Language:
English

Title:
Comparing Throughput and Power Consumption in Sequential and Reconfigurable Processors
Document ID:
20090002064
Report #:
AD-A486712, USNA-TSPR-369
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA486712
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Liu, Kevin K
Published:
20080505
Source:
Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD United States)
Pages:
85
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
This research project involves an investigation of parallel processing using reconfigurable logic devices. The goal of this project is to support the Naval Research Labs' recent acquisition of a Cray XD-1 supercomputer. A feature of the Cray XD-1 is that it contains field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). These reconfigurable devices contain hardware whose connections can be modified to target a specific computation. This adaptability can significantly improve the processing speed of computationally intensive operations. Recent improvements in the memory capacity of FPGAs have spurred interest in using the devices for arithmetic floating-point operations using the IEEE 754 standard. In this project, a high-level language (HLL)--Mitrion-C 1.4--was used to reduce some of this effort. Using this language, two calculations taken from a ray-tracing simulation of NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) were implemented on an FPGA. The calculations consisted of floating-point additions, subtractions, multiplications, divisions, and square root extractions. It was feasible to perform many of the calculations in parallel, leading to a substantial increase in system throughput. Functionally identical programs were also implemented on a sequential processor--an Opteron 275--using the American National Standards Institute s standard for C (ANSI-C). Those portions of the FPGA design and of the sequential programs that were dedicated to performing scientific calculations were isolated and their processing time was measured using functions written in ANSI-C and calculated by the sequential processor. In addition, power consumption was measured both while the FPGA hardware implementation ran and while the sequential program ran. The results showed that implementing the two calculations on an FPGA was about 900% faster than a sequential processor, requiring only roughly a 30% increase in power consumed.
Language:
English

Title:
Design of Shallow p-type Dopants in ZnO (Presentation)
Document ID:
20090002181
Report #:
DE2008-939510, NREL/PR-520-43248
Sales Agency:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) No Copyright
Author(s):
Wei, S. H. Li, J. Yan, Y.
Published:
20080501
Source:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (Golden, CO United States)
Pages:
35
Contract #:
DE-AC36-99-GO10337
Abstract:
ZnO is a promising material for short wave-length opto-electronic devices such as UV lasers and LEDs due to its large exciton binding energy and low material cost. ZnO can be doped easily n-type, but the realization of stable p-type ZnO is rather difficult. Using first-principles band structure methods the authors address what causes the p-type doping difficulty in ZnO and how to overcome the p-type doping difficulty in ZnO.
Language:
English

Title:
Comprehensive Review of Planar Pulsed Inductive Plasma Thruster Research and Technology
Document ID:
20090002569
Report #:
None
Sales Agency:
Other Sources No Copyright
Author(s):
Polzin, Kurt A. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
Published:
20080101
Source:
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, AL, United States)
Pages:
61
Contract #:
None Abstract: Pulsed inductive plasma thrusters are spacecraft propulsion devices in which energy is capacitively stored and then discharged through an inductive coil. While there are many pulsed inductive plasma accelerator concepts in existence, this review is limited to a discussion of planar pulsed inductive thrusters, where the inductive coil takes the shape of a flat spiral (as illustrated schematically in Fig. 1). The device is electrodeless, with the time-varying azimuthal current in the inductive coil (current density j) producing a magnetic field with components in the r-z plane in accordance with Ampere's law. Any temporal variation in the magnetic field induces an azimuthal electric field according to Faraday's law. If there exists a plasma covering the face of the coil, then the induced electric field drives an azimuthal plasma current. Propellant is accelerated and expelled at a high exhaust velocity by the Lorentz body force arising from the interaction of the plasma current and the induced magnetic field. Consequently, the Lorentz force on the plasma is proportional to the product of j with its time-derivative. Development of an efficient pulsed inductive plasma accelerator is a challenging proposition. Jahn has succinctly stated the following inherent difficulties pertaining to both ionization and acceleration that must be overcome for efficient inductive thruster operation: "... inductive discharges embody two inherent electrodynamic disadvantages to conversion efficiency which detract from their propulsive effectiveness. First, any delay in breakdown of the gas after application of the primary field pulse results in energy being dissipated in the external circuit, which, unlike that of the direct electrode devices, is complete without the gas loop... This difficulty might be relieved by providing a separate preionization mechanism or by operation at a sufficiently rapid repetition rate, but it is indicative of an inherent inefficiency in coupling of the external circuit to the plasma." "Equally troublesome is the need to accomplish all the energy input to the gas before much motion of it has occurred. The current induced in the gas-loop secondary depends on its mutual inductance with the external primary, and thus is a strong function of the physical separation of these two current paths. As they separate under the acceleration, the coupling rapidly becomes weaker." These two quotes demonstrate why efficient propellant ionization and acceleration are both critical aspects of pulsed inductive accelerator operation. If current is pulsed in the inductive acceleration coil and there is no plasma, or the plasma is late in forming, the magnetic field produced by the coil (and the associated field energy) will radiate into space without performing any useful work. In addition, primary acceleration of the plasma must occur very quickly before it separates too far from the acceleration coil and effectively decouples from the magnetic field induced by the current in the coil. For several decades, research and development of pulsed inductive plasma accelerators were primarily conducted by a small group at TRW Space Systems in Redondo Beach, CA (later acquired by Northrop- Grumman). This work, directed by C.L. Dailey and R.H. Lovberg, included detailed plasma physics studies, component-level development efforts, and performance testing of prototypical thruster units with the end goal being an inductive thruster operating at high efficiency. To this end several different design variations were tested, generating data that contain several important insights into inductive thruster physics. These data, to be discussed below, highlight the benefits and deficiencies of different design strategies and provide guidance for future component and thruster development efforts. Recently, several groups have pursued various parallel lines of inductive thruster research and development. New experimental efforts seek to advance the state of the arf inductive thruster technology, either by making incremental improvements to various components and subsystems of an existing thruster or by implementing completely new designs that address deficiencies in the performance and/or lifetime of current state of the art systems.
Language:
English
Notes:
To be published in Journal of Propulsion and Power/American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

Title:
Energy Security in South Asia: Can Interdependence Breed Stability? (Strategic Forum. Number 232, September 2008)
Document ID:
20090003402
Report #:
AD-A487272
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA487272
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
McMillan, Joseph
Published:
20080901
Source:
National Defense Univ. (Washington, DC United States)
Pages:
7
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
South Asia is projected to play a major role in global energy markets over the next several decades, with India alone expected to become the world's third largest importer of petroleum by 2030. Satisfying the region's growing demands will require a heightened degree of energy interdependence among historically antagonistic states. Consequently, like it or not, regional leaders will face a tradeoff between traditional desires for energy self-sufficiency and the ambitious development targets that they have set for themselves. Achieving such growth, therefore, requires that India, Pakistan, and the other countries of South Asia first address the persistent international disputes that hamper cross-border energy trade, establish effective control over presently ungoverned areas, reorient the missions of military forces to some extent, and develop a better understanding of the effects that energy interdependence will have on broader relations with neighbors. From the U.S. point of view, understanding the multifaceted causal connections that exist among economic development, energy supplies, and security and stability, and how these dynamics are likely to affect South Asian states decisionmaking, may provide points of leverage with which policymakers can shape behavior on a wide range of issues affecting U.S. objectives in the region.
Language:
English

