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At least 235 records · Page 13

Similarity Rules for Scaling Solar Sail Systems

Future science missions will require solar sails on the order of 200 square meters (or larger). However, ground demonstrations and flight demonstrations must be conducted at significantly smaller sizes, due to limitations of ground-based facilities and cost and availability of flight opportunities. For this reason, the ability to understand the process of scalability, as it applies to solar sail system models and test data, is crucial to the advancement of this technology. This paper will approach the problem of scaling in solar sail models by developing a set of scaling laws or similarity criteria that will provide constraints in the sail design process. These scaling laws establish functional relationships between design parameters of a prototype and model sail that are created at different geometric sizes. This work is applied to a specific solar sail configuration and results in three (four) similarity criteria for static (dynamic) sail models. Further, it is demonstrated that even in the context of unique sail material requirements and gravitational load of earth-bound experiments, it is possible to develop appropriate scaled sail experiments. In the longer term, these scaling laws can be used in the design of scaled experimental tests for solar sails and in analyzing the results from such tests.

Canfield, Stephen L.↗

Geometric registration of images by similarity transformation using two reference points

A method for registering a first image to a second image using a similarity transformation. The each image includes a plurality of pixels. The first image pixels are mapped to a set of first image coordinates and the second image pixels are mapped to a set of second image coordinates. The first image coordinates of two reference points in the first image are determined. The second image coordinates of these reference points in the second image are determined. A Cartesian translation of the set of second image coordinates is performed such that the second image coordinates of the first reference point match its first image coordinates. A similarity transformation of the translated set of second image coordinates is performed. This transformation scales and rotates the second image coordinates about the first reference point such that the second image coordinates of the second reference point match its first image coordinates.

Kang, Yong Q.↗

Transport of Alaskan Dust into the Gulf of Alaska and Comparison with Similar High-Latitude Dust Environments

Transport of Alaskan dust into the Gulf of Alaska and comparison with similar high-latitude dust environments. An airborne flux of the micronutrient iron, derived from dust originating from coastal regions may be an important contributor of iron to the Gulf of Alaska's (GoA) oligotrophic waters. Dust blowing off glacier termini and dry riverbeds is a recurring phenomenon in Alaska, usually occurring in the autumn. Since previous studies assumed that dust originating in the deserts of Asia was the largest source of . airborne iron to the GoA, the budget of aeolian deposition of iron needs to be reassessed. Since late 20 I 0, our group has been monitoring dust activity using satellites over the Copper River Delta (CRD) where the most vigorous dust plumes have been observed. Since 2011, sample aerosol concentration and their composition are being collected at Middleton Island (100km off shore of CRD). This presentation will show a summary of the ongoing dust observations and compare with other similar environments (Patagonia, Iceland) by showing case studies. Common features will be highlighted

Crusium, John↗

Discovery of a Similar to 5 Day Characteristic Timescale in the Kepler Power Spectrum of Zw 229-15

We present time series analyses of the full Kepler dataset of Zw 229− 15. This Kepler light curve- with a baseline greater than three years, composed of virtually continuous, evenly sampled 30-minute measurements - is unprecedented in its quality and precision. We utilize two methods of power spectral analysis to investigate the optical variability and search for evidence of a bend frequency associated with a characteristic optical variability timescale. Each method yields similar results. The first interpolates across data gaps to use the standard Fourier periodogram. The second, using the CARMA-based time-domain modeling technique of Kelly et al., does not need evenly-sampled data. Both methods find excess power at high frequencies that may be due to Kepler instrumental effects. More importantly both also show strong bends (delta alpha is approx. 2) at timescales of approx. 5 days, a feature similar to those seen in the X-ray PSDs of AGN but never before in the optical. This observed approx. 5 day timescale may be associated with one of several physical processes potentially responsible for the variability. A plausible association could be made with light -crossing, dynamical or thermal timescales, depending on the assumed value of the accretion disk size and on unobserved disk parameters such as alpha and H¬R. This timescale is not consistent with the viscous timescale, which would be years in a approx. 10(exp7) solar mass AGN such as Zw 229− 15. However there must be a second bend on long (& 1 year) timescales, and that feature could be associated with the viscous timescale.

