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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 253 records · Page 14

Effect of off-diagonal elements in the Wannier Hamiltonian on DFT + DMFT for low-symmetry materials: Study of Li 2 MnO 3

Here, we study the effect of the off-diagonal elements of the Wannier Hamiltonian on the electronic structure of the low-symmetry material Li 2 MnO 3 ( C2/m ), using dynamical mean field theory calculations with a continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo impurity solver. The presence of significant off-diagonal elements leads to a pronounced suppression of the energy gap. The off-diagonal elements are largest when the Wannier projection is used based on the global coordinate, and they remain substantial even with the projection using the local coordinate close to the direction of Mn-O bonds. We show that the energy gap is enhanced by the diagonalization of the Mn d block in the full p-d Hamiltonian with the application of a unitary rotation matrix. Additionally, the inclusion of small double counting energy is crucial for achieving the experimental gap by reducing p-d hybridization. Furthermore, we establish the efficiency of a low-energy (d-only basis) model for studying the electronic structure of Li 2 MnO 3 , as the Wannier basis represents a hybridized state of Mn d and O p orbitals. These findings suggest an appropriate approach for investigating low-symmetry materials using the density functional theory plus dynamical mean field theory (DFT + DMFT) method. We also find that the antiferromagnetic ground state $\Gamma$ 2u is stable with U ≤ 2 eV within density functional theory+$U$ calculations, which is much smaller than the widely used U = 5 eV.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

ROTA-CAP™: An Intensified Carbon Capture System Using Rotating Packed Beds (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

GTI Energy and Carbon Clean Solutions Limited successfully designed, constructed, and operated an integrated ROTA-CAP carbon capture skid. ROTA-CAP™ is a process intensification technology, applied for post-combustion carbon capture, which utilizes the centrifugal forces generated from rotation of rotating packed beds as well as advanced solvents to achieve increased mass transfer rates 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than conventional columns while substantially decreasing footprint. The test skid, which consisted of a dual stage RPB absorber with external interstage cooling and a single stage RPB regenerator, was operated at capacities up to 0.5 tonne/day of CO 2 capture with flue gas concentrations ranging from 4% to 22% CO 2 by vol. CO 2 removal rates greater than 95% were achieved, with CO 2 product purity also exceeding 95% by vol. Over 1,600 hours of operation were accumulated throughout the project, including over 1,000 hours of operation of the with real flue gas containing at least 9.8% CO 2 by vol. The skid was operated continuously for 24 hours per day and 7 days per week over the course of 7 long-term test campaigns, with the campaigns ranging from approximately 2-4 weeks per campaign. A techno-economic analysis was performed, and a cost of capture of $\$$41.18/tonne CO 2 was calculated for the ROTA-CAP process, compared to $\$$45.75/tonne for a Cansolv-based process. These results show a cost reduction of approximately 10% compared to the Cansolv-based process. Although this still exceeds the target cost of capture of $\$$30/tonne specified for this project, GTI expects that the cost of capture can be further reduced through further optimization of the design and technology. GTI also performed an engineering design review to determine the scale-up potential of the technology, with the results of the preliminary assessment indicating that it appears to be feasible to scale up the RPB technology to 4,000 TPD. It was also determined that both horizontal and vertical rotor orientations are feasible, though there are mechanical advantages to the vertical orientation.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Fine resolution remote sensing spectra improves estimates of gross primary production of croplands

Gross primary production (GPP) is a fundamental measure of the terrestrial carbon cycle critical to our understanding of ecosystem function under the changing climate and land use. Remote sensing enables access to continuous spatial coverage, but remains challenged in heterogeneous croplands. Coarse resolution products, like MOD17A (500 m), may aggregate fragmented land cover types commonly found in heavily managed landscapes and misrepresent their respective contribution to carbon production. Consequently, this study demonstrates the capability of fine-resolution imagery (20-30 m) and available red-edge vegetation indices to characterize GPP across seven Midwest cropping systems. Four sites were established on a 22-year-old USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP); and the other three on land conventionally farmed with corn-soybean-wheat rotation (AGR). We compare in situ GPP estimates from eddy-covariance towers with ten satellite models: eight variants of the vegetation photosynthesis models (VPM), of which five include a red-edge vegetation index, as well as conventional products Landsat CONUS GPP (30 m) and MOD17A2H V6 (500 m). Daily and cumulative fine-resolution imagery integrated within VPM generally agreed with tower-based GPP in heterogeneous landscapes more than those from MODIS 500 m VPM or conventional GPP products from MOD17AH V6 or Landsat 8 CONUS. Here, replacing EVI2 with red-edge indices NDRE2, NDRE1, and MTCI in Sentinel 2 VPMs notably improved explanation of variance and estimation of cumulative GPP. While existing methods using MODIS- and Landsat-derived GPP are important baselines for regional and global studies, future research may benefit from the higher spatial, temporal, and radiometric resolution.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Identification of Grand-design and Flocculent spirals from SDSS using deep convolutional neural network

