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At least 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Statistical evaluation of microscale stress conditions leading to void nucleation in the weak shock regime

Here, we investigate the heterogeneity of the stress state driven by anisotropic deformation response at the single crystal level through five statistical volume element (SVE) calculations of polycrystalline BCC tantalum. This work focuses on grain boundaries as a prominent material defect type prone to void nucleation based upon experimental observations of predominantly intergranular void nucleation in this material. The SVEs are constructed to be statistically representative of larger volumes of material and are meshed such that mean and standard deviation of grain size and orientation information is reconstructed. The computational meshes feature hexahedral (brick) elements and smooth conformal grain boundaries where significant stress concentration is known to occur, a tail effect of interest in the extreme events process of dynamic ductile damage. An existing micromechanical crystallographic plasticity model shown to capture the single crystal behavior of BCC tantalum well is used to perform the polycrystal calculations. The model includes representation of the non-Schmid effect of non-planar screw dislocation kinetics in tantalum. A three-dimensional stress state time profile predicted by damage modeling of a flyer plate impact experiment is applied as boundary conditions to each SVE. Resulting grain boundary stress state statistics are strongly non-Gaussian. Significant structural evolution is observed within the compressive hold before unloading into tension in the stress profile. Strong angular dependence of grain boundary traction magnitude with shock direction is observed. Non-Schmid effects continue to suggest their influence on propensity of microstructural defect types to nucleate voids. A general void nucleation criterion is proposed using probability theory. The general framework is specified to polycrystalline BCC tantalum in the weak shock regime to include the SVE calculations and literature molecular dynamics calculations of grain boundary void nucleation strength. Probability density functions (PDFs) are used to describe the interaction between the local stress state heterogeneity and the distributed grain boundary void nucleation strength state. A causation entropy maximization procedure removes the requirement for ad hoc selection of a PDF functional form and provides a rigorous procedure for data-based PDF determination. The resulting physically informed PDF describes the spatial appearance frequency of nucleated voids as a function of applied macroscale pressure. Lower length scale physics are thus packaged in a precise and computationally efficient way to provide computational plasticity insight to macroscale dynamic ductile damage models.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Conceptual Design of Neutron Sensor Qualification Device

The Advanced Sensors and Instrumentation Program at Idaho National Laboratory has been formulating strategies to qualify sensors for use in nuclear environments, particularly in irradiation experiments and advanced reactors. When qualifying neutron sensors for use in high-temperature environments, the wide range of neutron flux levels and representative energy spectra presents significant challenges. This paper discusses the development of the Neutron Sensor Qualification Device (NQD), which is designed to test neutron sensors in high temperature controlled environments with known neutron spectra, addressing the spatial and spectral complexities of neutron fluxes in reactor cores. The proposed NQD will be situated in the exposure room at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, thus affording a unique capability to expose sensors to high neutron and gamma fluxes. To achieve thermal control, the device will utilize a radiation-hardened tube furnace, accommodating multiple sensors and neutron activation dosimetry wires. Titanium, iron, and cobalt dosimeter wires are chosen from the American Society for Testing and Materials and International Reactor Dosimetry and Fusion File libraries as references for providing energy-dependent fluence measurements. The design ensures precise sensor positioning to minimize mutual shielding and flux perturbation, which are evaluated via Monte Carlo N particle Transport Code (MCNP) simulations. These simulations have informed the development of guidelines on sensor placement within the NQD. The NQD is essential to the qualification of neutron sensors for advanced reactor technologies. It enables controlled testing of a statistically significant number of sensors, thereby supporting assessments of sensor performance across various neutron flux levels and temperatures. This paper highlights the detailed planning for the NQD prototype, along with its inaugural irradiation (scheduled for fiscal year [FY] 2025). The results from this initial testing will be fundamental in evaluating the device’s performance and establishing measurement uncertainty for in-pile neutron sensor measurements.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

