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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 235 records · Page 13
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

WHONDRS Surface Water Dissolved Organic Carbon and FTICR-MS across Glacial Features in Svalbard 2022

This dataset supports a broader study examining climatic forcing of terrestrial greenhouse gas emission through permafrost and glaciers in Svalbard. The dataset provides geochemistry and organic matter characterization data generated from surface water collected from 11 sites across central Svalbard. Data were also collected in 2021 and can be found at https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/view/doi:10.15485/1888571. Additional related data were collected and will be published separately in collaboration with Yde and Kleber.This dataset is comprised of one main data folder containing (1) file-level metadata; (2) data dictionary; (3) field metadata; (4) dissolved organic carbon (DOC; measured as non-purgeable organic carbon; NPOC); (5) surface water sampling protocol; (6) readme; (7) methods codes; (8) international geo-sample number (IGSN) mapping file; (9) a folder of field photos; and (10) folder of high resolution characterization of organic matter via 7 Tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) generated through the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL; https://www.pnnl.gov/environmental-molecular-sciences-laboratory). The FTICR folder contains two subfolders, one containing the .xml data files and the other containing instructions for using Formularity (https://omics.pnl.gov/software/formularity) and an R script to process the data based on the user's specific needs. All files are .csv, .pdf, .R, .ref, or .xml.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Distinct Fracture Mineralogy That is Out of Equilibrium With Modern Groundwaters Provides Important Context for Subsurface Life

Rock fracture surfaces in the crust are essential habitat for microorganisms. Fracture‐groundwater interfaces provide physical substrates for biofilm growth and are sources of carbon, nutrients, and electron donors and acceptors. To better understand geochemical processes impacting fracture surfaces and the subsurface microbiome, we identified fractures in archived rock cores from the Soudan formation, which is known to host saline groundwaters and isolated microbial communities dependent on rock‐water interactions. Cores with open fractures were thin sectioned and studied via electron microprobe and synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence microprobe. Most fracture surfaces had mineralogy distinct from that of the bulk rock. Chlorite minerals were abundant on fracture surfaces and had elemental compositions suggesting deposition during late‐stage hydrothermal alteration. Fracture‐lining chlorites likely limit access to iron oxide and sulfide minerals that are active in subsurface biogeochemical cycles. Calcium‐rich rinds were also observed along fracture edges. These rinds were too thin and poorly ordered to be identified via light microscopy or X‐ray diffraction; however, Ca K‐edge micro‐X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure spectroscopy identified them as carbonates, minerals not observed in the bulk rock. Thermodynamic modeling shows that carbonate precipitation is largely unfavorable in Soudan groundwaters, indicating that fracture edge conditions differed from those in modern water samples. Because of the low carbon concentrations in Soudan groundwaters, carbonate rinds likely play an important role in subsurface carbon cycling and may mark fracture surfaces that once hosted biofilms. Overall, this study suggests that fracture alteration can both play an active role in and suppress rock‐water interactions essential to subsurface life.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Micro-Pulse DIAL for Atmospheric Water Vapor Profiling (Phase I Final Report)

Water vapor plays a key role in Earth’s climate and weather patterns. Accurate, high resolution measurements of the water vapor vertical profiles in a region have been found to significantly improve the numerical weather prediction models’ short-term forecasts, precipitation forecasts, as well as severe weather forecasts. However, current measurement techniques provide very coarse resolution in space, time, and/or altitude. A network of continuously sampling water vapor profilers would greatly expand the scientific knowledge of the atmosphere and serve as a valuable input into numerical weather models. This would be of interest not only to the Department of Energy’s Environmental Sciences Division but to other institutions such as the National Weather Service, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the military.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1976

Application of remote sensing in the determination of water quality in Nebraska reservoirs

In June, July, and August, 1975, ground truth was collected from Lake McConaughy, a 35,000 acre reservoir in western Nebraska, coincident with the overflights of LANDSAT. Water samples were collected on six different dates and analyzed for turbidity, suspended solids, and chlorophyll, parameters which had correlated well with CCT reflectances. The correlations and regressions reported were derived from data obtained on only three of the six sampling dates. The radiance values from each of the four spectral bands were printed out in the form of a map of Lake McConaughy. Reflectances in the various bands were then obtained from the map at the appropriate sampling sites. The dependent variables chlorophyll, suspended solids, and turbidity were compared to the independent variables - reflectances in the four bands - by regression analysis. Both multiple and univariate regressions were examined. It is concluded that CCT's from LANDSAT can be used to detect and quantify the water quality parameters suspended solids, turbidity, and chlorophyll.

