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At least 235 records · Page 13

Observations of a loop current frontal eddy intrusion onto the west Florida shelf

Data were examined to determine the structure of this intrusion (April 1-7, 1982) and to investigate its effects on water masses in the outer shelf region. A frontal eddy, made up of a warm filament separated from the main current by a region of cooler water, propagated southeastward at 30 cm/s, intruding onto the shelf near 26 deg N between April 4 and 6. It was found from temperature-salinity (T-S) properties that water in the filament was Loop Current water that had been contiguous with Loop Current water 80 m deeper in the main body of the current. It is noted that water in the cold region was Continental Edge water, a transitional water mass with cooler, fresher T-S characteristics. Under this region, upwelling of deeper Loop Current water occurred, and elevated nutrient concentrations were found in the upwelled dome under the cold region.

Paluszkiewicz, T.↗

A Roof for the Lion's House

Fans of the National Football League's Detroit Lions don't worry about gameday weather. Their magnificent new Pontiac Stadium has a domed, air-supported, fabric roof that admits light but protects the playing field and patrons from the elements. The 80,000-seat "Silverdome" is the world's largest fabric-covered structure-and aerospace technology played an important part in its construction. The key to economical construction of the Silverdome-and many other types of buildings-is a spinoff of fiber glass Beta yarn coated with Teflon TFE fluorocarbon resin. The big advance it offers is permanency. Fabric structures-tents, for example have been around since the earliest years of human civilization. But their coverings-hides, canvas and more recently plastics-were considered temporary; though tough, these fabrics were subject to weather deterioration. Teflon TFE-coated Beta Fiberglas is virtually impervious to the effects of weather and sunlight and it won't stretch, shrink, mildew or rot, thus has exceptional longevity; it is also very strong, lightweight, flame resistant and requires no periodic cleaning, because dirt will not stick to the surface of Teflon TFE. And to top all that, it costs only 30 to 40 percent as much as conventional roofing.

Source record↗

Superconductivity and phase diagrams of CaK(Fe 1- x Mn x ) 4 As 4 single crystals

In order to study the effects of Mn substitution on the superconducting and magnetic ground state of CaKFe 4 As 4 (T c = 35 K), members of the CaK (Fe 1–x Mn x ) 4 As 4 series have been synthesized by high-temperature solution growth in single-crystalline form and characterized by elemental analysis, thermodynamic, and transport measurements. These measurements show that the superconducting transition temperature decreases monotonically and is finally suppressed below 1.8 K as x is increased from 0 to 0.036. For x values greater than 0.016, signatures of a magnetic transition can be detected in both thermodynamic and transport measurements in which kinklike features allow for the determination of the transition temperature T* that increases as Mn substitution increases. Here, a temperature-composition (T–x) phase diagram is constructed, revealing a half-dome of superconductivity with the magnetic transition temperature T* appearing near 26 K for x ~ 0.017 and rising slowly up to 33 K for x ~ 0.036. In addition to the creation of the T–x phase diagram for CaK(Fe 1–x Mn x ) 4 As 4 , specific-heat data are used to track the jump in specific heat at T c ; the CaK(Fe 1–x Mn x ) 4 As 4 data do not follow the scaling of ΔC p with $T$$^{3}_{c}$ as many of the other Fe-based superconducting systems do. These data suggest that, as magnetic pair breaking is present, the jump in C p for a given T c is reduced. Elastoresistivity coefficients 2m 66 and m 11 – m 12 as a function of temperature are also measured. 2m 66 and m 11 – m 12 are qualitatively similar to CaK(Fe 1–x Ni x ) 4 As 4 . This may indicate that the magnetic order in Mn-substituted system may be still the same as CaK(Fe 1–x Mn x ) 4 As 4 . Superconductivity of CaK(Fe 1–x Mn x ) 4 As 4 is also studied as a function of magnetic field. A clear change in H' c2 (T)/T c , where H' c2 (T) is dH' c2 (T)/dT, at x ~ 0.015 is observed and probably is related to change of the Fermi surface due to magnetic order. Coherence lengths and the London penetration depths are also calculated based on H c1 and H c2 data. Coherence lengths as the function of x also show the changes near x = 0.015, again consistent with Fermi-surface changes associated with the magnetic ordering seen for higher-x values.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Challenges and Opportunities Specific to Microreactors: Compact and Light-Weight Shielding During Operation and Transportation