Title:
AY 2007-2008 Achieving U.S. Energy Security: Energy Industry Sector Report Seminar 8
Document ID:
20090003610
Report #:
AD-A487623
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
(Author(s) Not Available)
Published:
20080101
Source:
Industrial Coll. of the Armed Forces (Washington, DC United States)
Pages:
36
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
The source of U.S. national security strength stems in large part from the nation's economic foundation; the ability to generate and exploit inexpensive energy underpins that strength. Therefore, the United States has a vital interest in ensuring the viability and stability of the global energy system and securing its energy security. This Industrial College of the Armed Forces Energy Industry paper analyzes the energy sector and grapples with how to maintain U.S. energy security. The paper first identifies five themes observed and emphasized from several months of study, domestic and international travel, and discussions with energy industry leaders. The paper then breaks the energy sector into two segments for detailed industry status analysis based on import dependence: transportation (heavily dependent on imports), and electricity production (mostly self-sufficient). After review of both segments, the paper concludes with the following four major policy recommendations: 1.) Price the use of fossil fuels to include externalities such as defending the energy industry, economic drain and environmental impact; 2.) Develop and foster solid working relationships with nations that broaden our energy portfolio to maintain diversity of source; 3.) Increase the U.S. global leadership role in advancing responsible energy use to help decrease global energy demand in the short term; and 4.) Develop and promulgate a national energy strategy to reduce domestic demand, champion conservation, and reduce barriers to domestic energy production of both traditional and alternative power. The paper concludes with three essays that spotlight significant areas of interest: Carbon Capture and Sequestration, Water and Energy, and Labor Shortages in Energy Fields.
Language:
English

Title:
Using Utility Functions to Control a Distributed Storage System
Document ID:
20090003781
Report #:
AD-A490547, CMU-PDL-08-102
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA490547
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Strunk, John D
Published:
20080501
Source:
Carnegie-Mellon Univ. (Pittsburgh, PA United States)
Pages:
135
Contract #:
DAAD19-02-1-0389 CNS-0326453
Abstract:
Provisioning, and later optimizing, a storage system involves an extensive set of trade-offs between system metrics, including purchase cost, performance, reliability, availability, and power. Previous work has tried to simplify provisioning and tuning tasks by allowing a system administrator to specify goals for various storage metrics. While this helps by raising the level of specification from low-level mechanisms to high-level storage system metrics, it does not permit trade-offs between those metrics. This dissertation goes beyond goal-based requirements by allowing the system administrator to use a utility function to specify his objectives. Using utility, both the costs and benefits of configuration and tuning decisions can be examined within a single framework. This permits a provisioning system to make automated trade-offs across system metrics, such as performance, data protection, and power consumption. It also allows an automated optimization system to properly balance the cost of data migration with its expected benefits. This work develops a prototype storage provisioning tool that uses an administrator-specified utility function to generate cost-effective storage configurations. The tool is then used to provide examples of how utility can be used to balance competing objectives (e.g., performance and data protection) and to provide guidance in the presence of external constraints. A framework for using utility to evaluate data migration is also developed. This framework balances data migration costs (decreases to current system metrics) against the potential benefits by discounting future expected utility. Experiments show that, by looking at utility over time, it is possible to choose the migration speed as well as weigh alternate optimization choices to provide the proper balance of current and future levels of service.
Language:
English
Notes:
Sponsored in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF)

Title:
Are Carbon Dioxide Emissions Rising More Rapidly Than Expected?
Document ID:
20090003859
Report #:
AD-A490753, CRS-RS22970
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Leggett, Jane A Logan, Jeffrey
Published:
20081017
Source:
Library of Congress (Washington, DC United States)
Pages:
7
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
At least one recent report and numerous news articles suggest that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are rising more rapidly than expected. This contention is often made by comparing recent emissions estimates with the greenhouse gas (GHG) scenarios published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2000. While CO2 emissions associated with human activities continue to rise and may be worthy of alarm because of their influence on climate change any short-term comparisons between actual emissions and IPCC scenarios miss the mark. First, the IPCC scenarios explicitly are not predictions. Second, the IPCC scenarios are meant to represent different possible GHG trajectories over many decades, and represent smooth emissions paths averaged over at least 10 years. Just as the actual weather over a few years is not necessarily representative of long-term climate, variability of emissions over one or several years is not necessarily representative of long-term trends. Nonetheless, monitoring of CO2 emissions and concentrations, and analysis of the factors driving changes, is important to designing and evaluating policies to address climate change.
Language:
English
Notes:
CRS Report for Congress

Title:
Capturing CO2 from Coal-Fired Power Plants: Challenges for a Comprehensive Strategy
Document ID:
20090003860
Report #:
AD-A490755, CRS-RL34621
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Parker, Larry Folger, Peter Stine, Deborah D
Published:
20080815
Source:
Library of Congress (Washington, DC United States)
Pages:
40
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
Any comprehensive approach to substantially reduce greenhouse gases must address the world's dependency on coal for a quarter of its energy demand, including almost half of its electricity demand. To maintain coal in the world s energy mix in a carbon-constrained future would require development of a technology to capture and store its carbon dioxide emissions. This situation suggests to some that any greenhouse gas reduction program be delayed until such carbon capture technology has been demonstrated. However, technological innovation and the demands of a carbon control regime are interlinked; a technology policy is no substitute for environmental policy and must be developed in concert with it. Much of the debate about developing and commercializing carbon capture technology has focused on the role of research, development, and deployment (technology-push mechanisms). However, for technology to be fully commercialized, it must also meet a market demand a demand created either through a price mechanism or a regulatory requirement (demand-pull mechanisms). Any conceivable carbon capture technology for coal-fired powerplants will increase the cost of electricity generation from affected plants because of efficiency losses. Therefore, few companies are likely to install such technology until they are required to, either by regulation or by a carbon price. Regulated industries may find their regulators reluctant to accept the risks and cost of installing technology that is not required. The Department of Energy (DOE) has invested millions of dollars since 1997 in carbon capture technology research and development (R&D), and the question remains whether it has been too much, too little, or about the right amount. In addition to appropriating funds each year for the DOE program, Congress supported R&D investment through provisions for loan guarantees and tax credits.
Language:
English
Notes:
CRS Report for Congress

Title:
No Winglets: What a Drag...Argument for Adding Winglets to Large Air Force Aircraft
Document ID:
20090003864
Report #:
AD-A490778
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Safranek, Joel W
Published:
20080101
Source:
Marine Corps Development and Education Command (Quantico, VA United States)
Pages:
41
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
To save hundreds of millions of dollars in operating costs and improve aircraft capabilities, the Air Force should retrofit its existing large aircraft with winglets. The U.S. Government faces a situation today that is similar to one it faced during the 1970s: growing instability in the Middle East that is contributing to the towering price of oil. As oil prices have escalated, so have political demands to decrease America's reliance on foreign oil. One way to conserve energy is based on a NASA aeronautical engineer's research during the 1970s on "winglets." Dr. Richard Whitcomb's research showed that adding winglets to large aircraft decreased fuel consumption by 3 to 6 percent. Unfortunately for winglet technology, oil prices plummeted during the 1980s and remained low throughout the 1990s, distracting the government's energy conservation priorities and burying the winglet concept for large military aircraft. The concept remained dormant for over two decades until soaring energy prices once again brought improving aircraft aerodynamic efficiencies to the forefront of the energy conservation debate. The data collected here display the overwhelmingly positive arguments for retrofitting the Air Force's existing transport-type airframes with winglets.
Language:
English