Hergenrader, G. L.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Worswick Hot Springs: A Radioactive Hydrothermal Field Site.

Introduction: We report on a systematic characterization of the environmental conditions at Worswick Hot Springs, a hydrothermal system in Idaho, USA. Because localized “hot spots” of elevated radiation and biofilms are easily accessible, various biological studies of radiation resistance and biosignature formation are possible, making this fieldsite relevant for analog field studies that consider microbiology, geo-chemistry, and ionizing radiation. In addition to Worswick being a natural radiation biology laboratory that may also be relevant for space biology applications, we assert that these unusual environmental conditions may inform us about locations on Mars that are also enriched in radioactive elements and their poten-tial for hosting biosignatures. Methods: We carried out repeated temperature and radiation measurements at the same hot spring locations to observe the system over time (Figure 2). Radiation: A Bicron Micro Analyst micro-r-meter (Bicron NE, Saint-Gobain Industrial Ceramics, Inc.) capable of sensing x-rays and gamma-rays (0-5000 µR/hr), was used to gather radiation data at twenty-four locations around and above the region of the two main stream channels. Water Temperature: A digital hand-held infrared thermometer (Oakton WD-39642-00 Mini-Temp Tester) was used for all measurements. ICP-MS aqueous geochemistry: Water samples were analyzed at the ISU Center for Archaeology, Materials and Applied Spectroscopy (CAMAS). Results: We have discovered localized areas of elevated radiation that are approximately 4 to 5 times greater than background radiation, and we have ob-served that both radioactivity and temperature of the spring waters vary over time. ICP-MS reveal the presence of thorium and uranium, which are correlated with elevated radioactivity. Several point sources of elevated radioactivity have been identified in both Stream A and Stream B.

Analog↗
DOE OSTI2023

pH dependence of brown-carbon optical properties in cloud water

Abstract. Light-absorbing organic species present in aerosols, collectively called brown carbon (BrC), have important but highly uncertain effects on climate. Clouds likely represent a significant medium for secondary BrC production and for bleaching reactions, though the relative importance of the formation and loss processes in clouds is unknown at present. The acidity (or pH) of atmospheric particles and clouds affects the optical properties of BrC and bleaching rates. Given the wide variability of pH in the atmosphere (pH in particles and clouds ranges from −1 to 8), the optical properties of BrC and its bleaching behavior are expected to vary significantly, and the link between pH and BrC is yet another uncertainty in attempts to constrain its climate forcing effects. In this work, we characterize the pH dependence of BrC optical properties – including light absorption at 365 nm (Abs365), the mass absorption coefficient (MAC365), and the absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) – in bulk cloud water sampled from the summit of Whiteface Mountain, NY. In all samples (n=17), Abs365 and MAC365 increased linearly with increasing pH, highlighting the importance of reporting pH in studies of BrC in aqueous media. There was strong variability in the sensitivity of Abs365 to pH, with normalized slopes that ranged from 5.1 % to 17.2 % per pH unit. The normalized slope decreased strongly with increasing cloud water [K+], suggesting that the non-biomass-burning BrC has optical properties that are more sensitive to pH than BrC associated with biomass burning. AAE also showed a distinct pH dependence as it was relatively flat between pH 1.5–5 and then decreased significantly above pH 5. The cloud water composition was used to inform thermodynamic predictions of aerosol pH upwind and/or downwind of Whiteface Mountain and the subsequent changes in BrC optical properties. Overall, these results show that, in addition to secondary BrC production, photobleaching, and the altitudinal distribution, the climate forcing of BrC is quite strongly affected by its pH-dependent absorption.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2002

Analyzing Water's Optical Absorption

A cooperative agreement between World Precision Instruments (WPI), Inc., and Stennis Space Center has led the UltraPath(TM) device, which provides a more efficient method for analyzing the optical absorption of water samples at sea. UltraPath is a unique, high-performance absorbance spectrophotometer with user-selectable light path lengths. It is an ideal tool for any study requiring precise and highly sensitive spectroscopic determination of analytes, either in the laboratory or the field. As a low-cost, rugged, and portable system capable of high- sensitivity measurements in widely divergent waters, UltraPath will help scientists examine the role that coastal ocean environments play in the global carbon cycle. UltraPath(TM) is a trademark of World Precision Instruments, Inc. LWCC(TM) is a trademark of World Precision Instruments, Inc.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2016

Redesign of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit Airlock Cooling Loop Recovery Assembly