timescale↗

Similarities Across Mars: Acidic Fluids at Both Meridiani Planum and Gale Crater in the Formation of Magnesium-Nickel Sulfates

In-situ identification of sulfates at the martian surface by the Mars Exploration Rovers and the Mars Science Laboratory have included calcium sulfates with various states of hydration (gypsum, bassanite, anhydrite), iron sulfates of likely fumarolic origin, massive deposits of iron hydroxysulfates indicative of an acidic history, and minor occurrences of magnesium sulfates. Recent measurements by the Opportunity and Curiosity Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometers (APXS) have indicated the presence of Ni-substituted Mg-sulfates at the Meridiani Planum and Gale Crater landing sites. The Opportunity rover has traversed nearly 43 km and is currently exploring the impact breccias of the rim of Endeavour crater, near a location where signatures of aqueous alteration have been established from orbit. APXS analyses of subsurface materials excavated by a rover wheel show clear evidence for a Mg(Ni)-sulfate with Mg:Ni (is) approximately 100:1 (molar). On the other side of the planet, Curiosity is continuing its climb up Mount Sharp after driving (is) approximately 13 km since landing. Over the last 4 km of the traverse, there have been multiple chemical analyses of erosionally-resistant nodules and dendritic features in a finely laminated mudstone unit which also indicate Mg(Ni)-sulfate (Mg:Ni (is) approximately 30:1, molar). The geologic settings for the Endeavour rim and the Mount Sharp mudstones are clearly different, but similar formation conditions for these sulfates may be possible. Ni(2+) readily substitutes for Mg(2+) in a variety of geochemical processes due to their comparable ionic radii. The availability of soluble Ni at the time of Mg-sulfate precipitation suggests acidic solutions. The fluids responsible for alteration in the Endeavour rim and for the formation of nodules in Gale mudstones may have had similar chemical characteristics at the time the Mg-sulfates were formed.

Yen, Albert S.↗

Similar Estimates of Temperature Impacts on Global Wheat Yield by Three Independent Methods

The potential impact of global temperature change on global crop yield has recently been assessed with different methods. Here we show that grid-based and point-based simulations and statistical regressions (from historic records), without deliberate adaptation or CO2 fertilization effects, produce similar estimates of temperature impact on wheat yields at global and national scales. With a 1 C global temperature increase, global wheat yield is projected to decline between 4.1% and 6.4%. Projected relative temperature impacts from different methods were similar for major wheat-producing countries China, India, USA and France, but less so for Russia. Point-based and grid-based simulations, and to some extent the statistical regressions, were consistent in projecting that warmer regions are likely to suffer more yield loss with increasing temperature than cooler regions. By forming a multi-method ensemble, it was possible to quantify 'method uncertainty' in addition to model uncertainty. This significantly improves confidence in estimates of climate impacts on global food security.

Climate impacts↗

Differing Air Traffic Controller Responses to Similar Trajectory Prediction Errors

A Human-In-The-Loop simulation was conducted in January of 2013 in the Airspace Operations Laboratory at NASA's Ames Research Center. The simulation airspace included two en route sectors feeding the northwest corner of Atlanta's Terminal Radar Approach Control. The focus of this paper is on how uncertainties in the study's trajectory predictions impacted the controllers ability to perform their duties. Of particular interest is how the controllers interacted with the delay information displayed in the meter list and data block while managing the arrival flows. Due to wind forecasts with 30-knot over-predictions and 30-knot under-predictions, delay value computations included errors of similar magnitude, albeit in opposite directions. However, when performing their duties in the presence of these errors, did the controllers issue clearances of similar magnitude, albeit in opposite directions?