The problem of designing a shield for a mobile microreactor has been addressed. The principal challenges encountered in this endeavor are the dual goals of increasing radiation protection and decreasing weight. It is recognized that these two goals are contradictory. Increasing shielding naturally increases weight. Conversely, decreasing weight naturally calls for decreasing material inventory, including possibly decreasing shield mass. The operational and regulatory drivers for shielding and transportation constraints are identified and summarized. The main constraints pertain to volume, mass, radiation dose, material feasibility and availability, and decommissioning expectations. The latter are limits on residual contamination and dose rates after the reactor is removed. Progress toward solving the challenge of shielding a transportable microreactor is made by considering a tungsten tetraboride (WB4) shell surrounding the reactor vessel. The shield and a generic microreactor were modeled using the MCNP code. It was determined that the presence of a 16-cm-thick WB4 shield reduces the dose equivalent rate during operations to 3.6 mrem/h just outside of a concrete vault and dome and soil berm surrounding the reactor, which is very near the occupational dose rate limits. Without the WB4 layer, the dose rate at the same location outside the berm would be 120 mrem/h. Most importantly, the presence of the WB4 shield substantially protects the surrounding concrete and soil from activation, thus decreasing the duration of administrative control for the site following removal of the reactor from 16 to 3.4 years. At that point, the site may be decommissioned and returned to unrestricted public access. A limitation on the incorporation of a WB4 shield as an intrinsic component of a microreactor is that it results in a design that is transportable only by using the largest road conveyances and that the load would require special permits for transit through the U.S. highway system. New directions for further improvements and possibly more effective solutions to the shielding problem of a mobile microreactor are discussed in the conclusion section.

Microreactor↗

Examples of X-Ray Characterization Techniques in Energy Storage Research

Lithium-ion batteries have revolutionized the portable electronics and transportation sectors. Their performance is often critically dependent on the crystal structures of the anode and cathode electrode materials, which must enable the transport and reversible storage of lithium ions into and out of the lattice. Because lithium is a low-Z element, characterization of materials for lithium-ion batteries can be particularly challenging. Regardless, X-ray techniques enable analysis of material structures to better understand how battery materials perform and degrade, particularly when combined with other materials characterization and electrochemical characterization techniques. While X-ray techniques are most often used in battery research for phase identification of crystal structures, X-ray characterization techniques are also used for a wide variety of other purposes. I will discuss several examples from my research with various collaborators on several projects that highlight the impact that X-ray characterization techniques can have on battery research. The first example will focus on low-temperature microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis of vanadium-doped LiFePO4 cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. (1,2) Through a combination of electrochemical and materials characterization, we determined that low temperature synthesis resulted in metastable phases that enabled incorporation of higher dopant levels than resulting from high-temperature synthesis of thermodynamically stable phases. Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data enabled understanding of how lattice parameters changed with doping levels and synthesis temperature. X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy enabled understanding of the vanadium and iron oxidation states to confirm how vacancies in the structure caused by doping were charge compensated. This was important to understand because the literature suggests doping can improve LiFePO4 electrical conductivity, which improves battery charge and discharge rates. The second example will focus on understanding residual strain in lithium metal anodes. Lithium-ion batteries typically use graphite anodes, but the charge-storage capacity can be theoretically improved ~10x by using lithium metal as the anode material instead. However, lithium anodes suffer from growth of high-aspect-ratio features, such as dendrites, that can pierce nanoporous polymer separators and lead to short circuits and fires. External pressure is commonly applied to cells to enable better morphological control. We hypothesized that applied pressure may promote strain and possibly work hardening during electrochemical cycling, which motivated us to look for evidence of residual strain in lithium metal cycled under applied pressure using X-ray diffraction and sin2(..psi..) analysis. We found that lithium electrodeposited under high pressure exhibited in-plane compressive strain and that that lithium electrodeposited under low pressure did not. (3) The residual strain that accompanies electrodeposition under high pressure may lead to work hardening, which may explain how a soft metal like lithium can puncture separators and why higher pressure does not always decrease short circuits. (4-6) References: 1) Harrison, K. L.; Manthiram, A. Microwave-Assisted Solvothermal Synthesis and Characterization of Metastable LiFe1- x (VO) x PO4 Cathodes. Inorganic chemistry 2011, 50(8), 3613-3620. 2) Harrison, K. L.; Bridges, C. A.; Paranthaman, M. P.; Segre, C. U.; Katsoudas, J.; Maroni, V. A.; Idrobo, J. C.; Goodenough, J. B.; Manthiram, A. Temperature Dependence of Aliovalent-Vanadium Doping in LiFePO4 Cathodes. Chemistry of Materials 2013, 25(5), 768-781. 3) Rodriguez, M. A.; Harrison, K. L.; Goriparti, S.; Griego, J. J.; Boyce, B. L.; Perdue, B. R. Use of a Be-Dome Holder for Texture and Strain Characterization of Li Metal Thin Films via Sin2 (..psi..) Methodology. Powder Diffraction 2020, 35(2), 89-97. 4) Jungjohann, K. L.; Gannon, R. N.; Goriparti, S.; Randolph, S. J.; Merrill, L. C.; Johnson, D. C.; Zavadil, K. R.; Harris, S. J.; Harrison, K. L. Cryogenic Laser Ablation Reveals Short-Circuit Mechanism in Lithium Metal Batteries. ACS Energy Letters 2021, 6(6), 2138-2144. 5) Harrison, K. L.; Merrill, L. C.; Long, D. M.; Randolph, S. J.; Goriparti, S.; Christian, J.; Warren, B.; Roberts, S. A.; Harris, S. J.; Perry, D. L. Cryogenic Electron Microscopy Reveals That Applied Pressure Promotes Short Circuits in Li Batteries. Iscience 2021, 24(12). 6) Harrison, K. L.; Goriparti, S.; Merrill, L. C.; Long, D. M.; Warren, B.; Roberts, S. A.; Perdue, B. R.; Casias, Z.; Cuillier, P.; Boyce, B. L. Effects of Applied Interfacial Pressure on Li-Metal Cycling Performance and Morphology in 4 M LiFSI in DME. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2021, 13(27), 31668-31679.

