Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Cape Cod”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

25 records · Page 2

Characterization of shallow ocean sediments using the airborne electromagnetic method

Experimental airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey data collected in Cape Cod Bay are used to derive continuous profiles of water depth, electrical depth, water conductivity, and bottom sediment conductivity. Through a few well-known empirical relationships, the conductivities are used, in turn, to derive density, porosity, sound speed, and acoustic reflectivity of the ocean bottom. A commercially available Dighem III AEM system was used for the survey without any significant modification. The helicopter-borne system operated at 385 and 7200 Hz; both were in a horizontal coplanar configuration. The interpreted profiles show good agreement with available ground truth data. Where no such data are available, the results appear to be very reasonable. Compared with the shipborne electrode array method, the AEM method can determine the necessary parameters at a much higher speed with a better lateral resolution over a wide range of water depths from 0 to perhaps 100 m. The bottom sediment conductivity that can be measured by the AEM method is closely related to physical properties of sediments, such as porosity, density, sound speed, and, indirectly, sediment types that might carry broad implications for various offshore activities.

Won, I. J.↗

Biogeochemistry of dimethylsulfide in a seasonally stratified coastal salt pond

Dimethylsulfide (DMS) is the major volatile reduced organic sulfur compound in the water column of coastal Salt Pond, Cape Cod, MA. DMS concentration and vertical distributions vary seasonally in response to changing biogeochemical processes in the pond. When the pond is thermally stratified in summer, maximum DMS concentrations of up to 60 nmol/l were found in the oxygen-deficient metalimnion. DMS concentrations in the epilimnion (typically 5-10 nmol/l) were always an order of magnitude higher than in the hypolimnion (less than 0.2 nmol/l). The most likely precursor for DMS is algal dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), which showed vertical profiles similar to those of DMS. Laboratory experiments show that microorganisms in the pond, especially in the metalimnion, are capable of decomposing DMSP to DMS, while photosynthetic sulfur bacteria in the hypolimnion can consume DMS. Estimates of DMS production and consumption in Salt Pond have been made, considering production of DMS in the epilimnion and metalimnion and removal of DMS via gas exchange to the atmosphere, tidal exchange, and microbial consumption in the hypolimnion.

Wakeham, S. G.↗

Acronema sippewissettensis Gen. Nov. Sp. Nov., microbial mat bicosoecid (Bicosoecales = Bicosoecida)

A heterotrophic mastigote from the flat laminated Microcoleus-dominated intertidal microbial mat at the Sippewissett salt marsh, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was isolated into monoprotist culture in the same anoxic medium that led to spirochete and other anaerobic bacterial enrichments. The protist grew vigorously and was transferred indefinitely in oxic marine medium. Videomicroscopy as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to document its features. The swimming and perching behavior, nutritional mode (bactivory) and morphology including ultra-structure identify it as an aloricate bicosoecid. The presence of heteromorphic acronematic undulipodia, bilateral bipartite tubular mastigonemes, absence of a cytostome, absence of extrusomes, and presence of "Dauerstadien" (duration stages) distinguish this from other Cafeteriaceae bicosoecids. Cell division involves a closed intranuclear spindle. The unspecialized bicosoecid morphology and behavior juxtaposed with oomycete-like vesicles and mastigonemes suggest that this protist may be an extant descendant of a common ancestor of bicosoecids and other stramenopiles (e.g. labyrinthulids, thraustochytrids and oomycetes). A new genus and species, Acronema sippewissettensis, are proposed.

Non-NASA Center↗

A13K-0336: Airborne Multi-Wavelength High Spectral Resolution Lidar for Process Studies and Assessment of Future Satellite Remote Sensing Concepts