During EVA (Extravehicular Activity) 23 aboard the ISS (International Space Station) on 07/16/2013 an episode of water in the EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) helmet occurred, necessitating a termination of the EVA (Extravehicular Activity) shortly after it began. The root cause of the failure was determined to be ground-processing short-comings of the ALCLR (Airlock Cooling Loop Recovery) Ion Beds which led to various levels of contaminants being introduced into the Ion Beds before they left the ground. The Ion Beds were thereafter used to scrub the failed EMU cooling water loop on-orbit during routine scrubbing operations. The root cause investigation identified several areas for improvement of the ALCLR Assembly which have since been initiated. Enhanced washing techniques for the ALCLR Ion Bed have been developed and implemented. On-orbit cooling water conductivity and pH analysis capability to allow the astronauts to monitor proper operation of the ALCLR Ion Bed during scrubbing operation is being investigation. A simplified means to acquire on-orbit EMU cooling water samples have been designed. Finally, an inherently cleaner organic adsorbent to replace the current lignite-based activated carbon, and a non-separable replacement for the separable mixed ion exchange resin are undergoing evaluation. These efforts are undertaken to enhance the performance and reduce the risk associated with operations to ensure the long-term health of the EMU cooling water circuit.

Steele, John↗
NASA NTRS2016

Redesign of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit Airlock Cooling Loop Recovery Assembly

During EVA (Extravehicular Activity) 23 aboard the ISS (International Space Station) on 07/16/2013 an episode of water in the EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) helmet occurred, necessitating a termination of the EVA (Extravehicular Activity) shortly after it began. The root cause of the failure was determined to be ground-processing short-comings of the ALCLR (Airlock Cooling Loop Recovery) Ion Beds which led to various levels of contaminants being introduced into the Ion Beds before they left the ground. The Ion Beds were thereafter used to scrub the failed EMU cooling water loop on-orbit during routine scrubbing operations. The root cause investigation identified several areas for improvement of the ALCLR Assembly which have since been initiated. Enhanced washing techniques for the ALCLR Ion Bed have been developed and implemented. On-orbit cooling water conductivity and pH analysis capability to allow the astronauts to monitor proper operation of the ALCLR Ion Bed during scrubbing operation is being investigated. A simplified means to acquire on-orbit EMU cooling water samples has been designed. Finally, an inherently cleaner organic adsorbent to replace the current lignite-based activated carbon, and a non-separable replacement for the separable mixed ion exchange resin are undergoing evaluation. These efforts are undertaken to enhance the performance and reduce the risk associated with operations to ensure the long-term health of the EMU cooling water circuit.

Steele, John↗
DOE OSTI2026

Data and scripts associated with “Non-random processes impacting organic matter chemistry are maximized in mid-order streams”

NOTE: The manuscript associated with this data package is currently in review. The data may be revised based on reviewer feedback. Upon manuscript acceptance, this data package will be updated with the final dataset and additional metadata. This data package is associated with the publication “Non-random processes impacting organic matter chemistry are maximized in mid-order streams” submitted to Limnology and Oceanography (L&O) by Danczak et al. (in review). This package contains data and scripts used to investigate dissolved organic matter (DOM) molecular chemistry and diversification processes across 47 surface-water sampling sites in the Yakima River Basin, Washington, USA, during an August 2021 sampling campaign. The package contains analyses of ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS), geochemical measurements, geospatial attributes, molecular diversity, and meta-metabolome ecological null models needed to reproduce the main manuscript results. The underlying field data were pulled from exising data packages at https://doi.org/10.15485/1892052 (Fulton et al., 2022) and https://doi.org/10.15485/1898914 (Grieger et al., 2022). For details on how to navigate data packages generated by this project, see https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/PNNLRiverCorridorSFA/About. We thank the following organizations for providing access to field locations for sample collection: the United States Forest Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Natural Resources, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and the Cowiche Canyon Conservatory. Research was conducted under Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Scientific Research Permit #210901. We are grateful to the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and Yakama Nation Fisheries for their collaboration in facilitating sample collection and ensuring data usage aligns with their values and worldview. This data package contains an R-Markdown file for analyses and five folders: (1) Data, (2) Geospatial Data, (3) Supplemental_Files, (5) Figures_pdf, (4) and src. The Data folder contains tabular inputs and derived files used in the manuscript analysis. The Geospatial Data folder contains climate and water-balance, hydrologic, land-cover, population/regional water-use, stream, topographic, and stream-order attribute CSV files. The src folder contains scripts used to process data, run analyses, and generate figures. The Figures_pdf folder contains manuscript figure outputs. The Supplemental_Files folder contains supplemental analysis products. All files are .csv, .pdf, .html, .png, .R, .Rmd, .svg, or .tre. This data package is associated with the rcfsa-RC2-SPS_Null_Modeling repository found at https://github.com/river-corridors-sfa/rcfsa-RC2-SPS_Null_Modeling.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1983