Perturbative Stability and Error-Correction Thresholds of Quantum Codes

Topologically ordered phases are stable to local perturbations, and topological quantum error-correcting codes enjoy thresholds to local errors. We connect the two notions of stability by constructing classical statistical mechanics models for decoding general Calderbank-Shor-Steane codes and classical linear codes. Our construction encodes correction success probabilities under uncorrelated bit-flip and phase-flip errors, and simultaneously describes a generalized ℤ 2 lattice-gauge theory with quenched disorder. We observe that the clean limit of the latter is precisely the discretized imaginary-time path integral of the corresponding quantum code Hamiltonian when the errors are turned into a perturbative 𝑋 or 𝑍 magnetic field. Motivated by error-correction considerations, we define general order parameters for all such generalized ℤ 2 lattice-gauge theories, and show that they are generally lower bounded by success probabilities of error correction. For CSS codes satisfying the low-density parity-check condition and with a sufficiently large code distance, we prove the existence of a low-temperature ordered phase of the corresponding lattice-gauge theories, particularly for those lacking Euclidean spatial locality and/or when there is a nonzero code rate. We further argue that these results provide evidence for stable phases in the corresponding perturbed quantum Hamiltonians, obtained in the limit of continuous imaginary time. To do so, we distinguish space- and timelike defects in the lattice-gauge theory. A high free-energy cost of spacelike defects corresponds to a successful “memory experiment” and suppresses the energy splitting among the ground states, while a high free-energy cost of timelike defects corresponds to a successful “stability experiment” and points to a nonzero gap to local excitations.

quantum error correction↗
DOE OSTI2024

Gas Transfer Across Air‐Water Interfaces in Inland Waters: From Micro‐Eddies to Super‐Statistics

In inland water covering lakes, reservoirs, and ponds, the gas exchange of slightly soluble gases such as carbon dioxide, dimethyl sulfide, methane, or oxygen across a clean and nearly flat air‐water interface is routinely described using a water‐side mean gas transfer velocity $\overline{k_{L}}$, where overline indicates time or ensemble averaging. The micro‐eddy surface renewal model predicts $\overline{k_{L}}$ = α o Sc -1/2 ($v\bar{ϵ}$) 1/4 , where Sc is the molecular Schmidt number, $v$ is the water kinematic viscosity, and $\bar{ϵ}$ is the waterside mean turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate at or near the interface. While α o = 0.39 - 0.46 has been reported across a number of data sets, others report large scatter or variability around this value range. It is shown here that this scatter can be partly explained by high temporal variability in instantaneous ϵ around $\bar{ϵ}$, a mechanism that was not previously considered. As the coefficient of variation (CV e ) in ϵ increases, α o must be adjusted by a multiplier (1 = CV e 2 ) -3/32 that was derived from a log‐normal model for the probability density function of ϵ. Reported variations in α o with a macro‐scale Reynolds number can also be partly attributed to intermittency effects in ϵ. Such intermittency is characterized by the long‐range (i.e., power‐law decay) spatial auto‐correlation function of ϵ. That α o varies with a macro‐scale Reynolds number does not necessarily violate the micro‐eddy model. Instead, it points to a coordination between the macro‐ and micro‐scales arising from the transfer of energy across scales in the energy cascade.

Batchelor scale↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploring Domain-Wall Pinning in Ferroelectrics via Automated High-Throughput Atomic Force Microscopy

Domain-wall dynamics in ferroelectric materials are strongly position-dependent, since each polar interface is locked into a unique local microstructure. This necessitates spatially resolved studies of wall pinning using scanning-probe microscopy techniques. The pinning centers and pre-existing domain walls are usually sparse within the image plane, precluding the use of dense hyperspectral imaging modes and requiring time-consuming human experimentation. Here, a large-area epitaxial PbTiO 3 film on cubic KTaO 3 was investigated to quantify the electric-field-driven dynamics of the polar–strain domain structures using ML-controlled automated piezoresponse force microscopy. Analysis of 1500 switching events reveals that domain-wall displacement depends not only on field parameters but also on the local ferroelectric–ferroelastic configuration. For example, twin boundaries in polydomains regions, like a 1 – /c+ ∥ a 2 – /c – , stay pinned up to a certain level of bias magnitude and change only marginally as the bias increases from 20 to 30 V, whereas single-variant boundaries, like the a 2 + /c + ∥ a 2 – /c – stack, are already activated at 20 V. These statistics on the possible ferroelectric and ferroelastic wall orientations, together with the automated high-throughput AFM workflow, can be distilled into a predictive map that links domain configurations to pulse parameters. Here, this microstructure-specific rule set forms the foundation for the design of ferroelectric memories.

automated scanning probe microscopy↗
DOE OSTI2025

Strong Hilbert space fragmentation and fractons from subsystem and higher-form symmetries