Title:
The World Bank's Clean Technology Fund (CTF)
Document ID:
20090003867
Report #:
AD-A490810, CRS-RS22989
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Weiss, Martin A Logan, Jeffrey
Published:
20081124
Source:
Library of Congress (Washington, DC United States)
Pages:
7
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
The United States Treasury has led efforts to create a $10 billion Clean Technology Fund (CTF), located at the World Bank, to help fund deployment of clean technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing economies. The Bush administration has asked Congress to authorize and appropriate U.S. funding of $2 billion over three years (FY2009 to FY2011). While many Members of Congress have expressed support for the CTF, others have raised concerns, primarily with respect to whether the CTF should finance carbon-based energy projects. To date, Congress has not passed legislation authorizing or appropriating U.S. contributions to the Fund. This report will be updated as events warrant.
Language:
English
Notes:
CRS Report for Congress

Title:
Analyzing the Effects of Component Reliability on Naval Integrated Power System Quality of Service
Document ID:
20090004035
Report #:
AD-A488182
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Hawbaker, Benjamin F
Published:
20080601
Source:
Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. (Cambridge, MA United States)
Pages:
92
Contract #:
N62271-97-G-0026
Abstract:
The Integrated Power System (IPS) is a key enabling technology for future naval vessels and their advanced weapon systems. While conventional warship designs utilize separate power systems for propulsion and shipboard electrical service, the IPS combines these functions. This allows greater optimization of engineering plant design and operations and leads to significant potential lifecycle cost savings through reduced fuel consumption and maintenance. Traditionally the focus of power system design has been survivability, with the assumption that service continuity was inherently provided. A new probabilistic metric Quality of Service (QOS), now allows the power continuity and quality delivered to loads to be addressed explicitly during the design of IPS vessels. This metric is based both on the reliability of the power system components and the system architecture employed.
Language:
English

Title:
U.S. Trade Deficit and the Impact of Rising Oil Prices
Document ID:
20090004040
Report #:
AD-A488199, CRS-RS22204
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Jackson, James K
Published:
20080912
Source:
Library of Congress (Washington, DC United States)
Pages:
7
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
Petroleum prices have continued to rise sharply in 2008, at one time reaching more than $140 per barrel of crude oil. At the same time the average monthly volume of imports of energy-related petroleum products has fallen slightly. The combination of sharply rising prices and a slightly lower level of imports of energy-related petroleum products translates into an escalating cost for those imports. This rising cost added an estimated $50 billion to the nation's trade deficit in 2006 and another $28 billion in 2007. The prices of energy imports have been on a steady rise since the summer of 2007, defying the pattern of declining energy import prices in the fall. This report provides an estimate of the initial impact of the rising oil prices on the nation's merchandise trade deficit. This report will be updated as warranted by events.
Language:
English
Notes:
CRS Report for Congress

Title:
Precipitate Dissolution and Gettering under Vacancy Injection in Silicon: Final Subcontract Report, 21 March 2006 - 15 January 2008
Document ID:
20090004175
Report #:
DE2008-939277, NREL/SR-520-44088
Sales Agency:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) No Copyright
Author(s):
Tan, T. Li, N.
Published:
20080901
Source:
Connecticut Transit (Hartford, CT, United States)
Pages:
9
Contract #:
DE-AC36-99-GO10337
Abstract:
This paper summarizes the mechanisms of vacancy injection, radiation-enhanced solubility, and radiation-enhanced diffusion of vacancies and metal impurity atoms in silicon.
Language:
English
Notes:
Sponsored by Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

Title:
Solar Energy Technologies Program: Market Transformation
Document ID:
20090004176
Report #:
DE2008-939284, DOE/GO-102008-2647
Sales Agency:
Department of Energy Information Bridge No Copyright
Author(s):
(Author(s) Not Available)
Published:
20080901
Source:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (Golden, CO United States)
Pages:
2
Contract #:
DE-AC36-99-GO10337
Abstract:
Summarizes the goals and activities of the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program efforts within its market transformation subprogram.
Language:
English

Title:
Review of Photovoltaic Energy Production Using CdTe Thin-Film Modules: Extended Abstract Preprint
Document ID:
20090004178
Report #:
DE2008-939299, NREL/AB-520-44128
Sales Agency:
Department of Energy Information Bridge No Copyright
Author(s):
Gessert, T. A.
Published:
20080901
Source:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (Golden, CO United States)
Pages:
7
Contract #:
DE-AC36-99-GO10337
Abstract:
CdTe has near-optimum bandgap, excellent deposition traits, and leads other technologies in commercial PV module production volume. Better understanding materials properties will accelerate deployment.
Language:
English

44-02 FUEL CELLS AND CHEMICAL BATTERIES
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

Title:
Development and Implementation of Carbon Nanofoam Cathode Structures for Magnesium-Hydrogen Peroxide Semi-Fuel Cells
Document ID:
20090001994
Report #:
AD-A486583, USNA-TSPR-374
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA486583
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Renninger, Christopher H
Published:
20080505
Source:
Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD United States)
Pages:
64
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
Magnesium/hydrogen peroxide (Mg-H2O2) semi-fuel cells are mission critical to the Navy as a primary power source for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV); consequently, this Trident project has sought to improve the electrochemical performance of Mg-H2O2 semi-fuel cells by fabricating porous carbon nanofoam composites as nanostructured electrode scaffolds for palladium nanoparticle electrocatalysts.
Language:
English

Title:
Battery Technology Stores Clean Energy
Document ID:
20090002483
Report #:
None
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20090002483
Sales Agency:
CASI Hardcopy A01 No Copyright
Author(s):
(Author(s) Not Available)
Journal:
Spinoff 2008: 50 Years of NASA-Derived Technologies (1958-2008), Page: 114-115
Published:
20080901
Source:
Deeya Energy, Inc. (Silicon Valley, CA, United States)
Pages:
2
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
Headquartered in Fremont, California, Deeya Energy Inc. is now bringing its flow batteries to commercial customers around the world after working with former Marshall Space Flight Center scientist, Lawrence Thaller. Deeya's liquid-cell batteries have higher power capability than Thaller's original design, are less expensive than lead-acid batteries, are a clean energy alternative, and are 10 to 20 times less expensive than nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and fuel cell options.
Language:
English

Title:
Unitized regenerative fuel cell system
Document ID:
20090002667
Report #:
None
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20090002667
Sales Agency:
CASI Hardcopy A03 No Copyright
Author(s):
Burke, Kenneth A.
Published:
20080812
Source:
NASA (Washington, DC United States)
Pages:
14
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
A Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell system uses heat pipes to convey waste heat from the fuel cell stack to the reactant storage tanks. The storage tanks act as heat sinks/sources and as passive radiators of the waste heat from the fuel cell stack. During charge up, i.e., the electrolytic process, gases are conveyed to the reactant storage tanks by way of tubes that include dryers. Reactant gases moving through the dryers give up energy to the cold tanks, causing water vapor in with the gases to condense and freeze on the internal surfaces of the dryer. During operation in its fuel cell mode, the heat pipes convey waste heat from the fuel cell stack to the respective reactant storage tanks, thereby heating them such that the reactant gases, as they pass though the respective dryers on their way to the fuel cell stacks retrieve the water previously removed.
Language:
English

Title:
Generating Graphene Nanosheet Electrodes for Electroanalysis and Fuel Cells
Document ID:
20090003234
Report #:
AD-A487715
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA487715
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Li, Changming Bao, Shu-Juan Guo, Chun-Xian Guo, Jun Hu, Fengping
Published:
20081008
Source:
Nanyang Technological Univ. (Nanyang, Singapore)
Pages:
16
Contract #:
FA4869-07-1-4042
Abstract:
This report covers development of carbon layers for electronic devices. It consists of two main chapters. The first is titled "Novel Mesoporous Carbon and Its Direct Electrochemistry Based Biosensor." The second is tilted "Mesoporous Organic Polymer-Carbon Nanocomposites for High Enzymatic Glucose/02 Fuel Cells."
Language:
English