trajectory prediction uncertainty↗

Clustering Days with Similar Airport Weather Conditions

On any given day, traffic flow managers must often rely on past experience and intuition when developing traffic flow management initiatives that mitigate imbalances between the aircraft demand and the weather impacted airport capacity. The goal of this study was to build on recent efforts to apply data mining classification and clustering algorithms to vast archives of historical weather and air traffic data to identify patterns and past decisions that can ultimately inform day-of-operations decision-making. More specifically, this study identified similar weather impacted days at select U.S. airports, and analyzed the traffic management initiatives implemented on these representative days. The identification of the similar days was accomplished by applying a decision tree algorithm to the hourly Localized Aviation Model Output Statistics Program observations and the arrival delays for Newark Liberty International Airport. The branches from the trained decision tree were subsequently pruned to identify four weather conditions that resulted in medium to high delays for the arrivals scheduled to Newark in 2012. Using these weather conditions, four, daily airport-level Weather Impacted Traffic Index values were calculated using the Localized Aviation Model Output Statistics Program observations and the 2012 scheduled arrival counts from the FAAs Aviation System Performance Metric system. The four, daily Weather Impacted Traffic Index values for 2012 were subsequently clustered using an Expectation Maximization clustering algorithm, and nine unique types of weather days at Newark were identified. By far the most prominent type of day at Newark was a day associated with relatively good weather conditions, where there was little convective activity, winds were low, ceilings and visibility were high and there was little precipitation. Moderate levels of convective activity characterized the next most prominent type of day. Days with persistently high winds or low ceiling and visibility levels were relatively rare in 2012. Lastly, the frequency at which Ground Delay Programs, Ground Stops and Miles-in-Trail restrictions were implemented on each of the typical types of days at Newark were analyzed. Based on the results, it does appear as if the usage of Miles-in-Trail, Ground Delay Program and Ground Stop restrictions correlates well with the severity of the weather associated with each unique type of weather impacted day at Newark. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that it is feasible to use historical weather and air traffic archives to provide guidance on the types of traffic management restrictions to implement in response to the weather conditions impacting an airport.

traffic flow management↗

A Crop Yield Change Emulator for Use in GCAM and Similar Models: Persephone v1.0

Future changes in Earth system state will impact agricultural yields and, through these changed yields, can have profound impacts on the global economy. Global gridded crop models estimate the influence of these Earth system changes on future crop yields but are often too computationally intensive to dynamically couple into global multisector economic models, such as the Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM) and other similar-in-scale models. Yet, generalizing a faster site-specific crop model’s results to be used globally will introduce inaccuracies, and the question of which model to use is unclear given the wide variation in yield response across crop models. To examine the feedback loop among socioeconomics, Earth system changes, and crop yield changes, rapidly generated yield responses with some quantification of crop response uncertainty are desirable. The Persephone v1.0 response functions presented in this work are based on the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) Coordinated Climate-Crop Modeling Project (C3MP) sensitivity test data set and are focused on providing GCAM and similar models with a tractable number of rapid to evaluate dynamic yield response functions corresponding to a range of the yield response sensitivities seen in the C3MP data set. With the Persephone response functions, a new variety of agricultural impact experiments will be open to GCAM and other economic models: for example, examining the economic impacts of a multi-year drought in a key agricultural region and how economic changes in response to the drought can, in turn, impact the drought.

Snyder, Abigail↗

Differing Air Traffic Controller Responses to Similar Trajectory Prediction Errors: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis of Controller Behavior

A Human-In-The-Loop simulation was conducted in January of 2013 in the Airspace Operations Laboratory at NASAs Ames Research Center. The simulation airspace included two en route sectors feeding the northwest corner of Atlantas Terminal Radar Approach Control. The focus of this paper is on how uncertainties in the studys trajectory predictions impacted the controllers ability to perform their duties. Of particular interest is how the controllers interacted with the delay information displayed in the meter list and data block while managing the arrival flows. Due to wind forecasts with 20-knot over-predictions and 20-knot under-predictions, delay value computations included errors of similar magnitude, albeit in opposite directions. However, when performing their duties in the presence of these errors, did the controllers issue clearances of similar magnitude, albeit in opposite directions?