Here, we introduce a route to Hilbert space fragmentation in high dimensions leveraging the group-word formalism. We show that taking strongly fragmented models in one dimension and “lifting” to higher dimensions using subsystem symmetries can yield strongly fragmented dynamics in higher dimensions, with subdimensional (e.g., lineonic) excitations. This provides a route to higher-dimensional strong fragmentation, and also a route to fractonic behavior. Meanwhile, lifting one-dimensional fragmented models to higher dimensions using higher-form symmetries yields models with topologically robust fragmentation. In three or more spatial dimensions, one can also “mix and match” subsystem and higher-form symmetries, leading to canonical fracton models such as X cube. We speculate that this approach could also yield a route to non-Abelian fractons. These constructions unify a number of phenomena that have been discussed in the literature, as well as furnishing models with unique properties.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2026

Antarctic ice sheet model comparison with uncurated geological constraints shows that higher spatial resolution improves deglacial reconstructions

Accurately reconstructing past changes to the shape and volume of the Antarctic ice sheet relies on the use of physically based and thus internally consistent ice sheet modeling, benchmarked against spatially limited geologic data. The challenge in model benchmarking against geologic data is diagnosing whether model-data misfits are the result of an inadequate model, inherently noisy or biased geologic data, and/or incorrect association between modeled quantities and geologic observations. In this work we address this challenge by (i) the development and use of a new model-data evaluation framework applied to an uncurated data set of geologic constraints, and (ii) nested high-spatial-resolution modeling designed to test the hypothesis that model resolution is an important limitation in matching geologic data. While previous approaches to model benchmarking employed highly curated datasets, our approach applies an automated screening and quality control algorithm to an uncurated public dataset of geochronological observations (specifically, cosmogenic-nuclide exposure-age measurements from glacial deposits in ice-free areas). This optimizes data utilization by including more geological constraints, reduces potential interpretive bias, and allows unsupervised assimilation of new data as they are collected. We also incorporate a nested model framework in which high-resolution domains are downscaled from a continent-wide ice sheet model. We highlight the application of this framework by applying these methods to a small ensemble of deglacial ice-sheet model simulations, and demonstrate that the nested approach improves the ability of model simulations to match exposure age data collected from areas of complex topography and ice flow. We develop a range of diagnostic model-data comparison metrics to provide more insight into model performance than possible from a single-valued misfit statistic, showing that different metrics capture different aspects of ice sheet deflation.

Geosciences↗
DOE OSTI2025

Constraining the phase shift of relativistic species in DESI BAOs

In the early Universe, neutrinos decouple quickly from the primordial plasma and propagate without further interactions. The impact of free-streaming neutrinos is to create a temporal shift in the gravitational potential that impacts the acoustic waves known as baryon acoustic oscillations (BAOs), resulting in a non-linear spatial shift in the Fourier-space BAO signal. In this work, we make use of and extend upon an existing methodology to measure the phase shift amplitude $\beta _{\phi }$ and apply it to the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) Data Release 1 (DR1) BAOs with an anisotropic BAO fitting pipeline. We validate the fitting methodology by testing the pipeline with two publicly available fitting codes applied to highly precise cubic box simulations and realistic simulations representative of the DESI DR1 data. We find further study towards the methods used in fitting the BAO signal will be necessary to ensure accurate constraints on $\beta _{\phi }$ in future DESI data releases. Using DESI DR1, we present individual measurements of the anisotropic BAO distortion parameters and the $\beta _{\phi }$ for the different tracers, and additionally a combined fit to $\beta _{\phi }$ resulting in $\beta _{\phi } = 2.7 \pm 1.7$. After including a prior on the distortion parameters from constraints using Planck we find $\beta _{\phi } = 2.7^{+0.60}_{-0.67}$ suggesting $\beta _{\phi } > 0$ at 4.3$\sigma$ significance. This result may hint at a phase shift that is not purely sourced from the standard model expectation for $N_{\rm {eff}}$ or could be a upwards statistical fluctuation in the measured $\beta _{\phi }$; this result relaxes in models with additional freedom beyond Lambda-cold dark matter.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Emergent disorder and mechanical memory in periodic metamaterials