batteries↗

Structural Definition and Mass Estimation of Lunar Surface Habitats for the Lunar Architecture Team Phase 2 (LAT-2) Study

The Lunar Architecture Team Phase 2 study defined and assessed architecture options for a Lunar Outpost at the Moon's South Pole. The Habitation Focus Element Team was responsible for developing concepts for all of the Habitats and pressurized logistics modules particular to each of the architectures, and defined the shapes, volumes and internal layouts considering human factors, surface operations and safety requirements, as well as Lander mass and volume constraints. The Structures Subsystem Team developed structural concepts, sizing estimates and mass estimates for the primary Habitat structure. In these studies, the primary structure was decomposed into a more detailed list of components to be sized to gain greater insight into concept mass contributors. Structural mass estimates were developed that captured the effect of major design parameters such as internal pressure load. Analytical and empirical equations were developed for each structural component identified. Over 20 different hard-shell, hybrid expandable and inflatable soft-shell Habitat and pressurized logistics module concepts were sized and compared to assess structural performance and efficiency during the study. Habitats were developed in three categories; Mini Habs that are removed from the Lander and placed on the Lunar surface, Monolithic habitats that remain on the Lander, and Habitats that are part of the Mobile Lander system. Each category of Habitat resulted in structural concepts with advantages and disadvantages. The same modular shell components could be used for the Mini Hab concept, maximizing commonality and minimizing development costs. Larger Habitats had higher volumetric mass efficiency and floor area than smaller Habitats (whose mass was dominated by fixed items such as domes and frames). Hybrid and pure expandable Habitat structures were very mass-efficient, but the structures technology is less mature, and the ability to efficiently package and deploy internal subsystems remains an open issue.

Dorsey, John T.↗

Core Angular Momentum and the IERS Sub-Centers Activity for Monitoring Global Geophysical Fluids: Core Angular Momentum and Earth Rotation - Part 1

The part of the grant was to use recordings of seismic waves travelling through the earth's core (PKP waves) to study the inner core rotation and constraints on possible density anomalies in the fluid core. The shapes and relative arrival times of such waves associated with a common source were used to reduce the uncertainties in source location and excitation and the effect of unknown mantle structure. The major effort of the project is to assemble historical seismograms with long observing base lines. We have found original paper records of SSI earthquakes at COL between 1951 and 1966 in a warehouse of the U.S. Geological Survey office in Golden, Colorado, extending the previous measurements at COL by Song and Richards [1996] further back 15 years. Also in Alaska, the University of Alaska, Fairbanks Geophysical Institute (UAFGI) has been operating the Alaskan Seismic Network with over 100 stations since the late 1960s. Virtually complete archives of seismograms are still available at UAFGI. Unfortunately, most of the archives are in microchip form (develocorders), for which the use of waveforms is impossible. Paper seismograms (helicorders) are available for a limited number of stations, and digital recordings of analog signals started around 1989. Of the paper records obtained, stations at Gilmore Dome (GLM, very close to COL), Yukon (FYU), McKinley (MCK), and Sheep Creek Mountain (SCM) have the most complete continuous recordings.