NASA Langley recently developed the world's first airborne multi-wavelength high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL). This lidar employs the HSRL technique at 355 and 532 nm to make independent, unambiguous retrievals of aerosol extinction and backscatter. It also employs the standard backscatter technique at 1064 nm and is polarization-sensitive at all three wavelengths. This instrument, dubbed HSRL-2 (the secondgeneration HSRL developed by NASA Langley), is a prototype for the lidar on NASA's planned Aerosols- Clouds-Ecosystems (ACE) mission. HSRL-2 completed its first science mission in July 2012, the Two-Column Aerosol Project (TCAP) conducted by the Department of Energy (DOE) in Hyannis, MA. TCAP presents an excellent opportunity to assess some of the remote sensing concepts planned for ACE: HSRL-2 was deployed on the Langley King Air aircraft with another ACE-relevant instrument, the NASA GISS Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP), and flights were closely coordinated with the DOE's Gulfstream-1 aircraft, which deployed a variety of in situ aerosol and trace gas instruments and the new Spectrometer for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research (4STAR). The DOE also deployed their Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Mobile Facility and their Mobile Aerosol Observing System at a ground site located on the northeastern coast of Cape Cod for this mission. In this presentation we focus on the capabilities, data products, and applications of the new HSRL-2 instrument. Data products include aerosol extinction, backscatter, depolarization, and optical depth; aerosol type identification; mixed layer depth; and rangeresolved aerosol microphysical parameters (e.g., effective radius, index of refraction, single scatter albedo, and concentration). Applications include radiative closure studies, studies of aerosol direct and indirect effects, investigations of aerosol-cloud interactions, assessment of chemical transport models, air quality studies, present (e.g., CALIPSO) and future (e.g., EarthCARE) satellite calibration/validation, and development/assessment of advanced retrieval techniques for future satellite applications (e.g., lidar+polarimeter retrievals of aerosol and cloud properties). We will also discuss the relevance of HSRL-2 measurement capabilities to the ACE remote sensing concept.

Hostetler, Chris A.↗

Electrification Within Wintertime Stratiform Regions Sampled During the 2020/2022 NASA IMPACTS Field Campaign

Two nor'easter events—sampled during the NASA Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) field campaign—were examined to characterize the microphysics in relation to the underlying electrification processes within wintertime stratiform regions. A theoretical model was developed to determine whether accretion or diffusion growth regimes were preferential during periods of greatest electrification. Model simulation with electrification parameterization was used to provide supplemental context to the physical processes of in-cloud microphysics and electrification. The strongest electric fields (i.e., ∼80 V m −1 at 20 km) during the 2020 NASA IMPACTS deployment was associated with large non-rimed ice crystals colliding with each other. During the 29–30 January 2022 science flight, the NASA P-3 microphysical probe data demonstrated that non-inductive charging was possible off the coastline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Later in the science flight, when the NASA P-3 and ER-2 were coordinating with each other, measured electric fields consistently were less than 8 V m −1 and electrification was subdued owing to reduced concentrations of graupel and large ice hydrometeors. Altogether, the in-situ observations provide evidence for the non-riming collisional charging mechanism and demonstrates that graupel and supercooled liquid water may not be necessary for weak electrification within wintertime stratiform regions. Model output from simulation of both events suggested that the main synoptic snowbands were associated with elevated hydrometeor snow charge density and electric fields.

snowfall↗

Powering the Blue Economy: Economics of Marine Renewable Energy Systems

This presentation, part of the Policy and Innovation Drivers Shaping the Market for Marine Renewable Energy panel of the 2020 Marine Renewable Energy Conference: On and Off the Grid, moderated by Leslie-Ann McGee, Assistant Director of the Consortium for Marine Robotics at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Program Manager, Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation, delves into government policies incentivizing technological advances, collaborative models for technology development, market trends, and permitting hurdles. Panelists include: Jennifer Garson, Senior Advisor, U.S. Dept. of Energy Lead for the Powering the Blue Economy Initiative; Henry Jeffrey, Chairman of the Technology Collaboration Programme for Ocean Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh; Alf Carroll, SBIR Blackbelt and Ocean Energy SME, Raytheon Technologies; Walter Schurtenberger, Founder, Hydrokinetic Energy Corp.; and Dale "Scott" Jenne, Engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

50 EE - Wind and Water Power Program - Water (EE-4↗

Preliminary Evaluation of Removing SNF from Nuclear Power Plant Sites - Pilgrim Site Visit - 20048

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Integrated Waste Management (DOE-IWM)a conducted an evaluation of removing spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from the Pilgrim site on November 4-8, 2019. The Pilgrim site is located on the western shore of Cape Cod Bay in the Town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, about 61 km southeast of Boston and 71 km east of Providence, Rhode Island. Participants in the site visit included the U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the state of Massachusetts, the Federal Railroad Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the Consolidated Group of Tribes and Organizations, the Council of State Governments-Eastern Regional Conference, the Pilgrim Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel, and the Massachusetts Coastal Railroad. The Pilgrim site was found to have two transportation mode options for the removal of SNF, offsite rail access and onsite barge access. Two offsite heavy haul truck to rail transload locations were evaluated, one in Middleborough, Massachusetts, about 35-47 km from the Pilgrim site, and a second location in Middleborough about 36-43 km from the Pilgrim site. A passenger railroad terminates in Plymouth, Massachusetts, about 11 km from the Pilgrim site; however, this location is not suitable for freight rail involving large SNF transportation casks. There is also an onsite barge facility located on the Pilgrim site that was used during construction and would require refurbishment to be used. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