Ordered mechanical systems typically have one or only a few stable rest configurations, and hence are not considered useful for encoding memory. Multistable and history-dependent responses usually emerge from quenched disorder, for example in amorphous solids or crumpled sheets. In contrast, due to geometric frustration, periodic magnetic systems can create their own disorder and espouse an extensive manifold of quasi-degenerate configurations. Inspired by the topological structure of frustrated artificial spin ices, we introduce an approach to design ordered, periodic mechanical metamaterials that exhibit an extensive set of spatially disordered states. While our design exploits the correspondence between frustration in magnetism and incompatibility in meta-mechanics, our mechanical systems encompass continuous degrees of freedom, and thus generalize their magnetic counterparts. We show how such systems exhibit non-Abelian and history-dependent responses, as their state can depend on the order in which external manipulations were applied. We demonstrate how this richness of the dynamics enables to recognize, from a static measurement of the final state, the sequence of operations that an extended system underwent. Thus, multistability and potential to perform computation emerge from geometric frustration in ordered mechanical lattices that create their own disorder.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Nanotomography for Quantitative 3D Particle Reconstruction

Particulates are ubiquitous across fuel cycle operations and carry critical information about particle formation, processing, and potential proliferation-related activities. Traditional analytical techniques, including micro-Raman spectroscopy and standard electron microscopy, are often limited in spatial resolution or dimensionality, particularly when used to examine metallic or submicron-scale features. Understanding particle morphology, phase distribution, and internal porosity is essential for constraining formation conditions, thermodynamic environments, and material transport behavior. In this report, we demonstrate the application of plasma focused ion beam nanotomography to reconstruct micron-scale particulates at nanoscale resolution. Using high-resolution backscattered electron imaging and Avizo software, we obtained 3D reconstructions that enabled quantitative analysis of particle morphology, phase composition, and internal voids. Representative examples include a Ta particle with a large central void and a composite particle with embedded tetrahedral crystalline structures. These reconstructions reveal structural and compositional details that are inaccessible through conventional 2D imaging. The results demonstrate that nanotomography provides both qualitative and quantitative insights into particle formation and behavior. Using nanotomography, porosity and phase distributions can be quantified to inform models of particle density, transport, and solidification conditions. Beyond technical insights, the workflow developed here establishes a transferable capability for analyzing heterogeneous particles and has potential applications in bulk materials studies via x-ray computed tomography or other volumetric imaging modalities. Ongoing efforts are focused on optimizing the workflow to process multiple particles simultaneously, increasing throughput and statistical robustness. Overall, this work illustrates the power of nanotomography as a tool for connecting particulate morphology to formation mechanisms, composition, and transport, thereby strengthening analytical capabilities for nuclear forensics, fuel cycle analysis, and related scientific investigations.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Generalized Wigner theorem for noninvertible symmetries

In this article, we establish the conditions under which a conservation law associated with a non-invertible operator may be realized as a symmetry in quantum physics. As established by Wigner, all quantum symmetries must be represented by either unitary or antiunitary transformations. Relinquishing an implicit assumption of invertibility, we demonstrate that the fundamental invariance of quantum transition probabilities under the application of symmetries mandates that all non-invertible symmetries may only correspond to projective unitary or antiunitary transformations, i.e., partial isometries. This extends the notion of physical states beyond conventional rays in Hilbert space to equivalence classes in an extended, gauged Hilbert space, thereby broadening the traditional understanding of symmetry transformations in quantum theory. Our generalized theorem applies irrespective of the origin of the (non)invertible symmetry, holds in arbitrary spatial dimensions, and is independent of the Hamiltonian or action. We explore its physical consequences and, using simple model systems, illustrate how the distinction between invertible and non-invertible symmetries can sometimes be tied to the choice of boundary conditions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Investigating the Influence of River Geomorphology on Human Presence Using Night Light Data: A Case Study in the Indus Basin

Human settlements have historically thrived near rivers due to enhanced navigation and trade, and the availability of water supply and resources. The use of night light data, representing economic activities, provides a novel approach to studying the interactions between human activity and rivers over time. Here, we use the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) stable night light data from 2000 to 2013 as a proxy for human presence and activities to quantify the statistical relationships between night light presence and intensity in the Indus Basin, Asia. We test how these data are affected by proximity to trunk channels and by channel type (single/multi-thread) in the study area. We find that night light presence is enhanced by 26% within a 0 to 5 km proximity range of the Indus River and its tributaries, relative to the basin as a whole. We interpret this to represent increased human presence and activity within this zone. However, the mean intensity is lower near the river and higher away from the river, signifying denser settlements, such as towns and cities, which are preferentially located away from the Indus and its tributaries. Moreover, the enhancement of lit pixels signifying human presence and activities is increased by 18% near single-thread sections of the Indus River, compared to segments of the Indus displaying multi-thread morphologies. We suggest that this is due to the enhanced stability of single-threaded channels, relative to mobile multi-threaded channel reaches. This study demonstrates how night lights are an important tool in studying the relationship between human presence and river dynamics in large catchments such as the Indus, and we suggest that these data will have an important role in assessing differential flood spatial and social vulnerability at a regional scale.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗
DOE OSTI2026