Title:
Piezoelectric Generator and Method
Document ID:
20090004145
Report #:
AD-D020382
Sales Agency:
Other Sources No Copyright
Author(s):
Howarth, Thomas R
Published:
20081010
Source:
Department of the Navy (Washington, DC United States)
Pages:
21
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
An apparatus and method is provided to produce energy from movement of a user. At least one pair of plates is utilized to secure an array of cymbal transducers there between. The array of cymbal transducers is electrically interconnected with signal conditioning circuitry and power storage member. Electrical interconnections may comprise parallel and/or series connections between ones or groups of the cymbal transducers.
Language:
English

44-03 SOLAR SPACE POWER
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

Title:
Effects of Cu Diffusion From ZnTe:Cu/Ti Contacts on Carrier Lifetime of CdS/CdTe Thin Film Solar Cells (Presentation)
Document ID:
20090001921
Report #:
DE2008-939511, NREL/PR-520-43314
Sales Agency:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) No Copyright
Author(s):
Gessert, T. A. Metzger, W. K. Asher, S. E. Young, M. R. Johnston, S.
Published:
20080501
Source:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (Golden, CO United States)
Pages:
18
Contract #:
DE-AC36-99-GO10337
Abstract:
No abstract available
Language:
English

Title:
Excitonic Solar Cells: The Challenges of Efficiency and Durability (Presentation)
Document ID:
20090001922
Report #:
DE2008-939514, NREL/PR-270-43347
Sales Agency:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) No Copyright
Author(s):
Rumbles, G.
Published:
20080501
Source:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (Golden, CO United States)
Pages:
32
Contract #:
DE-AC36-99-GO10337
Abstract:
No abstract available
Language:
English

Title:
Liquid Metal Pump Technologies for Nuclear Surface Power
Document ID:
20090002399
Report #:
None
Sales Agency:
Other Sources No Copyright
Author(s):
Polzin, Kurt A. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
Published:
20080101
Source:
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, AL, United States)
Pages:
25
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
Multiple liquid metal _ump options are reviewed for the purpose of determining the technologies that are best suited for inclusion in a nuclear reactor thermal simulator intended to test prototypical space nuclear surface power system components. Conduction, induction, and thermoelectric electromagnetic pumps are evaluated based on their performance characteristics and the technical issues associated with incorporation into a reactor system. A thermoelectric electromagnetic pump is selected as the best option for use in NASA-MSFC's Fission Surface Power-Primary Test Circuit reactor simulator based on its relative simplicity, low power supply mass penalty, flight heritage, and the promise of increased pump efficiency over those earlier pump designs through the use of skutterudite thermoelectric elements.
Language:
English
Notes:
To be published in Nuclear Technology/American Nuclearn Society

Title:
Intelligent Memory Module Overcomes Harsh Environments
Document ID:
20090002508
Report #:
None
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20090002508
Sales Agency:
CASI Hardcopy A01 No Copyright
Author(s):
(Author(s) Not Available)
Journal:
Spinoff 2008: 50 Years of NASA-Derived Technologies (1958-2008), Page: 142-143
Published:
20080901
Source:
3D PLUS USA Inc. (McKinney, TX, United States)
Pages:
2
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
Solar cells, integrated circuits, and sensors are essential to manned and unmanned space flight and exploration, but such systems are highly susceptible to damage from radiation. Especially problematic, the Van Allen radiation belts encircle Earth in concentric radioactive tori at distances from about 6,300 to 38,000 km, though the inner radiation belt can dip as low as 700 km, posing a severe hazard to craft and humans leaving Earth s atmosphere. To avoid this radiation, the International Space Station and space shuttles orbit at altitudes between 275 and 460 km, below the belts range, and Apollo astronauts skirted the edge of the belts to minimize exposure, passing swiftly through thinner sections of the belts and thereby avoiding significant side effects. This radiation can, however, prove detrimental to improperly protected electronics on satellites that spend the majority of their service life in the harsh environment of the belts. Compact, high-performance electronics that can withstand extreme environmental and radiation stress are thus critical to future space missions. Increasing miniaturization of electronics addresses the need for lighter weight in launch payloads, as launch costs put weight at a premium. Likewise, improved memory technologies have reduced size, cost, mass, power demand, and system complexity, and improved high-bandwidth communication to meet the data volume needs of the next-generation high-resolution sensors. This very miniaturization, however, has exacerbated system susceptibility to radiation, as the charge of ions may meet or exceed that of circuitry, overwhelming the circuit and disrupting operation of a satellite. The Hubble Space Telescope, for example, must turn off its sensors when passing through intense radiation to maintain reliable operation. To address the need for improved data quality, additional capacity for raw and processed data, ever-increasing resolution, and radiation tolerance, NASA spurred the development of the Radiation Tolerant Intelligent Memory Stack (RTIMS).
Language:
English

44-04 NUCLEAR AUXILIARY POWER
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

45-01 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CONTROL
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

46-01 UPPER EARTH ATMOSPHERE
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

Title:
AN/FMQ-12 Digital Ionospheric Sounding Systems in Greenland. Phase 3
Document ID:
20090003224
Report #:
AD-A487691
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA487691
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Watermann, Jurgen Gleisner, Hans
Published:
20080429
Source:
Danish Meteorological Inst. (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Pages:
6
Contract #:
FA8655-05-C-4082
Abstract:
This report results from a contract tasking Danish Meteorological Institute as follows: The Grantee will study the polar ionosphere and develop data to correlate variances of space and atmospheric electromagnetic transmission as well as operation of space and airborne systems. The contractor will use the existing US Government Furnished Digital Ionospheric Sounding System (DISS or three AN/FMQ-12 ionospheric sounders) in Qaanaaq 77 deg 28 min N 69 deg 13 min W, Sondre Stromfjord/Kangerlussuaq 66 deg 55 min N 51 deg 07 min W, and Narsarsuaq 61 deg 20 min N 45 deg 21 min W Greenland. These sounders have been delivered, installed, and operated under State Department Permit to Operate, Permit Number 512-202, valid from 01 Jan 2004 through 31 Dec 2009 titled "Polar Cap and Auroral Ionospheric Dynamics - Satellite and Ground-Based Studies." At the conclusion of this contract, all US Government Furnished Equipment will remain the property of the United States. DMI will provide the following resources and services: 1) Operate the DISS in a combination of routine and special purpose modes: 2) Support the maintenance of DISS in cooperation with AFRL/VSBXI and the primary maintenance contractor. Specifically, DMI will 3) Analysis and quality control of the data obtained from the DISS and other sensors. 4) Provide copies upon request of any or all, raw or processed data gathered by the DISS in a form electronically compatible with AFRL/VS.
Language:
English