Song, Xia-Dong↗

Atlas V Launch Incorporated NASA Glenn Thermal Barrier

In the Spring of 2002, Aerojet experienced a major failure during a qualification test of the solid rocket motor that they were developing for the Atlas V Enhanced Expendable Launch Vehicle. In that test, hot combustion gas reached the O-rings in the nozzle-to-case joint and caused a structural failure that resulted in loss of the nozzle and aft dome sections of the motor. To improve the design of this joint, Aerojet decided to incorporate three braided carbon-fiber thermal barriers developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center. The thermal barriers were used to block the searing-hot 5500 F pressurized gases from reaching the temperature-sensitive O-rings that seal the joint. Glenn originally developed the thermal barriers for the nozzle joints of the space shuttle solid rocket motors, and Aerojet decided to use them on the basis of the results of several successful ground tests of the thermal barriers in the shuttle rockets. Aerojet undertook an aggressive schedule to redesign the rocket nozzle-to-case joint with the thermal barriers and to qualify it in time for a launch planned for the middle of 2003. They performed two successful qualification tests (Oct. and Dec. 2002) in which the Glenn thermal barriers effectively protected the O-rings. These qualification tests saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in development costs and put the Lockheed-Martin/Aerojet team back on schedule. On July 17, 2003, the first flight of an Atlas V boosted with solid rocket motors successfully launched a commercial satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Aero-jet's two 67-ft solid rocket boosters performed flawlessly, with each providing thrust in excess of 250,000 lbf. Both motors incorporated three Glenn-developed thermal barriers in their nozzle-to-case joints. The Cablevision satellite launched on this mission will be used to provide direct-to-home satellite television programming for the U.S. market starting in late 2003. The Atlas V is a product of the military's Enhanced Expendable Launch Vehicle program designed to provide assured military access to space. It can lift payloads up to 19,100 lb to geosynchronous transfer orbit and was designed to meet Department of Defense, commercial, and NASA needs. The Atlas V and Delta IV are two launch systems being considered by NASA to launch the Orbital Space Plane/Crew Exploration Vehicle. The launch and rocket costs of this mission are valued at $250 million. Successful application of the Glenn thermal barrier to the Atlas V program was an enormous breakthrough for the program's technical and schedule success.

Dunlap, Patrick H., Jr.↗

Application of Composite Mechanics to Composites Enhanced Concrete Structures

A new and effective method is described to design composites to repair damage or enhance the overload strength of concrete infrastructures. The method is based on composite mechanics which is available in computer codes. It is used to simulate structural sections made from reinforced concrete which are typical in infrastructure as well as select reinforced concrete structures. The structural sections are represented by a number of layers through the thickness where different layers are used in concrete, and for the composite. The reinforced concrete structures are represented with finite elements where the element stiffness parameters are from the structural sections which are represented by composite mechanics. The load carrying capability of the structure is determined by progressive structural fracture. Results show up to 40 percent improvements for damage and for overload enhancement with relatively small laminate thickness for the structural sections and up to three times for the composite enhanced select structures (arches and domes).

Chamis, Christos C.↗

New proposed ITER divertor design using carbon insert on tungsten to mitigate ELMs and secondary radiation effects on nearby components

Abstract Building a successful device for the magnetic fusion energy production is a great challenge. ITER is an international project of the tokamak based magnetic fusion design being developed for the demonstration of the feasibility of thermonuclear technologies for future realization of successful commercial fusion energy. A key obstacle to a successful magnetic fusion energy production is however, the performance during abnormal events including plasma disruptions and edge-localized modes (ELMs). A credible reactor design must tolerate at least a few of these transient events without serious consequences such as melting of the structure. This paper investigates and compares the performance of the current ITER tokamak design during two types of transient events, i.e., ELMs occurring at normal operation and disruptions during abnormal operation. We simulated the divertor components response using our integrated 3D HEIGHTS package. The simulations include self-consistent modeling of the interaction of the released core plasma particles with the initial solid divertor material, energy deposition processes, vaporization of divertor material, secondary plasma formation and MHD evolution, incident core particles collisions and scattering from this dense secondary plasma, photon radiation of secondary plasma, and the resulting heat loads on nearby components. Our simulations showed that using a small carbon insert around the strike point can significantly reduce the overall expected damage on the tungsten dome structure, reflector plates, and prevent tungsten vaporization and its potential core plasma contamination.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