human-automation interaction↗

Clustering Days with Similar Airport Weather Conditions

On any given day, traffic flow managers must often rely on past experience and intuition when developing traffic flow management initiatives that mitigate imbalances between the aircraft demand and the weather impacted airport capacity. The goal of this study was to build on recent efforts to apply data mining classification and clustering algorithms to vast archives of historical weather and air traffic data to identify patterns and past decisions that can ultimately inform day-of-operations decision-making. More specifically, this study identified similar weather impacted days at select U.S. airports, and analyzed the traffic management initiatives implemented on these representative days. The identification of the similar days was accomplished by applying a decision tree algorithm to the hourly Localized Aviation Model Output Statistics Program observations and the arrival delays for Newark Liberty International Airport. The branches from the trained decision tree were subsequently pruned to identify four weather conditions that resulted in medium to high delays for the arrivals scheduled to Newark in 2012. Using these weather conditions, four, daily airport-level Weather Impacted Traffic Index values were calculated using the Localized Aviation Model Output Statistics Program observations and the 2012 scheduled arrival counts from the FAAs Aviation System Performance Metric system. The four, daily Weather Impacted Traffic Index values for 2012 were subsequently clustered using an Expectation Maximization clustering algorithm, and nine unique types of weather days at Newark were identified. By far the most prominent type of day at Newark was a day associated with relatively good weather conditions, where there was little convective activity, winds were low, ceilings and visibility were high and there was little precipitation. Moderate levels of convective activity characterized the next most prominent type of day. Days with persistently high winds or low ceiling and visibility levels were relatively rare in 2012. Lastly, the frequency at which Ground Delay Programs, Ground Stops and Miles-in-Trail restrictions were implemented on each of the typical types of days at Newark were analyzed. Based on the results, it does appear as if the usage of Miles-in-Trail, Ground Delay Program and Ground Stop restrictions correlates well with the severity of the weather associated with each unique type of weather impacted day at Newark. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that it is feasible to use historical weather and air traffic archives to provide guidance on the types of traffic management restrictions to implement in response to the weather conditions impacting an airport.

weather↗

High dimensional similarity search with quantum assisted variational autoencoder

Recent progress in quantum algorithms and hardware is indicator of the potential importance of quantum computing in the next future. However, finding suitable application areas remains an active area of research. Quantum machine learning [1] is touted as a potential approach to demonstrate quantum advantage within both the gate-model [2,3] and the adiabatic [4,5] schemes. For instance, the Quantum-assisted Variational Autoencoder (QVAE) [6] has been proposed as a quantum enhancement to the discrete VAE [7]. We extend on previous work and study the real-world applicability of a QVAE, specifically, for similarity search in large-scale high dimensional datasets. While similarity search algorithms are available for low dimensional datasets, scaling to billion-scale datasets with thousands of dimensions is non-trivial. We show how the latent-space representation of a QVAE can be used to construct a space-efficient search index. We back up our claims by experimental results which show a correlation between the Hamming distance in the embedded space and the Euclidean distance in the original space on the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) dataset. Further, we show real-world speedups compared to linear search and demonstrate memory efficient scaling to large-scale datasets.

Nicholas D Gao↗

The Aguas Zarcas Breccia - Similarities to Surface Features of Asteroids Ryugu and Bennu