46-02 GEOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

Title:
Waveform Modeling of the Crust and Upper Mantle Using S, Sp, SsPmP, and Shear-Coupled PL Waves
Document ID:
20090002443
Report #:
AD-A486701
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA486701
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Pulliam, Jay Sen, Mrinal K Gangopadhyay, Abhijit
Published:
20080510
Source:
Texas Univ. (Austin, TX United States)
Pages:
48
Contract #:
FA8718-04-C-0014
Abstract:
We developed a waveform modeling code that computes synthetic seismograms with a parallelized reflectivity method and fits the observed waveforms by global optimization. Assuming a 1-D, isotropic, layered Earth, our code computes synthetic seismograms for all layers, frequencies, and ray parameters. It implements a global optimization algorithm using Very Fast Simulated Annealing that allows for broad model space search so as to rind the global minimum, and hence minimizes dependency on the starting model. Our method also computes the Posterior Probability Densities and correlation matrices to evaluate the uniqueness of the resulting models and trade-offs between individual model parameters. We applied the code to determine the crust and upper mantle structure beneath permanent broadband seismic stations in Africa, China, and Canada using large teleseismic earthquakes recorded at these stations. We modeled the S, Sp, SsPmP, and shear-coupled PB waves from these earthquakes and our P- and S-wave velocity models compare well with, and in some cases improve upon the models obtained from other existing methods. Our use of the shear-coupled PB phase wherever available improved constraints on the models of the lower crust and upper mantle.
Language:
English

Title:
Portable Device Analyzes Rocks and Minerals
Document ID:
20090002473
Report #:
None
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20090002473
Sales Agency:
CASI Hardcopy A01 No Copyright
Author(s):
(Author(s) Not Available)
Journal:
Spinoff 2008: 50 Years of NASA-Derived Technologies (1958-2008), Page: 152-153
Published:
20080901
Source:
inXitu (Mountain View, CA, United States)
Pages:
2
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
inXitu Inc., of Mountain View, California, entered into a Phase II SBIR contract with Ames Research Center to develop technologies for the next generation of scientific instruments for materials analysis. The work resulted in a sample handling system that could find a wide range of applications in research and industrial laboratories as a means to load powdered samples for analysis or process control. Potential industries include chemical, cement, inks, pharmaceutical, ceramics, and forensics. Additional applications include characterizing materials that cannot be ground to a fine size, such as explosives and research pharmaceuticals.
Language:
English

Title:
Wireless Sensor Network Handles Image Data
Document ID:
20090002480
Report #:
None
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20090002480
Sales Agency:
CASI Hardcopy A01 No Copyright
Author(s):
(Author(s) Not Available)
Journal:
Spinoff 2008: 50 Years of NASA-Derived Technologies (1958-2008), Page: 132-133
Published:
20080901
Source:
Vexcel Corp. (Boulder, CO, United States)
Pages:
2
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
To relay data from remote locations for NASA s Earth sciences research, Goddard Space Flight Center contributed to the development of "microservers" (wireless sensor network nodes), which are now used commercially as a quick and affordable means to capture and distribute geographical information, including rich sets of aerial and street-level imagery. NASA began this work out of a necessity for real-time recovery of remote sensor data. These microservers work much like a wireless office network, relaying information between devices. The key difference, however, is that instead of linking workstations within one office, the interconnected microservers operate miles away from one another. This attribute traces back to the technology s original use: The microservers were originally designed for seismology on remote glaciers and ice streams in Alaska, Greenland, and Antarctica-acquiring, storing, and relaying data wirelessly between ground sensors. The microservers boast three key attributes. First, a researcher in the field can establish a "managed network" of microservers and rapidly see the data streams (recovered wirelessly) on a field computer. This rapid feedback permits the researcher to reconfigure the network for different purposes over the course of a field campaign. Second, through careful power management, the microservers can dwell unsupervised in the field for up to 2 years, collecting tremendous amounts of data at a research location. The third attribute is the exciting potential to deploy a microserver network that works in synchrony with robotic explorers (e.g., providing ground truth validation for satellites, supporting rovers as they traverse the local environment). Managed networks of remote microservers that relay data unsupervised for up to 2 years can drastically reduce the costs of field instrumentation and data rec
Language:
English

Title:
Mars Mapping Technology Brings Main Street to Life
Document ID:
20090002482
Report #:
None
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20090002482
Sales Agency:
CASI Hardcopy A01 No Copyright
Author(s):
(Author(s) Not Available)
Journal:
Spinoff 2008: 50 Years of NASA-Derived Technologies (1958-2008), Page: 140-141
Published:
20080901
Source:
Earthmine, Inc. (Berkeley, CA, United States)
Pages:
2
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
The Red Planet has long held a particular hold on the human psyche. From the Roman god of war to Orson Welles infamous Halloween broadcast, our nearest planetary neighbor has been viewed with curiosity, suspicion, and awe. Pictures of Mars from 1965 to the present reveal familiar landscapes while also challenging our perceptions and revising our understanding of the processes at work in planets. Frequent discoveries have forced significant revisions to previous theories. Although Mars shares many familiar features with Earth, such as mountains, plains, valleys, and polar ice, the conditions on Mars can vary wildly from those with which we are familiar. The apparently cold, rocky, and dusty wasteland seen through the eyes of spacecraft and Martian probes hints at a dynamic past of volcanic activity, cataclysmic meteors, and raging waters. New discoveries continue to revise our view of our next-door neighbor, and further exploration is now paving the way for a human sortie to the fourth stone from the Sun. NASA s Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration, utilizes wide-angle stereo cameras mounted on NASA s twin robot geologists, the Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs), launched in 2003. The rovers, named "Spirit" and "Opportunity," celebrated 4 Earth years of exploration on January 3, 2008, and have sent back a wealth of information on the terrain and composition of the Martian surface. Their marathon performance has far outlasted the intended 90 days of operation, and the two intrepid explorers promise more images and data.
Language:
English

Title:
Frequency-Dependent Nature of Pn in Western China: Gaussian Beam Modeling of Data from the Hi-CLIMB Experiment
Document ID:
20090003212
Report #:
AD-A487577
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA487577
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Nowack, Robert L Chen, Wang-Ping Tseng, Tai-Lin
Published:
20080930
Source:
Purdue Univ. (West Lafayette, IN United States)
Pages:
11
Contract #:
FA8718-08-C-0025
Abstract:
In realistic models of the crust and the upper mantle where vertical gradients in wave speeds and major interfaces are present, propagation of Pn, an important seismic phase at regional distances, involves complex effects of interference. Such effects can result in wave-trains whose frequency-contents and amplitudes vary with distance in counter-intuitive ways. In this new project, we are investigating the propagation of Pn beneath western China using data from Hi-CLIMB (An Integrated Study of the Himalayan-Tibetan Continental Lithosphere during Mountain Building). This experiment is one of the largest broadband seismic experiments to date, with more than 210 deployments at close station-spacing of 3-8 km over a distance of 800 km. The linear array is complemented by a regional array of comparable aperture, producing an unprecedented dataset for Eurasia. For the current project, which just began in May of 2008, we are organizing a dataset for regional seismic events recorded by the Hi-CLIMB arrays and will show examples of long seismic profiles over apertures of 500 km from several different azimuths. We are also investigating methods of modeling and inversion based on Gaussian beams (GB), which offer several distinct advantages. First, GB modeling can be applied both for interference waves, which have caustics, and for pure head waves. Second, GB modeling can handle laterally varying media, an important aspect that cannot be investigated by standard methods such as reflectivity. Third, GB is computationally efficient, suitable for analyzing large datasets. We will illustrate our approaches with data from an earlier experiment using explosions. Based on numerous events recorded by the Hi-CLIMB array, we will investigate frequency-dependent propagation of Pn over a large region in western China using GB and also finite-difference schemes.
Language:
English
Notes:
Presented at the Conference on Ground-Based Nuclear Explosion Monitoring Technologies (30th), held in Portsmouth, VA, on 23-25 Sep 2008. Published in the proceedings of the conference in Monitoring Research Review, v1 p180-189, 2008. Prepared in cooperation with University of Illinois. The original document contains color images. All DTIC reproductions will be in black and white