ABSTRACT Spiral galaxies can be classified into the Grand-designs and Flocculents based on the nature of their spiral arms. The Grand-designs exhibit almost continuous and high contrast spiral arms and are believed to be driven by stationary density waves, while the Flocculents have patchy and low-contrast spiral features and are primarily stochastic in origin. We train a deep convolutional neural network model to classify spirals into Grand-designs and Flocculents, with a testing accuracy of $\mathrm{97.2{{\ \rm per\ cent}}}$. We then use the above model for classifying 1354 spirals from the SDSS. Out of these, 721 were identified as Flocculents, and the rest as Grand-designs. Interestingly, we find the mean asymptotic rotational velocities of our newly classified Grand-designs and Flocculents are 218 ± 86 and 146 ± 67 km s−1, respectively, indicating that the Grand-designs are mostly the high-mass and the Flocculents the intermediate-mass spirals. This is further corroborated by the observation that the mean morphological indices of the Grand-designs and Flocculents are 2.6 ± 1.8 and 4.7 ± 1.9, respectively, implying that the Flocculents primarily consist of a late-type galaxy population in contrast to the Grand-designs. Finally, an almost equal fraction of bars ∼0.3 in both the classes of spiral galaxies reveals that the presence of a bar component does not regulate the type of spiral arm hosted by a galaxy. Our results may have important implications for formation and evolution of spiral arms in galaxies.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Outflow Boundary Conditions for Turbine-Integrated Rotating Detonation Combustors

This study examines outflow boundary conditions (BCs) in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of a transition duct with and without guide vanes that converts supersonic flow exiting a rotating detonation combustor (RDC) to subsonic flow to drive a turbine. Since the flow exiting the transition duct has swirling shock waves with significant spatial and temporal variations in pressure, temperature, and Mach number, imposing proper BCs poses a challenge. To ensure all swirling shock waves exit the transition duct without creating non-physical reflected waves at its outlet, this study examined three outflow BCs: (1) the average pressure imposed at the duct’s outlet, (2) a nonreflecting BC (NRBC) with a specified average pressure imposed at the duct’s outlet, (3) the average pressure imposed at the outlet of an extension duct made up of a buffer layer and a sponge layer. This study is based on the three-dimensional, unsteady density-weighted-ensemble-averaged continuity, Navier–Stokes, and energy equations for a thermally perfect gas closed by the realizable k–ε model and “enhanced” wall functions. The results obtained show that imposing an average pressure at the transition duct’s outlet produces spurious waves that degrade the physical meaningfulness of the solution. When the NRBC was applied, swirling shock waves exited the duct’s outlet without creating spurious waves. However, its usage requires the gas to be thermally, as well as calorically, perfect, which this study shows could be a concern. By imposing the average pressure at the outlet of an extension duct, the gas does not need to be calorically perfect. The results obtained show the effects of the sponge layer’s length and coarsening ratio on damping nonuniformities in non-physical reflected waves to ensure the flow exiting the transition duct’s outlet can do so as if there are no boundaries present and has the desired average pressure—even though the BC is applied at the extension duct’s outlet.

gas turbines↗

3D Radio Frequency Mapping and Polarization Observations Show Lightning Flashes Were Ignited by Cosmic‐Ray Showers

Previous 2D radio frequency interferometric observations showed that lightning is commonly started with a positive fast discharge (+FD) before a normal negative leader continues from the origin of the +FD to the ensuing lightning flash. However, the inception and development of the +FD cannot be convincingly explained by existing discharge theories. With our new 3D broadband interferometric mapping and polarization system, we observed that the +FD was sometimes followed by an even faster and more extensive negative discharge (−FD) that propagated backward and overshoot the origin by a few hundred meters, as reported by an earlier 2D study. Surprisingly, the signal polarization, which measures the orientation of the discharge current, systematically slanted from the discharge propagation direction and rotated between the two opposite discharges, showing the +FD and −FD were driven by other storm-independent factors in addition to the storm electric field, or otherwise all would align in the same direction. Assuming a cosmic-ray shower (CRS) piercing through the cloud immediately before the +FD/−FD discharge, we found that their path is consistent with a pre-ionized path by the CRS, and the polarizations for the two opposite discharges are consistent with the respective deflected trajectories of high-energy positrons and electrons in the geomagnetic and an electric field. We further analyzed the more commonly observed +FD and showed that it is consistent with the CRS interpretation, suggesting these flashes in thunderstorms were ignited by cosmic-ray showers.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