At 21:07 local time on 23rd April 2019, a meteorite fall occurred in Aguas Zarcas, San Carlos County, Alajuela province, Costa Rica. The rapid recovery of this brecciated carbonaceous chondrite after its fall provides an opportunity to investigate a freshly-fallen, relatively uncontaminated and highly-brecciated meteorite for comparison to the samples returned from C-group asteroids by the Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. The study includes several pre-rain fragments. Our X-ray Computed Tomography(XCT) results show many different lithologies. In this study we describe the petrography and mineralogy of five different lithologies of the Aguas Zarcas meteorite. We also present bulk oxygen isotope data of some lithologies and results concerning the organic matter. We describe all the fragments in detail and attempt a classification of each lithology in order to understand the origin and the history of formation of the Aguas Zarcas' parent body. Our results show some lithologies of Aguas Zarcas similar to those in CM chondrites, but others are unique. The different lithologies [1] represent different levels of hydration and heating as well, which are good analogues for the types of materials returned from asteroids Bennu and Ryugu. Spectroscopic observations of the Ryugu and Bennu asteroids compared to laboratory measurements of meteorites suggest that the asteroids show some similarities to heated CM, heated CI or, CI chondrites [2-5]. Both asteroids are regarded to consist of materials altered by aqueous alteration (e.g., [5]) and formed by re-accretion after impact destruction and brecciation (e.g., [6-7]). Considering the various different lithologies in Aguas Zarcas [2] and other CM chondrites [8-9] these types of carbonaceous chondrites may be regarded as good analogues for samples from the Ryugu and Bennu asteroids. The presence of unique and rare lithologies in the Aguas Zarcas, that are distinct from typical CM chondrite lithologies, indicates a complex mixing of various materials in a highly dynamic environment.

Imene Kerraouch↗

Similarities and Differences of Global Dust Storms in MY 25, 28, and 34

To better understand the dust cycle on Mars during years with planet‐encircling dust storms, we analyze the last three events that took place in Mars Year (MY) 25, MY 28, and MY 34. Global dust storms that occurred in MY 25 and MY 34 (June 2018) were taking place during equinox, while the MY 28 storm had an onset after perihelion. Before the expansion phase of the MY 25 and MY 34 storms, we find similar regions (northern rim of Hellas, Arabia Terra, and Utopia Planitia) where dust is present. Possible precursor dust storms over Hellas and the southern polar cap edges were observed during MY 28 as a component of background dust activity. These features are not found in equinoctial dust storms on this scale. Dust during the MY 25 and MY 34 storms encircled the entire planet by the similar season (L(s) = 193°). The MY 34 storm is characterized by a shorter decay phase compared to the events in MY 25 and MY 28. Dust opacity is correlated with atmospheric temperatures at 0.5 mbar and nighttime surface temperatures, while daytime surface temperatures are anticorrelated with dust opacity.

P. Wolkenberg↗

Guidebook for Assessing Similarity and Implementing Empirical Transfer Functions for Probability of Detection (POD) Demonstrations for Signal Based Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Methods

This document provides guidance for assessing similarity relative to nondestructive evaluation (NDE) detectability based on Probability of Detection demonstrations when comparing different NDE inspection situations. Differences in inspection situations addressed by the similarity assessment methodology herein can include differences in the component being inspected, and differences in the conditions for the inspection. Additional differences in the inspection situation relative to differences in the method or procedure are not addressed in this document but can be assessed using NDE calibration or instrument standardization specimens.

Probability of Detection↗

The Aguas Zarcas Breccia - Similarities to Surface Features of C-Complex Asteroids Ryugu and Bennu

Knowledge of the materials originally present in the proto-solar nebula is one of the most significant constraints for models concerning the formation of our solar system. The physicochemical properties of these original materials can be determined through two distinct and complementary approaches: astronomical observations of nascent stellar systems and the dense clouds from which they originated; and laboratory studies of available astromaterials such as meteorites, interplanetary dust particles, comets, as well as returned mission samples (e.g., from Hayabusa -1 -2;OSIRIS -Rex). Laboratory study of these extraterrestrial materials provides valuable information about the first solids portion of the early solar system and their evolution. Here, we present petrographic and mineralogical characteristics of the polymic beccias Aguas Zarcas based on the research results of [1].On April 23, 2019, at 21:07 local time, a meteorite fall occurred in Aguas Zarcas, San Carlos County, Alajuela province, Costa Rica. The rapid recovery of this brecciated carbonaceous chondrite after its fall provides an opportunity to study a freshly fallen, relatively uncontaminated, and highly brecciated meteorite to compare with samples returned by theHayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from C-group asteroids. The study includes several pre-rain fragments [1].The X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) results show many different lithologies. We describe the petrography and mineralogy of five different lithologies of the Aguas Zarcas meteorite. We also present data on bulk oxygen isotopes. We describe all fragments in detail and attempt to classify each lithology in order to understand the origin and formation history of the Aguas Zarcas parent body. Our results show that some lithologies of Aguas Zarcas are similar to those in CM chondrites, but others are unique. The different lithologies [1] also represent different degrees of hydration and heating, which are good analogues for the types of materials returned by the Bennu and Ryugu asteroids. Spectroscopic observations of the Ryugu and Bennu asteroids compared to laboratory measurements of meteorites suggest that the asteroids have some similarities to heated CM, heated CI, or CI chondrites[2-5]. Both asteroids are thought to be composed of materials altered by aqueous alteration (e.g., [5]) and formed by reaccretion after destruction by impacts and brecciation (e.g., [6-7]). Considering the different lithologies in Aguas Zarcas [2] and other CM chondrites [8-9], these types of carbonaceous chondrites can be considered good analogues for samples from the Ryugu and Bennu asteroids. The presence of unique and rare lithologies in the Aguas Zarcas, different from the typical CM chondrite lithologies, suggests complex mixing of different materials in a highly dynamic environment.