New Virtual Test Bed Capabilities: Virtual DOME Model and New Updates to Repository

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy National Reactor Innovation Center accelerates the deployment of novel reactor concepts by establishing both physical and virtual spaces for building and testing various components, systems, and complete pilot plants. The Virtual Test Bed represents the virtual arm of the National Reactor Innovation Center and is a joint effort with the DOE Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation Program. The Virtual Test Bed mission is to accelerate the deployment of advanced reactors by facilitating the adoption of cutting-edge DOE advanced modeling and simulation tools to design, evaluate, and license reactors. This is primarily achieved by storing example challenge problems in an externally available repository and by developing models to fill the M&S gaps needed for potential demonstrators. Activities conducted this fiscal year focused on developing of a Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments shield model to help accelerate the confirmatory analysis required for the reactor demonstration. This model and workflow will allow developers to leverage advanced modeling and simulation tools to ensure their reactor demonstration concept will meet dose requirements and that the surrounding shield will stay within concrete temperature limits during steady-state and transient operation conditions. An initial model has been developed to evaluate the temperature distribution in the concrete shield during steady-state operation, including neutron and gamma heating effects. Various modeling strategies have been examined to understand their applicability and limitations with different reactor designs to make the workflow as reactor-agnostic as possible and computationally effective to maximize its usability. In addition to describing the Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments shield model and associated results, this report summarizes other accomplishments regarding repository maintenance and improvement and new external models hosted on the repository.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Correlated Insulating Behavior in Infinite-Layer Nickelates

Unlike their cuprate counterparts, the undoped nickelates are weak insulators without long-range antiferromagnetic order. Identifying the origin of this insulating behavior, found on both sides of the superconducting dome, is potentially a crucial step in the development of a coherent understanding of nickelate superconductivity. In this work, we study the normal-state resistivity of infinite-layer nickelates using high magnetic fields to suppress the superconductivity and examine the impact of disorder and doping on its overall temperature ( T ) dependence. In superconducting samples, the resistivity of Nd- and La-based nickelates continues to exhibit weakly insulating behavior with a magnitude and functional form similar to that found in underdoped electron-doped cuprates. We find a systematic evolution of the insulating behavior as a function of nominal hole doping across different rare-earth families, suggesting a pivotal role for strong electron interactions, and uncover a correlation between the suppression of the resistivity upturn and the robustness of the superconductivity. By contrast, we find very little correlation between the level of disorder and the magnitude and onset temperature of the resistivity upturn. Combining these experimental observations with previous Hall effect measurements on these two nickelate families, we consider various possible origins for this correlated insulator behavior and its evolution across their respective phase diagrams.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Jet Noise Reduction

The Acoustics Branch is responsible for reducing noise levels for jet and fan components on aircraft engines. To do this, data must be measured and calibrated accurately to ensure validity of test results. This noise reduction is accomplished by modifications to hardware such as jet nozzles, and by the use of other experimental hardware such as fluidic chevrons, elliptic cores, and fluidic shields. To insure validity of data calibration, a variety of software is used. This software adjusts the sound amplitude and frequency to be consistent with data taken on another day. Both the software and the hardware help make noise reduction possible. work properly. These software programs were designed to make corrections for atmosphere, shear, attenuation, electronic, and background noise. All data can be converted to a one-foot lossless condition, using the proper software corrections, making a reading independent of weather and distance. Also, data can be transformed from model scale to full scale for noise predictions of a real flight. Other programs included calculations of Over All Sound Pressure Level (OASPL), Effective Perceived Noise Level (EPNL). OASPL is the integration of sound with respect to frequency, and EPNL is weighted for a human s response to different sound frequencies and integrated with respect to time. With the proper software correction, data taken in the NATR are useful in determining ways to reduce noise. display any difference between two or more data files. Using this program and graphs of the data, the actual and predicted data can be compared. This software was tested on data collected at the Aero Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory (AAPL) using a variety of window types and overlaps. Similarly, short scripts were written to test each individual program in the software suite for verification. Each graph displays both the original points and the adjusted points connected with lines. During this summer, data points were taken during a live experiment at the AAPL to measure Nozzle Acoustic Test Rig (NATR) background noise levels. Six condenser microphones were placed in strategic locations around the dome and the inlet tunnel to measure different noise sources. From the control room the jet was monitored with the help of video cameras and other sensors. The data points were recorded, reduced, and plotted, and will be used to plan future modifications to the NATR. The primary goal to create data reduction test programs and provide verification was completed. As a result of the internship, I learned C/C++, UNIX/LINUX, Excel, and acoustic data processing methods. I also recorded data at the AAPL, then processed and plotted it. These data would be useful to compare against existing data. In addition, I adjusted software to work on the Mac OSX platform. And I used the available training resources.