Title:
Explosion Source Characteristics in Frozen and Unfrozen Rock
Document ID:
20090003218
Report #:
AD-A487636
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA487636
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Bonner, Jessie L Leidig, Mark R Murphy, Katherine Dougherty, Sara L Martin, Randolph J
Published:
20080930
Source:
Weston Geophysical Corp. (Westboro, MA United States)
Pages:
11
Contract #:
FA8718-04-C-0026
Abstract:
The Frozen Rock Experiment (FRE) was conducted in central Alaska in August 2006 to provide empirical data on seismically-estimated yield from explosions in frozen rock. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that frozen rock is significantly stronger than unfrozen rock, and it has been hypothesized that this increased strength, due to ice in the pores and cracks, can alter seismic yield. Central Alaska has abrupt lateral boundaries in discontinuous permafrost, and we detonated 3 shots in frozen, saturated rock and 3 shots nearby in unfrozen, dry rock ranging in size from 200 to 350 Ibs. Approximately 125 accelerometers and seismometers were deployed specifically for this experiment at distances of 10 m to over 20 km. During the past year, we have conducted various studies (moment tensors, magnitudes, etc.) to characterize the explosions in frozen and unfrozen rock.
Language:
English

Title:
Sand Erosion Test Method for DOD Unique Environments
Document ID:
20090003813
Report #:
AD-A490734, ARL-RP-229
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA490734
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Pfledderer, Lynne Pepi, Marc
Published:
20080901
Source:
Army Research Lab. (Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD United States)
Pages:
24
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
The geologic and physiographic setting of Southwest Asia (SWA) makes this region one of the worst environments for erosion damage of rotor blade and leading edge aerospace components. In 2005, observations of actual SWA field failures of helicopter rotor blade protective tapes and coatings were compared to existing state-of-the-art, laboratory-based sand erosion data during a US Army sponsored program. Laboratory produced data did not match the severity of field-use damage, even under extremely high levels of particle loading. The need to test to erosive failure representative of this environment was determined to be paramount in establishing relative performance levels of erosion resistant protective systems being screened for potential field use. The goal of this effort is to provide two synthetic sand formulas capable of testing various polymer-based candidate rotor blade protective systems to failure. The test media will be derived from characterization of sand and dust materials unique to SWA. The synthetic sand mixtures developed by this effort will be incorporated in a new test protocol for sand erosion to represent a truly "worst case" test, with extended application to other aerospace components susceptible to sand erosion damage applicable to Department of Defense (DoD) activities in most dry- hot desert regions.
Language:
English
Notes:
Presented at the Proceedings of the Tri-Service Corrosion Conference(2007), held in Denver, CO on 3-6 Dec 2007

46-03 GEOMAGNETISM
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

47-01 METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITES
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

No records are available for this topic on this date.

47-02 WEATHER FORECASTING
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

Title:
Nowcasting in the GPM Era
Document ID:
20090002041
Report #:
None
Sales Agency:
Other Sources No Copyright
Author(s):
Hou, Arthur Y. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
Published:
20080922
Source:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Pages:
1
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission is an international satellite mission to unify and advance global precipitation measurements from a constellation of dedicated and operational microwave sensors. The GPM concept centers on the deployment of a Core Spacecraft in a non-Sun-synchronous orbit at 65' inclination carrying a dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) and a multi-frequency passive microwave radiometer (GMI) with high-frequency capabilities to serve as a precipitation physics observatory and calibration standard for the constellation radiometers. The baseline GPM constellation is envisioned to comprise conical-scanning microwave imagers (e.g., GMI, SSMIS, AMSR, MIS, MADRAS, GPM-Brazil) augmented with cross-track microwave temperaturelhumidity sounders (e.g., MHS, ATMS) over land. In addition to the Core Satellite, the GPM Mission will contribute a second GMI to be flown in a low-inclination (-40') non-Sun-synchronous orbit to improve near real-time monitoring of hurricanes. GPM is a science mission with integrated applications goals aimed at (1) advancing the knowledge of the global waterlenergy cycle variability and freshwater availability and (2) improving weather, climate, and hydrological prediction capabilities through more accurate and frequent measurements of global precipitation. The GPM Mission is currently a partnership between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), with opportunities for additional partners in satellite constellation and ground validation activities. Within the framework of the inter-governmental Group ob Earth Observations (GEO) and Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), GPM has been identified as a cornerstone for the Precipitation Constellation (PC) being developed under the auspices of Committee of Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS). The GPM Core Observatory is scheduled for launch in 201 3, followed by the launch of the GPM Low-Inclination Observatory in 2014. An overview of the GPM mission status, measurement capabilities, ground validation plans, and anticipated contributions to scientific research and societal applications with a special emphasis on nowcasting will be presented.
Language:
English
Notes:
10 Plinius Conference on Mediterranean Storms Nicosia 22-25 Sep. 2008

Title:
Examination of Observation Impacts Derived from Observing System Experiments (OSEs) and Adjoint Models
Document ID:
20090002673
Report #:
None
Sales Agency:
Other Sources Copyright
Author(s):
Gelaro, Ronald (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) Zhu, Yanqiu (Science Applications International Corp.)
Published:
20081103
Source:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Pages:
47
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
With the adjoint of a data assimilation system, the impact of any or all assimilated observations on measures of forecast skill can be estimated accurately and efficiently. The approach allows aggregation of results in terms of individual data types, channels or locations, all computed simultaneously. In this study, adjoint-based estimates of observation impact are compared with results from standard observing system experiments (OSEs) using forward and adjoint versions of the NASA GEOS-5 atmospheric data assimilation system. Despite important underlying differences in the way observation impacts are measured in the two approaches, the results show that they provide consistent estimates of the overall impact of most of the major observing systems in reducing a dry total-energy metric of 24-h forecast error over the globe and extratropics and, to a lesser extent, over the tropics. Just as importantly, however, it is argued that the two approaches provide unique, but complementary, information about the impact of observations on numerical weather forecasts. Moreover, when used together, they reveal both redundancies and dependencies between observing system impacts as observations are added or removed from the data assimilation system. Understanding these dependencies appears to pose an important challenge in making optimal use of the global observing system for numerical weather prediction.
Language:
English
Notes:
Submitted for publication in Tellus

Title:
Creation of a Dynamical Stratospheric Turbulence Forecasting and Nowcasting Tool for High Altitude Airships and Other Aircraft
Document ID:
20090004019
Report #:
AD-A488143
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Fritts, David C
Published:
20081020
Source:
Northwest Research Associates, Inc. (Redmond, WA United States)
Pages:
9
Contract #:
HQ0006-06-C-7328
Abstract:
We have now completed a Phase II development of an atmospheric decision aid (ADA) forecasting methodology for military, civilian, and commercial aircraft for which significant wave and turbulence activity may pose an operational or functional risk. The specific goal for MDA purposes was to create a forecasting methodology for turbulence activity at the expected High Altitude Airship (HAA) flight altitude of 22 km that specifically addresses all of the dominant sources of turbulence in the clear atmosphere. These include turbulence accompanying gravity waves arising from deep convection, those arising due to air flow over significant terrain, and turbulence due to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) accompanying wind shears arising from jet stream flows and inertia-gravity wave motions in the lower stratosphere. The motivations for our approach and the specific methodologies employed for each component of the turbulence forecast were described in previous reports. This final report summarizes our development effort and the resulting turbulence forecast product that accompanies it and which is provided as a suite of operational scripts and executable files. The operational and support environment for the forecasting methodology are described in Section 2. Examples of the forecast output for various sources and environments are provided in Section 3. Section 4 briefly describes the required operational environment. A separate HAA/TURBO Users Manual also accompanies this report and the scripts and executable forecasting files.
Language:
English