UAE6 - Wind Tunnel Tests Data - UAE6 - Sequence R - Raw Data

Sequence R: Step AOA, No Probes (P) This sequence was designed to quantify the effect of the five-hole probes on the 3-D blade static angle-of-attack response in the presence of rotational influences by repeating Sequence K without five-hole probes. This test sequence used an upwind, rigid turbine with a 0° cone angle. The wind speeds ranged from 6 m/s to 20 m/s, and data were collected at yaw angles of 0° and 30°. The rotor rotated at 72 RPM. Blade pressure measurements were collected. The five-hole probes were removed and the plugs were installed. Plastic tape 0.03-mm-thick was used to smooth the interface between the plugs and the blade. The teeter dampers were replaced with rigid links, and these two channels were flagged as not applicable by setting the measured values in the data file to –99999.99 Nm. The teeter link load cell was pre-tensioned to 40,000 N. During post-processing, the probe channels were set to read –99999.99. The blade pitch angle ramped continuously at 0.18°/s over a wide range of increasing and decreasing pitch angles. A step sequence was also performed. The blade pitch was stepped 5°; the flow was allowed to stabilize; and the pitch angle was held for 5 seconds. Then the pitch angle step was repeated. Again, a wide range of pitch angles was obtained, both increasing and decreasing. The file lengths for this sequence varied from 96 seconds to 6 minutes, depending on the pitch angle range. Some short points were collected at 0° yaw and 3° pitch to ascertain the functionality of the instrumentation and repeatability over time. The file name convention used the initial letter R, followed by two digits specifying wind speed, followed by two digits for yaw angle, followed by RU, RD, or ST, followed by the repetition digit. The angle of attack motion was differentiated by RU (ramp up), RD (ramp down), and ST (step down, then step up). This sequence is related to Sequences K and L.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Characters, quasinormal modes, and Schwinger pairs in dS 2 with flux

An integral representation of the 1-loop partition function for charged scalars and spinors, minimally coupled to a uniform U(1) field on S 2 , is given in terms of SO(1, 2) Harish-Chandra group characters and evaluated exactly in terms of Hurwitz ζ-functions. Analytically continuing the U(1) field, we interpret the path integrals as quasicanonical partition functions in dS 2 with an electric field. The character itself is obtained as a trace over states living at the future boundary of de Sitter and has a quasinormal mode expansion. The imaginary part of the partition function captures Schwinger pair creation in the static patch at finite temperature. The thermal enhancement is most noticeable for scalar masses below Hubble and leads to non-monotonicity of the current as a function of the field. This parameter range, when dimensionally reducing from a charged or rotating Nariai spacetime, is excluded by Swampland-inspired bounds. Around the AdS 2 black hole, in contrast to dS 2 , there is a threshold to pair creation.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Modulation of Tropical Convection-Circulation Interaction by Aerosol Indirect Effects in Convective Self-Aggregation Simulations of a Gray Zone Global Model

Disentangling the response of tropical convective updrafts to enhanced aerosol concentrations has been challenging. Leading theories for explaining the influence of aerosol concentrations on tropical convection are based on the dynamical response of convection to changes in cloud microphysics, neglecting possible changes in the environment. In recent years, global convection-permitting models (GCPM) have been developed to circumvent problems arising from imposing artificial scale separation on physical processes associated with deep convection. Here, we use a global model in the convective gray zone that partially simulates deep convection to investigate how enhanced concentrations of aerosols that act as cloud condensate nuclei (CCN) impact tropical convection features by modulating the convection-circulation interaction. Results from a pair of idealized non-rotating radiative-convective equilibrium simulations show that the enhanced CCN concentration leads to weaker large-scale circulation, the closeness of deep convective systems to the moist cluster edges, and more mid-level cloud water at an equilibrium state in which convective self-aggregation occurred. Correspondingly, the enhanced CCN concentration modulates how the physical processes that support or oppose convective aggregation maintain the aggregated state at equilibrium. Overall, the enhanced CCN concentration facilitates the development of deep convection in a drier environment but reduces mean precipitation. Our results emphasize the importance of allowing atmospheric phenomena to evolve continuously across spatial and temporal scales in simulations when investigating the response of tropical convection to changes in cloud microphysics.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