Kenny, Patrick↗

Improvements in the On-Orbit Response Versus Scan Angle Characterization of the Aqua MODIS Reflective Solar Bands

The Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) has been chosen by the Global Space-based Inter-Calibration System operational community as the reference sensor in cross-sensor calibration. A number of geostationary orbit and low-earth orbit sensors use the 0.64-μm band from Aqua MODIS as a calibration reference. After over 15 years on-orbit, the performance characteristics of the MODIS instrument have changed, with effects evident at short wavelengths. MODIS employs a reflectance-based calibration using the solar diffuser measurements with the monthly lunar observations facilitating a response versus scan angle characterization on-orbit. As the instrument continues to operate beyond its design lifetime of 6 years, the on-board calibrators alone are insufficient to accurately characterize the instrument's response at all scan angles. This results in a long-term reflectance drift, particularly observed in the 0.64- and 0.85-μm bands, while observing the temporally invariant desert sites. Long-term reflectance drifts of up to 2% and 3% are observed at the beginning of scan for the 0.64- and 0.85-μm bands, respectively. An approach using earth-view response to supplement the on-board calibrator measurements has been shown to overcome these inadequacies and is now implemented for the 0.64-, 0.85-, 0.46-, and 0.55-μm land bands of Aqua MODIS. This paper presents the details related to the algorithm implementation and an independent evaluation using the Dome Concordia site and deep-convective clouds. This approach has been reviewed, tested, and approved by the MODIS science team and has been implemented in the forward production of the MODIS L1B Collection 6 starting July 9, 2016. This enhanced approach has also been adopted in the MODIS L1B Collection 6.1 reprocess for the entire mission to facilitate an improved quality of downstream science products. The results with the enhanced approach reduce the reflectance drifts to within 0.5% for most cases.

Angal, Amit↗

SECARB Regional Project Assessment

The SECARB Cranfield Early Test Project was designed to safely demonstrate large-scale, long-term CO 2 injection and storage in a CO 2 -enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operation and associated saline reservoir. Storage during EOR operations has the potential to offset commercial costs, holding a significant promise for future large-scale deployment in the southeastern United States. Denbury Onshore LLC began CO 2 -EOR operations in July 2008 at the Cranfield oilfield located east of Natchez, Mississippi (Figure 1). The location offered an ideal setting to investigate storage monitoring at a commercial CO 2 -EOR operation. The field team, led by the Gulf Coast Carbon Center of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin, deployed the largest suite of monitoring, verification, accounting (MVA) technologies to collect data to assess long-term CO 2 utilization and storage. The CO 2 injection interval is within the 3,000-meter-deep fluvial lower Tuscaloosa Formation, a large and regionally extensive saline reservoir, at a broad four-way structural closure that defines the Cranfield oilfield. Tests were conducted in the oil-producing area as well as in the non-oil-producing brine aquifer. The CO 2 used during EOR operation was transported via pipeline from the Jackson Dome, a natural source of CO 2 . The study focused on four integrated research areas: (1) the High-Volume Injection Test area (HiVIT); (2) the Detailed Area of Study (DAS); (3) the Geomechanical area; and (4) the near-surface observatory, also called the “P-site.” CO 2 injection occurred at the HiVIT and the DAS (Figure 2 and Figure 3). The DAS was located down-dip of the oil-water interface of the Cranfield oilfield. The well layout included one injection well and two down-dip observation wells. The team was the first of the regional partnerships to monitor more than 1 million metric tons of CO 2 . At the end of the project, the team monitored more than 11 million metric tons of CO 2 injected and 5 million metric tons of CO 2 stored. The Cranfield Project was the fifth project worldwide, and the first such project in the United States, to reach this CO 2 injection volume while being monitored to demonstrate storage effectiveness.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Estimates of oceanic surface wind speed and direction using orthogonal beam scatterometer measurements and comparison of recent sea scattering theories