Multiscale Cryo Electron Microscopy Reveals Interfacial Degradation and Stabilization in Battery Electrodes

Electrochemical interfaces are dynamic systems, evolving based on their local environment and reactant surface structures. The electrode-electrolyte interface in Li-ion batteries can be protective, limiting parasitic reactions with the electrolyte to passivate the surface [1]. Additionally, this interphase has an impact on the Li-ion transport through that layer based on its composition, bonding environment, and thickness. These parameters are challenging to collect and may vary depending on the electrode surface site investigated relative to its spatial position in a coin cell. This study will detail a multiscale cryogenic electron microscopy approach where millimeter-scale cross-sections through the coin cell batteries were made using a cryogenic stage within a fs-laser plasma focused ion beam (laser PFIB) with complementary energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy able to detect variations in the composition at electrode interfaces [2]. Microscale cross-sectioning and lamella sample preparation of battery electrodes was conducted at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies using a Ga-ion focused ion beam (FIB) with air-free and cryo-transfer [3], followed by nanoscale mapping of composition and bonding within the CEI through cryo-scanning transmission electron microscopy (cryo-STEM) electron energy loss spectroscopy [4]. This multiscale approach enabled identification of millimeter-scale features of a battery stack with visualization of degradation in electrodes such as cracks in cathode particles, gas evolution, and SEI evolution; microscale interfacial characteristics, such as heterogeneity in the SEI or barrier layer and identification of electrolyte networks to the electrode surfaces; and nanoscale measurement of the CEI thickness, mapping of transition metal bonding within the cathode particles to identify loss of active materials, and identification of beneficial electrolyte additives incorporated into the CEI structure. This multiscale approach allows for a statistical understanding of the primary mechanisms and parasitic degradation pathways that impact performance by limiting the ion transport pathways within Li+ batteries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

In-Situ Characterization Tools for Evaluating Radiation Tolerance and Elemental Migration in Perovskites

This paper discusses the in-situ characterization tools designed to assess radiation tolerance and elemental migration in perovskite materials. With the increasing use of perovskites in various technological applications, understanding their response to radiation exposure is paramount. Ion Beam Induced Charge (IBIC) emerges as a powerful tool for investigating the radiation tolerance of perovskites at the microscale. By employing focused ion beams, IBIC allows for the spatial mapping of charge carriers, offering insights into the material's electronic response to radiation-induced defects. This technique enables researchers to pinpoint areas of enhanced or suppressed charge collection, providing valuable information on the perovskite's intrinsic properties under irradiation. Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) complements the study by offering a quantitative analysis of elemental migration in perovskite materials. Through the precise measurement of backscattered ions, RBS provides a detailed understanding of the elemental composition and distribution within the perovskite lattice after radiation exposure. The integration of IBIC and RBS techniques in in-situ experiments enhances the comprehensive characterization of radiation effects on perovskites.

ion beams↗
DOE OSTI2025

Invariant discovery of features across multiple length scales: Applications in microscopy and autonomous materials characterization

Physical imaging is a foundational characterization method in areas from condensed matter physics and chemistry to astronomy and spans length scales from atomic to universe. Images encapsulate crucial data regarding atomic bonding, materials microstructures, and dynamic phenomena such as microstructural evolution and turbulence, among other phenomena. The challenge lies in effectively extracting and interpreting this information. Variational Autoencoders (VAEs) have emerged as powerful tools for identifying the underlying factors of variation in image data, providing a systematic approach to distilling meaningful patterns from complex data sets. However, a significant hurdle in their application is the definition and selection of appropriate descriptors reflecting local structures. Here, we introduce the scale-invariant VAE approach (SI-VAE) based on the progressive training of the VAE with the descriptors sampled at different length scales. The SI-VAE allows the discovery of the length scale-dependent factors of variation in the system. Here, we illustrate this approach using the ferroelectric domain images and generalize it to the movies of the electron-beam induced phenomena in graphene and topography evolution across combinatorial libraries. This approach can further be used to initialize the decision making in automated experiments including structure–property discovery and can be applied across a broad range of imaging methods. This approach is universal and can be applied to any spatially resolved data including both experimental imaging studies and simulations, and can be particularly useful for exploration of phenomena such as turbulence and scale-invariant transformation fronts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