Influence of the Mediterranean outflow on the isotopic composition of neodymium in waters of the North Atlantic

Measurements of the Nd-143/Nd-144 ratio, expressed as epsilon-Nd(0), made in sea water samples obtained at depths from 0 to 4850 m at stations 95, 101, and 30 of North-Atlantic cruise 109-1 of the RV Atlantis II are reported and analyzed. In the 1000-m sample at station 95, determined by salinity, O2, PO4, NO3, SiO2, potential-temperature, and pressure profiles to correspond to the core of the Mediterranean outflow, an epsilon-Nd(0) value of -9.8 + or - 0.6 was found, a significant increase over the layers above and below, where epsilon-Nd(0) is about -12. Mixing estimations give a value for pure Mediterranean waters of approximately -6; continental drainage or volcanic deep-sea sediments are considered possible sources for this more radiogenic Nd. The epsilon-Nd(0) peak in the western North Atlantic (station 30) is found at the surface, and the deep waters are less radiogenic than in the eastern North Atlantic, suggesting multiple Nd sources. Possible origins and distribution mechanisms are discussed.

Piepgras, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Status of the Redesign of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit Airlock Cooling Loop Recovery Assembly

During EVA (Extravehicular Activity) 23 aboard the ISS (International Space Station) on 07/16/2013 an episode of water in the EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) helmet occurred, necessitating a termination of the EVA (Extravehicular Activity) shortly after it began. The root cause of the failure was determined to be ground-processing short-comings of the ALCLR Ion Beds which led to various levels of contaminants being introduced into the Ion Beds before they left the ground. The Ion Beds were thereafter used to perform on-orbit routine scrubbing operations for the EMU cooling water loop which led to the failure. The root cause investigation identified several areas for improvement of the ALCLR Assembly which have since been initiated. Enhanced washing techniques for the ALCLR Ion Bed have been developed and implemented. On-orbit cooling water conductivity and pH analysis capability to allow the astronauts to monitor proper operation of the ALCLR Ion Bed during scrubbing operation have been investigated and are being incorporated. A simplified means to acquire on-orbit EMU cooling water samples has been designed as well. Finally, an inherently cleaner organic adsorbent to replace the current lignite-based activated carbon, and a non-separable replacement for the separable mixed ion exchange resin have been selected. These efforts are being undertaken to enhance the performance and reduce the risk associated with operations to ensure the long-term health of the EMU cooling water circuit. The intent of this paper is to provide an update of the effort to re-design the ALCLR (Airlock Cooling Loop Recovery) hardware. Last year, this effort was in the early stages of concept development and test which was reported in ICES Paper ICES-2016-221. Those phases are now complete and the final outcomes, as well as plans to build and field the hardware, are being reported on.

Steele, John↗
NASA NTRS1991

Diversity of micro-fungi in an Antarctic dry valley

The fungal microflora of a dry valley in Southern Victoria Land near McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, was investigated. Samples were collected from introduced objects such as a mummified penguin and spent chewing tobacco in addition to the sparse soil found in rock fissures, isolated moss colonies, shoreline deposit materials, CaCO3 precipitates, and microbial mat debris obtained from the frozen surface of the lake in the basin of Taylor Valley. Using conventional media and techniques, all collection sites yielded populations of yeasts and filamentous fungi. Water samples and live microbial mats from beneath the lake ice yielded species of fungi along with an abundance of bacteria.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗
DOE OSTI2020

Water chemistry data and calculations for Fracture Sustainability Tests

Measured cation, anion, and silica are presented as well as calculations evaluating mass balance performed for 4 fracture sustainability tests under EGS conditions: Stripa granite, Metamudstone, Rhyolitic Ashflow Tuff, and Silicified Rhyolitic Tuff. Calculations of charge balance are included for water samples in the 4 tests.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Microbial Communities across Global Marine Basins Show Important Compositional Similarities by Depth

The environmental surveys following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) spill identified a variety of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms, and laboratory studies with field-collected water samples then demonstrated faster-than-expected hydrocarbon biodegradation rates at 5°C. Knowledge about microbial community composition, diversity, and functional metabolic capabilities aids in understanding and predicting petroleum biodegradation by microbial communities in situ and is therefore an important component of the petroleum spill response decision-making process. This study investigates the taxonomic composition of microbial communities in six different global basins where petroleum and gas activities occur. Shallow-water communities were strikingly similar across basins, while deep-water communities tended to show subclusters by basin, with communities from the epipelagic, mesopelagic, and bathypelagic zones sometimes appearing within the same cluster. Microbial taxa that were enriched in the water column in the Gulf of Mexico following the DWH spill were found across marine basins. Several hydrocarbon-degrading genera (e.g., Actinobacteria, Pseudomonas, and Rhodobacteriacea) were common across all basins. Other genera such as Pseudoalteromonas and Oleibacter were highly enriched in specific basins.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Investigation of the Effect of Injected CO 2 on the Morrow B Sandstone through Laboratory Batch Reaction Experiments: Implications for CO 2 Sequestration in the Farnsworth Unit, Northern Texas, USA