The wind direction properties of radar backscatter from the sea were empirically modelled using a cosine Fourier series through the 4th harmonic in wind direction (referenced to upwind). A comparison with 1975 JONSWAP (Joint North Sea Wave Project) scatterometer data, at incidence angles of 40 and 65, indicates that effects to third and fourth harmonics are negligible. Another important result is that the Fourier coefficients through the second harmonic are related to wind speed by a power law expression. A technique is also proposed to estimate the wind speed and direction over the ocean from two orthogonal scattering measurements. A comparison between two different types of sea scatter theories, one type presented by the work of Wright and the other by that of Chan and Fung, was made with recent scatterometer measurements. It demonstrates that a complete scattering model must include some provisions for the anisotropic characteristics of the sea scatter, and use a sea spectrum which depends upon wind speed.

Moore, R. K.↗

Integrated helmet mounted display concepts for air combat

A piloted simulation study was conducted in a dome simulator to evaluate several Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) formats developed as part of the NASA High Alpha Technology Program (HATP). The display formats conveyed energy management, spatial orientation, and weapons management information. The HMD format was compared to a generic Heads Up Display (HUD) typical of current operational fighter aircraft. Pilots were tasked to spend as much time in a weapon solution as possible, to have the correct weapon selected for the envelope they were in, and to avoid the adversary's weapon envelope as much as possible. Several different displays were tested individually and simultaneously to see how separate display concepts coexisted. Objective results showed that the ability for the pilot to select the correct weapon for the envelope he was in increased by 50% in a moderate workload condition and 90% in a high workload condition with the HMD format. In the post-test comments pilots generally favored the helmet display formats over the HUD formats with a few instances where pilots preferred a simple numeric readout of the parameter. Short term exposure effects of the HMD on visual acuity were also measured and showed no advers results.

Clark, Joseph W.↗

NASA's Newest Orbital Debris Ground-based Telescope Assets: MCAT and UKIRT

NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) will break ground on Ascension Island in 2014 to build the newest optical (0.30 - 1.06 micrometers) ground-based telescope asset dedicated to the study of orbital debris. The Meter Class Autonomous Telescope (MCAT) is a 1.3m optical telescope designed to track objects in orbits ranging from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO). Ascension Island is located in the South Atlantic Ocean, offering longitudinal sky coverage not afforded by the Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) network. With a fast-tracking dome, a suite of visible wide-band filters, and a time-delay integration (TDI) capable camera, MCAT is capable of multiple observing modes ranging from tracking cataloged debris targets to surveying the overall debris environment. Access to the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) will extend our spectral coverage into the near- (0.8-5 micrometers) and mid- to far-infrared (8-25 micrometers) regime. UKIRT is a 3.8m telescope located on Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. At nearly 14,000-feet and above the atmospheric inversion layer, this is one of the premier astronomical sites in the world and is an ideal setting for an infrared telescope. An unprecedented one-third of this telescope's time has been allocated to collect orbital debris data for NASA's ODPO over a 2-year period. UKIRT has several instruments available to obtain low-resolution spectroscopy in both the near-IR and the mid/far-IR. Infrared spectroscopy is ideal for constraining the material types, albedos and sizes of debris targets, and potentially gaining insight into reddening effects caused by space weathering. In addition, UKIRT will be used to acquire broadband photometric imaging at GEO with the Wide Field Camera (WFCAM) for studying known objects of interest as well as collecting data in survey-mode to discover new targets. Results from the first stage of the debris campaign will be presented. The combination of these ground-based telescope assets will yield spectral coverage ranging from 0.3 - 25 micrmeters, allowing orbital debris to be studied in depth across a wider wavelength range in the visible and IR than ever previously studied by ODPO. Located on opposite sides of the world and in opposite hemispheres, they offer access to nearly the entire GEO belt on any given night, allowing immediate coverage of nearly any time-critical break-up event. By expanding the methods for surveying, detecting, and characterizing orbital debris, we can better model the debris environment and ultimately gain insight into how to mitigate potential collisions for future missions.

Lederer, S. M.↗