High-resolution vibrational predissociation spectroscopy of I - ·H 2 O by single-mode CW infrared excitation in a 3D cryogenic ion trap

We describe the integration of a tunable, single-mode, continuous wave infrared laser into a cryogenic ion spectroscopy experiment to measure the rovibrational spectrum of the I - ∙H 2 O complex in the OH stretching region. These upper levels lie about 300 cm -1 above the dissociation threshold. The measurements are carried out by loading the ions in a radiofrequency ion trap at 10 Hz and cooling them to 5 K with pulsed He buffer gas. IR photodissociation (PD) of the I - ∙H 2 O complex is monitored by recording the I - product yield by time-of-flight mass spectrometry as a function of laser wavelength. Very narrow (Δν~75 MHz) rotational lines are observed throughout the spectrum, indicating long (ca. 2 ns) lifetimes for the excited metastable rovibrational levels. Rotational analysis of the band arising from the K”=1 to K’=2 transition of the free OH stretching fundamental yields the structure of the complex for the first time. Over 50% of the trapped ion ensemble in the trap can be photodissociated upon excitation of a single rotational line. This enables very high signal-to-noise in the PD spectrum, and is traced to a mechanism in which the ground state rotational levels are rapidly equilibrated by collisions with the buffer gas.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Algorithm to extract direction in 2D discrete distributions and a continuous Frobenius norm

In this study, we present a novel algorithm for determining directionality in 2D distributions of discrete data. We compare a reference dataset with a known direction to a measured dataset with an unknown direction by the Frobenius norm of the difference (FND) to find the unknown direction. To generalize this concept, we develop a continuous Frobenius norm of the difference (CFND) as a continuous analog of the FND and derive its analytical expression. By relating fitted and normalized 2D Gaussian distributions, we show that the CFND approximates the FND, and we validate this relationship with computer simulations. We find that a first-order approximation of the CFND between two similar Gaussian distributions takes the form of an absolute sine function, offering a simple analytical form with potential applications in specialized areas such as segmented inverse beta decay neutrino detectors, astronomy, machine learning, and more. Our methodology consists of modeling a 2D Gaussian distribution, binning the data into a histogram, and encoding it as a square matrix. Rotating this matrix around its geometric center and comparing it to a measured dataset using the FND gives us rotational data that we fit with an absolute sine function. The location of the minimum of this fit is the angle closest to the true angle of the direction in the measured dataset. We present the derivation and discuss initial applications of the CFND in our novel algorithm, demonstrating its success in approximating directionality in 2D distributions.

Physics↗

Restoring Soil Fertility on Degraded Lands to Meet Food, Fuel, and Climate Security Needs via Perennialization

A continuously growing pressure to increase food, fiber, and fuel production to meet worldwide demand and achieve zero hunger has put severe pressure on soil resources. Abandoned, degraded, and marginal lands with significant agricultural constraints—many still used for agricultural production—result from inappropriately intensive management, insufficient attention to soil conservation, and climate change. Continued use for agricultural production will often require ever more external inputs such as fertilizers and herbicides, further exacerbating soil degradation and impeding nutrient recycling and retention. Growing evidence suggests that degraded lands have a large potential for restoration, perhaps most effectively via perennial cropping systems that can simultaneously provide additional ecosystem services. Here we synthesize the advantages of and potentials for using perennial vegetation to restore soil fertility on degraded croplands, by summarizing the principal mechanisms underpinning soil carbon stabilization and nitrogen and phosphorus availability and retention. We illustrate restoration potentials with example systems that deliver climate mitigation (cellulosic bioenergy), animal production (intensive rotational grazing), and biodiversity conservation (natural ecological succession). Perennialization has substantial promise for restoring fertility to degraded croplands, helping to meet future food security needs.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Comment on “Review of experimental studies of secondary ice production” by Korolev and Leisner (2020)