47-03 MICROMETEOROLOGY
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

Title:
Closed-Loop Adaptive Optics Control in Strong Atmospheric Turbulence
Document ID:
20090002210
Report #:
AD-A486851, AFIT/DEE/ENG/08-21
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Venema, Todd M
Published:
20080901
Source:
Air Force Inst. of Tech. (Wright-Patterson AFB, OH United States)
Pages:
151
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
A self-referencing interferometer based closed-loop adaptive optics controller is developed which is designed to operate effectively under strong turbulence conditions. The aberrated optical field is modeled stochastically and then estimates of the state of the system are developed using a steady-state, fixed-gain Kalman filter. The phase of the optical field is considered the state of the system which is wrapped in a limited range of (-pi;pi]. This phase is unwrapped through the use of a least-squares reconstructor which has been modified to work effectively in the presence of branch points associated with strong turbulence. The conjugate of the optical phase is then applied to the system's deformable mirror in order to correct for the effects of atmospheric turbulence on the optical field. The advances developed in this research are in the application of a steady-state, fixed-gain Kalman filter to the input of an adaptive optic system, unwrapping the optical phases after the field estimation, and improving the phase unwrapping by varying the domain of the rotational phase component present in strong turbulence. The system developed in this research is shown in computer simulation to be improved over current designs by comparing performance plots of system Strehl ratios for systems utilizing the different designs.
Language:
English

Title:
An Overview of the NASA P-3B Airborne Laboratory
Document ID:
20090004149
Report #:
None
Sales Agency:
Other Sources No Copyright
Author(s):
Guillory, Anthony R. (NASA Wallops Flight Center) Postell, George W. (NASA Wallops Flight Center)
Published:
20090101
Source:
NASA Wallops Flight Center (Wallops Island, VA, United States)
Pages:
1
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) P-3B Orion is a medium-lift, four engine turbo-prop aircraft that has been reconfigured from a military aircraft to an Earth Science research platform. The aircraft has a long history of supporting science missions, flying on average over 200 hours per year. Examples of research missions that have been flown aboard the aircraft are remote sensing flights to study geophysical parameters including ice-sheet topography and periodic change, soil moisture content, atmospheric aerosol constituents, and beach erosion. Missions are conducted for the purposes of calibration/validation of various NASA and international satellites that monitor climate change as well as process studies and the test of new prototype remote sensing instruments. ice surveys of the Arctic and Antarctic, soil moisture research, and measurements of atmospheric chemistry and radiation sciences. The aircraft has been conducting ice surveys of Greenland since 1993 for the purposes of topographic mapping of both the surface and basal topography. Another application of the aircraft has been for soil moisture research. Research has also been conducted using microwave radiometers and radars over various agricultural and forest lands. Recently, a mission was flown in the spring over the High-Arctic to collect air samples of haze and boreal forest fires in an effort to determine anthropogenic amounts and sources of pollution. will provide an overview of the P-3B platform and highlight recent science missions.
Language:
English
Notes:
International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment/International for Photogammetry and Remote Sensing Stresa 4-8 May 2009

Title:
Air Quality Monitoring: Risk-Based Choices
Document ID:
20090004155
Report #:
None
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20090004155
Sales Agency:
CASI Hardcopy A03 No Copyright
Author(s):
James, John T. (NASA Johnson Space Center)
Published:
20090115
Source:
NASA Johnson Space Center (Houston, TX, United States)
Pages:
25
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
Air monitoring is secondary to rigid control of risks to air quality. Air quality monitoring requires us to target the credible residual risks. Constraints on monitoring devices are severe. Must transition from archival to real-time, on-board monitoring. Must provide data to crew in a way that they can interpret findings. Dust management and monitoring may be a major concern for exploration class missions.
Language:
English
Notes:
NASA Human Health and Performance Technology Houston, TX 15 Jan. 2009

47-04 CLOUD RESEARCH
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

Title:
Cloud Detection in Non-Polar Regions for CERES Using TRMM VIRS and Terra and Aqua MODIS Data
Document ID:
20090002681
Report #:
None
Sales Agency:
Other Sources Copyright
Author(s):
Minnis, Patrick (NASA Langley Research Center) Trepte, Qing Z. (Science Systems and Applications, Inc.) Sun-Mack, Szedung (Science Systems and Applications, Inc.) Chen, Yan (Science Systems and Applications, Inc.) Doelling, David R. (NASA Langley Research Center) Young, David F. (NASA Langley Research Center) Spangenberg, Douglas A. (Science Systems and Applications, Inc.) Miller, Walter F. (Science Systems and Applications, Inc.) Wielicki, Bruce A. (NASA Langley Research Center) Brown, Richard R. (Science Systems and Applications, Inc.) Gibson, Sharon C. (Science Systems and Applications, Inc.) Geier, Erika B. (NASA Langley Research Center)
Published:
20080110
Source:
NASA Langley Research Center (Hampton, VA, United States)
Pages:
71
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
Objective techniques have been developed to consistently identify cloudy pixels over non-polar regions in multispectral imager data coincident with measurements taken by the CERES on the TRMM, Terra, and Aqua satellites. The daytime method uses the 0.65, 3.8, 10.8, and 12.0-micrometer channels on the TRMM Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS) and the Terra and Aqua MODIS. The VIRS and Terra 1.6-micrometer channel and the Aqua 1.38 and 2.1-micrometer channels are used secondarily. At night, the primary radiances are from the 3.8, 10.8, and 12.0-micrometer channels. Significant differences were found between the VIRS and Terra 1.6-micrometer and the Terra and Aqua 3.8-micrometer channels calibrations. Cascading threshold tests are used to produce clear or cloudy classifications that are qualified according to confidence levels or other conditions, such as sun glint, that could affect the classification. The initial infrared threshold test classifies ~43% of the pixels as clouds. The next level seeks consistency in three (two) different channels during daytime (nighttime) and accounts for roughly 40% (25%) of the pixels. The third tier uses refined thresholds to classify remaining pixels. For cloudy pixels, ~4% yield no retrieval when analyzed with a cloud retrieval algorithm. The techniques were applied to data between 1998 and 2006 to yield average non-polar cloud amounts of ~0.60. Averages among the platforms differ by less than 0.01 and are comparable to surface climatological values, but roughly 0.07 less than means from two other satellite analyses, primarily as a result of the algorithm's inability to detect small sub-pixel and thin clouds.
Language:
English
Notes:
To be published in IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing Journal, volume 46, no. 11, pp. 3857-3884, Nov. 2008; publisher Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