About one million tons of CO 2 have been injected into the Farnsworth unit to date. The target reservoir for CO 2 injection is the Morrow B Sandstone, which is primarily made of quartz with lesser amounts of albite, calcite, chlorite, and clay minerals. The impact of CO 2 injection on the mineralogy, porosity, and pore water composition of the Morrow B Sandstone is a major concern. Although numerical modeling studies suggest that porosity changes will be minimal, significant alterations to mineralogy and pore water composition are expected. Given the implications for CO 2 storage effectiveness and risk assessment, it is crucial to verify the accuracy of theoretical model predictions through laboratory experiments. To this end, batch reaction experiments were conducted to model conditions near an injection well in the Morrow B Sandstone and at locations further away, where the CO 2 has been diluted by formation water. The laboratory experiments involved submerging thin sections of both coarse- and fine-grained facies of the Morrow B Sandstone in formation water samples with varying levels of CO 2 . The experiments were conducted at the reservoir temperature of 75 °C. Two experimental runs were conducted, one lasting for 61 days and the other for 72 days. The initial fluid composition used in the second run was the same as in the first. The mineralogy changes in the thin sections were analyzed using SEM and the Tescan Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA), while changes in the composition of the formation water were determined using ICP-AES. During each experiment, a thin layer of white fine-grained particles consisting mainly of dolomite and silica formed on the surface of the thin sections, leading to significant reductions in Ca, Mg, and Sr in the formation water. This outcome is consistent with numerical model predictions that dolomite would be the primary mineral that would react with injected CO 2 and that silica would be oversaturated in the formation water. Changes in mineral abundance in the thin sections themselves were much less systematic than in the theoretical modeling experiments, perhaps reflecting heterogeneities in the mineral grain size surface area to volume ratios and mineral distributions in the thin sections not considered in the numerical models.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1980

Spectral scattering properties of turbid waters

River water samples have been examined for optical scattering properties at wavelengths between 400 and 800 nm. Scattering coefficients were calculated from measurements of beam attenuation and absorption coefficients and are observed to vary with wavelength. At a fixed wavelength, the scattering coefficient is influenced by both phytoplankton concentration (as indicated by chlorophyll a) and suspended solids concentration. Measurements of small angle volume-scattering function indicate that the phase function at an angle of 1.5 deg is not constant for turbid waters and varies with both wavelength and beam attenuation coefficient. These data differ from previously published results for relatively clear oceanic and coastal waters. Caution is required when attempting to estimate scattering coefficient values from single-angle measurements of volume-scattering function.

Whitlock, C. H.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhanced Laser-Induced Graphene Microfluidic Integrated Sensors (LIGMIS) for On-Site Biomedical and Environmental Monitoring

The convergence of microfluidic and electrochemical biosensor technologies offers significant potential for rapid, in-field diagnostics in biomedical and environmental applications. Traditional systems face challenges in cost, scalability, and operational complexity, especially in remote settings. Addressing these issues, laser-induced graphene microfluidic integrated sensors (LIGMIS) are presented as an innovative platform that integrates microfluidics and electrochemical sensors both comprised of laser-induced graphene. This study advances the LIGMIS concept by resolving issues of uneven fluid transport, increased hydrophobicity during storage, and sensor biofunctionalization challenges. Key innovations include Y-shaped reservoirs for consistent fluid flow, hydrophilic polyethyleneimine coatings to maintain wettability, and separable microfluidic and electrochemical components enabling isolated electrode nanoparticle metallization and biofunctionalization. Multiplexed electrochemical detection of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid and nitrate ions in environmental water samples yields detection limits of 707 nm and 10 -5.4 m with wide sensing ranges of 5–100 µm and 10 -5 –10 -1 m, respectively. Similarly, uric acid and calcium ions are detected in saliva, demonstrating detection limits of 217 nm and 10 -5.3 m with sensing ranges of 10–50 µm, and 10 -5 –10 -2.5 m, respectively. Overall, this biosensing demonstrates the capability of the LIGMIS platform for multiplexed detection in biologically complex solutions, with applications in environmental water quality monitoring and oral cancer screening.

environmental monitoring↗