Abstract. This is a comment on the review by Korolev and Leisner (2020, hereafter KL2020). The only two laboratory/field studies ever to measure the breakup in ice–ice collisions for in-cloud conditions were negatively criticised by KL2020, as were our subsequent theoretical and modelling studies informed by both studies. First, hypothetically, even without any further laboratory experiments, such theoretical and modelling studies would continue to be possible, based on classical mechanics and statistical physics. They are not sensitive to the accuracy of lab data for typical situations, partly because the nonlinear explosive growth of ice concentrations continues until some maximum concentration is reached. To a degree, the same final concentration is expected regardless of the fragment number per collision. Second, there is no evidence that both lab/field observational studies characterising fragmentation in ice–ice collisions are either mutually conflicting or erroneous such that they cannot be used to represent this breakup in numerical models, contrary to the review. The fact that the ice spheres of one experiment were hail sized (2 cm) is not a problem if a universal theoretical formulation, such as ours, with fundamental dependencies, is informed by it. Although both lab/field studies involved head-on collisions, rotational kinetic energy for all collisions generally is only a small fraction of the initial collision kinetic energy (CKE) anyway. Although both lab/field experiments involved fixed targets, that is not a problem since the fixing of the target is represented via CKE in any energy-based formulation such as ours. Finally, scaling analysis suggests that the breakup of ice during sublimation can make a significant contribution to ice enhancement in clouds, again contrary to the impression given by the review.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Operando Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging of LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 Primary Particles within Commercially Printed NMC811 Electrode Sheets

Due to complex degradation mechanisms, disparities between the theoretical and practical capacities of lithium-ion battery cathode materials persist. Specifically, Ni-rich chemistries such as LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 (or NMC811) are one of the most promising choices for automotive applications; however, they continue to suffer severe degradation during operation that is poorly understood, thus challenging to mitigate. Here in this paper we use operando Bragg coherent diffraction imaging for 4D analysis of these mechanisms by inspecting the individual crystals within primary particles at various states of charge (SoC). Although some crystals were relatively homogeneous, we consistently observed non-uniform distributions of inter- and intracrystal strain at all measured SoC. Pristine structures may already possess heterogeneities capable of triggering crystal splitting and subsequently particle cracking. During low-voltage charging (2.7–3.5 V), crystal splitting may still occur even during minimal bulk deintercalation activity; and during discharging, rotational effects within parallel domains appear to be the precursor for the nucleation of screw dislocations at the crystal core. Ultimately, this discovery of the central role of crystal grain splitting in the charge/discharge dynamics may have ramifications across length scales that affect macroscopic performance loss during real-world battery operation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Compact, portable, automatic sample changer stick for cryostats and closed-cycle refrigerators

Beamlines are facilities that produce and deliver highly focused and intense beams of radiation, typically x rays, synchrotron radiation, or neutrons, for scientific research purposes. Millions of dollars are spent annually to maintain and operate these scientific beamlines, oftentimes running continuously between cycles. To reduce human intervention and improve productivity, mechanical sample changers are often commissioned for use. Designing sample changers is difficult because mechanical parts can be bulky, expensive, and challenging to design for instruments with low volume access, high radiation, and cryogenic environments. We present a portable and inexpensive sample changer stick that can hold and manipulate up to four samples, specifically designed for use with cryogenic closed-cycle refrigerators. The sample changer stick enables rapid and efficient exchange of samples without manual intervention, and is compatible with standard sample mounts such as vanadium cans. The sample changer stick includes a motorized rotation and lancing mechanism, which enables the precise positioning of each sample in the neutron beam, while ensuring compatibility with the operating temperatures and vacuum conditions required for closed-cycle refrigerators. The design has been successfully tested at the VISION beamline at the Spallation Neutron Source. The mechanical action and software controls are detailed. Furthermore, the sample changer stick is a valuable tool for scientists working with cryogenic closed-cycle refrigerators.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The spatial and temporal evolution of the Portland and Tualatin forearc basins, Oregon, USA

The Portland and Tualatin basins are part of the Salish-Puget-Willamette Lowland, a 900-km-long, forearc depression lying between the volcanic arc and the Coast Ranges of the Cascadia convergent margin. Such inland seaways are characteristic of warm, young slab subduction. We analyzed the basins to better understand their evolution and relation to Coast Range history and to provide an improved tectonic framework for the Portland metropolitan area. We model three key horizons in the basins: (1) the top of the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG), (2) the bottom of the CRBG, and (3) the top of Eocene basement. Isochore maps constrain basin depocenters during (1) Pleistocene to mid-Miocene time (0–15 Ma), (2) CRBG (15.5–16.5 Ma), and (3) early Miocene to late Eocene (ca. 17–35 Ma) time. Results show that the Portland and Tualatin basins have distinct mid-Miocene to Quaternary depocenters but were one continuous basin from the Eocene until mid-Miocene time. A NW-striking gravity low coincident with the NW-striking, fault-bounded Portland Hills anticline is interpreted as an older graben coincident with observed thickening of CRBG flows and underlying sedimentary rocks. Neogene transpression in the forearc structurally inverted the Sylvan-Oatfield and Portland Hills normal faults as high-angle dextral-reverse faults, separating the Portland and Tualatin basins. An eastward shift of the forearc basin depocenter and ten-fold decrease in accommodation space provide temporal constraints on the emergence of the Coast Range to the west. Clockwise rotation and northward transport of the forearc is deforming the basins and producing local earthquakes beneath the metropolitan area.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Automatic Calibration and Health Monitoring of Infrastructure Sensors