A bi-level spatiotemporal clustering approach and its application to drought extraction

We present a novel flexible bi-level spatiotemporal clustering algorithm to extract events based on their intensity and spatiotemporal structures. Our algorithm consists of using (i) a novel space-time k-means clustering to obtain spatiotemporally coherent intensity clusters, and (ii) a density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) to spatiotemporally section the intensity clusters into individual events. We discuss the development of the algorithm, the selection, tuning and meaning of the parameters within each step, as well as its validation. Finally, we apply the algorithm to a spatiotemporal drought index, standardized vapor pressure deficit drought index (SVDI), over the continental United States (US) from 1980–2021 and show that it captures historical drought events over the continental United States and their spatiotemporal extents.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Comprehensive earthquake catalogue update and spatiotemporal distribution analysis for Iraq and surrounding regions, northeastern Arabian Plate

The updated earthquake catalogue for Iraq covers the period from 1900 to the end of 2021 and includes over 37 000 recorded earthquakes. To create this comprehensive catalogue, five key steps were taken: compiling bulletins, calculating moment magnitudes, harmonizing magnitudes, establishing empirical conversion relations and evaluating the completeness of the catalogue. A notable enhancement in this update is the direct calculation of moment magnitudes for approximately 2800 earthquakes, achieved through the coda envelope technique and waveform data from the Mesopotamian Seismological Network (MPSN) in Iraq. This updated catalogue serves as a valuable resource for examining the spatiotemporal distribution of earthquakes, with respect to earthquake density, maximum moment magnitude and seismogenic depths. Additionally, the Gutenberg–Richter relationship was applied to calculate the a- and b-values specific to Iraq. The findings show that the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt has a seismogenic layer (source) that ranges from 2 to 33 km deep and experiences high seismic activity. In contrast, the Mesopotamian Foredeep has a seismogenic layer ranging from 1 to 25 km deep and has lower seismic activity. The greatest seismic activity is concentrated around the Mandili-Badra-Teeb fault, which has experienced significant ruptures over time. The Outer Arabian Platform is identified as the main area of seismic activity, while additional activity occurs on the Inner Arabian Platform. Three major tectonic boundaries define the distribution of earthquakes in the northeastern Arabian Plate. These boundaries are defined by the Main Zagros Reverse Fault, the Zagros Foredeep Fault and the Anah Graben and Abu Jir-Euphrates Fault Zone. These boundaries highlight variations in seismicity levels and the spatial distribution of deformation in the region. The updated earthquake catalogue presented in this study is expected to play a vital role in regional seismicity assessments and seismic hazard analyses for Iraq and its surrounding areas.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Identifying priority ecosystem services in tidal wetland restoration

Classification systems can be an important tool for identifying and quantifying the importance of relationships, assessing spatial patterns in a standardized way, and forecasting alternative decision scenarios to characterize the potential benefits (e.g., ecosystem services) from ecosystem restoration that improve human health and well-being. We present a top-down approach that systematically leverages ecosystem services classification systems to identify potential services relevant for ecosystem restoration decisions. We demonstrate this approach using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Ecosystem Service Classification System Plus (NESCS Plus) to identify those ecosystem services that are relevant to restoration of tidal wetlands. We selected tidal wetland management documents from federal agencies, state agencies, wetland conservation organizations, and land stewards across three regions of the continental United States (northern Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic, and Pacific Northwest) to examine regional and organizational differences in identified potential benefits of tidal wetland restoration activities and the potential user groups who may benefit. We used an automated document analysis to quantify the frequencies at which different wetland types were mentioned in the management documents along with their associated beneficiary groups and the ecological end products (EEPs) those beneficiaries care about, as defined by NESCS Plus. Results showed that a top combination across all three regions, all four organizations, and all four tidal wetland types was the EEP naturalness paired with the beneficiary people who care (existence). Overall, the Mid-Atlantic region and the land steward organizations mentioned ecosystem services more than the others, and EEPs were mentioned in combination with tidal wetlands as a high-level, more general category than the other more specific tidal wetland types. Certain regional and organizations differences were statistically significant. Those results may be useful in identifying ecosystem services-related goals for tidal wetland restoration. This approach for identifying and comparing ecosystem service priorities is broadly transferrable to other ecosystems or decision-making contexts.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