Imene Kerraouch↗

Architectures of Exoplanetary Systems: Towards a Multi-planet Model for Reproducing the Planet Radius Valley and Intra-system Size Similarity

Multi-planet systems provide crucial insights into the architectures and correlations within planetary systems, which in turn offer clues into their formation and evolution histories. Through the thousands of exoplanet candidates that it discovered, NASA's Kepler mission revealed that systems with multiple transiting planets are common. We describe a new model for inferring the exoplanet population observed by Kepler, which combines a semi-parametric description of planetary systems with a prescription for envelope mass-loss due to photoevaporation. This new model is a"hybrid" of the maximum AMD (angular momentum deficit) model in which the orbital excitations of the planets are drawn by distributing the system's critical AMD (He et al. 2020), and a photoevaporation model for sculpting the observed radius valley (Neil & Rogers 2020). This is an update to the SysSim suite of exoplanet population models derived from forward modeling the Kepler detection pipeline. The hybrid model is constrained by the observed statistics of multi-transiting systems, including additional constraints from the distribution of planet radii and their intra-system size patterns. This model is capable of producing a planet radius valley as well as a preference for planet size similarity. However, we find that the Kepler catalog exhibits features that are even more significant (i.e., it has a deeper observed radius valley and stronger size similarity) than the best-fit model. We use this model to infer the intrinsic planet radius valley as well as the distribution of primordial planet masses and core masses.

kepler↗

Detecting CAN Masquerade Attacks with Signal Clustering Similarity

Vehicular Controller Area Networks (CANs) are susceptible to cyber attacks of different levels of sophistication. Fabrication attacks are the easiest to administer—an adversary simply sends (extra) frames on a CAN—but also the easiest to detect because they disrupt frame frequency. To overcome time-based detection methods, adversaries must administer masquerade attacks by sending frames in lieu of (and therefore at the expected time of) benign frames but with malicious payloads. Research efforts have proven that CAN attacks, and masquerade attacks in particular, can affect vehicle functionality. Examples include causing unintended acceleration, deactivation of vehicle’s brakes, as well as steering the vehicle. We hypothesize that masquerade attacks modify the nuanced correlations of CAN signal time series and how they cluster together. Therefore, changes in cluster assignments should indicate anomalous behavior. We confirm this hypothesis by leveraging our previously developed capability for reverse engineering CAN signals (i.e., CAN-D [Controller Area Network Decoder]) and focus on advancing the state of the art for detecting masquerade attacks by analyzing time series extracted from raw CAN frames. Specifically, we demonstrate that masquerade attacks can be detected by computing time series clustering similarity using hierarchical clustering on the vehicle’s CAN signals (time series) and comparing the clustering similarity across CAN captures with and without attacks. We test our approach in a previously collected CAN dataset with masquerade attacks (i.e., the ROAD dataset) and develop a forensic tool as a proof of concept to demonstrate the potential of the proposed approach for detecting CAN masquerade attacks.

Moriano Salazar, Pablo↗