47-05 METEOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

Title:
Accuracy Assessment and Correction of Vaisala RS92 Radiosonde Water Vapor Measurements
Document ID:
20090002204
Report #:
None
Sales Agency:
CASI Hardcopy A04 Copyright
Author(s):
Whiteman, David N. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) Miloshevich, Larry M. (National Center for Atmospheric Research) Vomel, Holger (Colorado Univ.) Leblanc, Thierry (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech.)
Published:
20080101 Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Source:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Pages:
61
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
Relative humidity (RH) measurements from Vaisala RS92 radiosondes are widely used in both research and operational applications, although the measurement accuracy is not well characterized as a function of its known dependences on height, RH, and time of day (or solar altitude angle). This study characterizes RS92 mean bias error as a function of its dependences by comparing simultaneous measurements from RS92 radiosondes and from three reference instruments of known accuracy. The cryogenic frostpoint hygrometer (CFH) gives the RS92 accuracy above the 700 mb level; the ARM microwave radiometer gives the RS92 accuracy in the lower troposphere; and the ARM SurTHref system gives the RS92 accuracy at the surface using 6 RH probes with NIST-traceable calibrations. These RS92 assessments are combined using the principle of Consensus Referencing to yield a detailed estimate of RS92 accuracy from the surface to the lowermost stratosphere. An empirical bias correction is derived to remove the mean bias error, yielding corrected RS92 measurements whose mean accuracy is estimated to be +/-3% of the measured RH value for nighttime soundings and +/-4% for daytime soundings, plus an RH offset uncertainty of +/-0.5%RH that is significant for dry conditions. The accuracy of individual RS92 soundings is further characterized by the 1-sigma "production variability," estimated to be +/-1.5% of the measured RH value. The daytime bias correction should not be applied to cloudy daytime soundings, because clouds affect the solar radiation error in a complicated and uncharacterized way.
Language:
English
Notes:
To be published in Journal of Geophysical Research.

Title:
Meteorological/Sensor Optimization Urban Summary and Model Survey
Document ID:
20090002222
Report #:
AD-A486880, ARL-TR-4572
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Bustillos, Manuel D Vaucher, Gail T Brice, Robert O Cionco, Ron
Published:
20080901
Source:
Army Research Lab. (White Sands Missile Range, NM United States)
Pages:
26
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
The purpose of the report is to introduce and outline a proposed resource that provides a survey of an Army-relevant review of models as well as an assessment of models for future U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Urban Studies. The resource documentation establishes a number of models available from military and government agencies, colleagues, open literature, product reviews, technical reports, and Web sites. The resource provides a description of valuable factors, including sensors, measurement rates, analog and digital inputs and outputs, as well as some insight into how the models were prepared. It also provides a focus on urban topics, model availability to ARL's Battlefield Environment (BE) Division, and ARL's cross-branch collaboration interests in order to give researchers quick access to reviews of an assortment of models with general and specific characteristics without the complexity of having to sort through information found on the Internet. Also it offers a survey of urban models with another size of footprint (spatial) models. Furthermore, in order to aid data acquisition for modeling, the resource presents its information in two formats, as two 3-ring loose-leaf binders or on a CD, either of which can be requested by ARL and non-ARL researchers. The review of models and the models assessments in this resource will provide the descriptive effects of each model, which will help to identify important attributes. Using this resource, researchers will be able to identify the model of their choice and then take action to form their need.
Language:
English

Title:
Demonstration of Aerosol Property Profiling by Multi-wavelength Lidar Under Varying Relative Humidity Conditions
Document ID:
20090002228
Report #:
None
Sales Agency:
CASI Hardcopy A04 Copyright
Author(s):
Whiteman, D.N. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) Veselovskii, I. (Troitsk Inst. for Innovation) Kolgotin, A. (Troitsk Inst. for Innovation) Korenskii, M. (Troitsk Inst. for Innovation) Andrews, E. (Colorado Univ.)
Published:
20080101
Source:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Pages:
52
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
The feasibility of using a multi-wavelength Mie-Raman lidar based on a tripled Nd:YAG laser for profiling aerosol physical parameters in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) under varying conditions of relative humidity (RH) is studied. The lidar quantifies three aerosol backscattering and two extinction coefficients and from these optical data the particle parameters such as concentration, size and complex refractive index are retrieved through inversion with regularization. The column-integrated, lidar-derived parameters are compared with results from the AERONET sun photometer. The lidar and sun photometer agree well in the characterization of the fine mode parameters, however the lidar shows less sensitivity to coarse mode. The lidar results reveal a strong dependence of particle properties on RH. The height regions with enhanced RH are characterized by an increase of backscattering and extinction coefficient and a decrease in the Angstrom exponent coinciding with an increase in the particle size. We present data selection techniques useful for selecting cases that can support the calculation of hygroscopic growth parameters using lidar. Hygroscopic growth factors calculated using these techniques agree with expectations despite the lack of co-located radiosonde data. Despite this limitation, the results demonstrate the potential of multi-wavelength Raman lidar technique for study of aerosol humidification process.
Language:
English
Notes:
Submitted to the Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

Title:
White Sands Missile Range 2007 Urban Study: Data Processing - Volume DP-1 (Sonic Calibration)
Document ID:
20090003987
Report #:
AD-A488074, ARL-TR-4439
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Vaucher, Gail Brice, Robert D'Arcy, Sean Bustillos, Manuel Cionco, Ron
Published:
20080901
Source:
Army Research Lab. (Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD United States)
Pages:
64
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
Calibrating sensors is an important step in determining the confidence one has in the quality of data acquired. Without access to a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) wind tunnel facility, side-by-side relative calibration (against a NIST calibrated sensor) is an alternate method for calibrating meteorological sensors. For the White Sands Missile Range 2007 Urban Study (W07US), a Pre- and Post-W07US calibration was conducted on the 27 ultrasonic anemometers (sonics) slated for the W07US project. This technical report documents the W07US relative calibration design, calibration data processing method, implementation, results , and some of the lessons learned from the Pre- and Post-W07US calibration project.
Language:
English

48-01 WATER RESOURCES AND OCEANOGRAPHY
Feb 1, 2009 -- Additions to the NASA scientific and technical information knowledge base

Title:
System-Wide Water Resources Program Nutrient Sub-Model (SWWRP-NSM) Version 1.1
Document ID:
20090002017
Report #:
AD-A486627, ERDC/EL-TR-08-25
Available Online:
http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA486627
Sales Agency:
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) No Copyright
Author(s):
Johnson, Billy E Gerald, Terry K Zhang, Zhonglong
Published:
20080901
Source:
Army Engineer Research and Development Center (Vicksburg, MS United States)
Pages:
55
Contract #:
None
Abstract:
This report discusses major developments that have occurred since the release of NSM Version 1.0. These improvements were in the areas of: 1) partitioning of nutrients (dissolved and adsorbed) within surface runoff, 2) mass transfer of nutrients between the soils and overlying water column, 3) erosion and sedimentation of particulate nutrients, and 4) soil plant dynamics. Nutrients at or near the soil surface can be transformed to overland flow in solution Thrm by the mixing of rainwater with soil solution. A rate-limited mass transfer at the soil overland flow interface controls the dissolved nutrient transfer from soil solution to overland flow, once formed. The mass transfer coefficient will be affected by many factors including characteristics of the raindrops, overland flow, and nutrient characteristics. The predictions of these variables, together with nutrient transport in the surface runoff, need to be validated with the measured data at the field scale. Regarding soil plant dynamics capabilities within NSM, the EPIC formulations appear to provide realistic responses for simple annual based systems. It is necessarily simple for use with the available datasets and should be improved by addition of plant growth processes with nutrient cycling. Further development of this module for a more detailed treatment of plant water uptake and associated nutrient interactions is needed. Attention to refinement of links between soil plant dynamics and hydrological processes is also required. As research continues, improved understanding of nutrient process descriptions and new capabilities will be developed and as such will be integrated into the NSM. Future releases of NSM will include: 1) improved nutrient kinetics for channels, 2) improved soil plant dynamics (EDYS sub-module), 3) inclusion of carbon cycle modules for soils and overland flow, and 4) improved nitrogen and phosphorus kinetics for soils and overland flow.
Language:
English