Smart transportation infrastructure relies on networks of heterogeneous sensors - cameras, radars, and lidars - continuously monitoring traffic conditions. However, executing the initial spatial calibration of multiple sensors and the subsequent health monitoring presents significant operational challenges. Environmental factors, mechanical vibrations, and gradual drift cause spatial misalignment, degrading fusion performance and tracking accuracy. Traditional calibration approaches require manual intervention with specialized targets or survey equipment, resulting in service interruptions and high maintenance costs. This work presents an automated framework for initial calibration and continuous health monitoring without human intervention or service disruption. Our approach addresses two critical problems: (1) detecting when sensors become miscalibrated during operation, and (2) automatically re-establishing spatial alignment using only operational traffic data. The health monitoring component analyzes measurement innovations - differences between sensor observations and predicted object states - to detect systematic biases indicative of calibration drift. By computing bias magnitude, directional consistency, and rejection rates, the system identifies miscalibrations as small as 0.5 meters. Unlike traditional methods requiring known calibration targets, our diagnostic operates continuously on live traffic observations, enabling early detection before fusion quality degrades. The automatic recalibration algorithm leverages overlapping sensor fields-of-view and temporal correlation of vehicle observations. Using graph-based optimization, the system automatically discovers which sensor pairs observe common regions, estimates pairwise spatial transformations using RANSAC-based robust estimation, and jointly optimizes all sensor poses through bundle adjustment. The framework handles practical deployment challenges, including different sensor sampling rates (1-10 Hz), varying installation positions, unknown orientations, and limited overlap regions (>10%). When approximate sensor positions are available from installation surveys (+/-1m accuracy), the algorithm additionally estimates sensor orientations, refining both position and rotation to sub-meter and sub-degree accuracy. We validate the framework on multi-hour traffic datasets from six heterogeneous sensors with sampling rates ranging from 1 Hz to 10 Hz. Results demonstrate successful calibration even with sparse overlap (<20%) and automatic detection of miscalibrations exceeding 0.8 meters. This work enables a "deploy-and-forget" sensor infrastructure that maintains calibration autonomously, reducing maintenance costs while improving tracking accuracy. The techniques generalize beyond transportation to any multi-sensor monitoring application requiring robust spatial alignment, including smart cities, industrial monitoring, and surveillance systems.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Aerosol Vertical Turbulent Mass Flux Retrievals Through Novel Remote Sensing Algorithm

Abstract Integrated measurements of aerosol, radiation, cloud, and turbulent transport in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) are essential for understanding and modeling climate and air quality. Here, we developed a new technique for the identification of convective turbulent regions and deriving the vertical distribution of aerosol turbulent mass fluxes within PBL. The algorithm uses retrievals from coherent Doppler lidars and a high spectral resolution lidar. The technique was applied to study particle mass fluxes over 2 months (November–December 2020) during the campaign conducted at the DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Southern Great Plains (SGP) site in Lamont, Oklahoma. The algorithm developed here is capable of continuously deriving vertically resolved (curtains) aerosol mass fluxes. Our data analysis shows that at the site, the 30‐min averaged fluxes at 135 m above the surface were mainly positive (upward) at ∼1 μg m −2 s −1 , suggesting that the surface is the primary source of the particle mass supplied to the boundary layer at the SGP site. Analyses of the individual case studies have revealed that not all the derived fluxes can be linked to surface emissions. Both positive and negative values in a range of ±5 μg m −2 s −1 can be caused by convective thermals interacting between the residual layer and the mixed layer and by rotation of the horizontal wind with the height. Large erroneous negative fluxes can also be caused by drizzling/precipitating clouds. We anticipate that the application of the current technique will lead to a more realistic representation of aerosol mass budgets and bidirectional mixing rates.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