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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 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Use of acoustic wave travel-time measurements to probe the near-surface layers of the Sun

The variation of solar p-mode travel times with cyclic frequency nu is shown to provide information on both the radial variation of the acoustic potential and the depth of the effective source of the oscillations. Observed travel-time data for waves with frequency lower than the acoustic cutoff frequency for the solar atmosphere (approximately equals 5.5 mHz) are inverted to yield the local acoustic cutoff frequency nu(sub c) as a function of depth in the outer convection zone and lower atmosphere of the Sun. The data for waves with nu greater than 5.5 mHz are used to show that the source of the p-mode oscillations lies approximately 100 km beneath the base of the photosphere. This depth is deeper than that determined using a standard mixing-length calculation.

Jefferies, S. M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The influence of platform attitude dynamics on the Doppler frequency synthesis of SIR-B ocean data near Hurricane Josephine

The Space Shuttle Challenger was maneuvered into an SAR data-acquisition mode to capture a SIR-B scene of Hurricane Josephine, which presented itself as an unscheduled target of opportunity during NASA Mission 41-G during October 1984. Steeply sloped seas approaching 10 m in height were observed several hundred km in advance of the hurricane track. Mission attitude data indicate that the Shuttle pitch, roll, and yaw were unstable during the data take. The statistical clutterlock used by the ground SAR processor yields a Doppler frequency estimate that tracks the Shuttle yaw variation but is ambiguous with a single discontinuity equal to one multiple of the radar pulse repetition frequency. The SIR-B signal data have been compressed under several Doppler parameterizations to investigate the ambiguity of the clutterlock. Resultant ocean images are analyzed for their contrast and resolution properties.

Tilley, David G.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Hot or Not? An Evaluation of Methods for Identifying Hot Moments of Nitrous Oxide Emissions From Soils

Abstract Effectively quantifying hot moments of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions from agricultural soils is critical for managing this potent greenhouse gas. However, we are challenged by a lack of standard approaches for identifying hot moments, including (a) determining thresholds above which emissions are considered hot moments, and (b) considering seasonal variation in the magnitude and frequency distribution of net N 2 O fluxes. We used one year of hourly N 2 O flux measurements from 16 autochambers that varied in flux magnitude and frequency distribution in a conventionally tilled maize field in central Illinois, USA, to compare three approaches to identify hot moment thresholds: standard deviations (SD) above the mean, 1.5x the interquartile range (IQR), and isolation forest (IF) identification of anomalous values. We also compared these approaches on seasonally subdivided data (early, late, and non‐growing seasons) versus the whole year. Our analyses revealed that 1.5x IQR method best identified N 2 O hot moments. In contrast, using 2 or 4 SD both yielded hot moment threshold values too high, and IF yielded threshold values too low, leading to missed N 2 O hot moments or low net N 2 O fluxes mischaracterized as hot moments, respectively. Furthermore, seasonally subdividing the data set not only facilitated identification of smaller hot moments in the late‐ and non‐growing seasons when N 2 O hot moments were generally smaller but it also increased hot moment threshold values in the early growing season when N 2 O hot moments were larger. Consequently, of the methods evaluated here, we recommend using the 1.5x IQR method on whole year data sets to identify N 2 O hot moments.

Stuchiner, Emily R. [Institute for Sustainability,↗
DOE OSTI2025

Cold-air outbreaks in the continental US: Connections with stratospheric variations

Mid-latitude Northern Hemisphere extreme cold events continue to occur despite overall winter warming trends. These events have been linked to weakened stratospheric polar vortex (SPV) states. In this study, we analyze both the upper and lower polar stratosphere for links to extreme winter cold and snow in the continental US, finding two SPV variations of interest. The first features an upper-level vortex displaced toward western Canada and linked to northwestern US severe winter weather. The second features a weakened upper-level vortex displaced toward the North Atlantic and linked to central-eastern US severe winter weather. Both variations feature lower-level stretched vortices and stratospheric wave reflection. Since 2015, a northwestward shift in severe winter weather across the US is concurrent with an increase in the frequency of the westward-focused variation relative to the eastward-focused variation and a shift to more negative phases of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2020

A Climatology of Marine Boundary Layer Cloud and Drizzle Properties derived from Ground-based Observations over the Azores

In this study, more than four years of ground-based observations and retrievals were collected and analyzed to investigate the seasonal and diurnal variations of single-layered MBL (with three subsets: non-drizzling, virga and rain) cloud and drizzle properties, as well as their vertical and horizontal variations. The annual mean drizzle frequency was ~55%, with ~70% in winter and ~45% in summer. The cloud-top (-base) height for rain clouds was the highest (lowest), resulted in the deepest cloud layer (0.8 km), which is four (two) times of non-drizzling (virga) clouds. The retrieved cloud-droplet effective radii (rc) were the largest (smallest) for rain (non-drizzling) clouds, and the nighttime values were greater than the daytime values. Drizzle number concentration (Nd) and liquid water content (LWCd) were three and one order(s) lower than their cloud counterparts. The rc and LWCc increased from the cloud base to ???? = ~0.75 by condensational growth, while drizzle median radii (rd) increased from the cloud top downwards the cloud base by collision-coalescence. The adiabaticity values monotonically increased from the cloud top to the cloud base with maxima of ~0.7 (0.3) for non-drizzling (rain) clouds. The drizzling process decreases the adiabaticity by 0.25 to 0.4, and the cloud-top entrainment mixing impacts as deep as upper 40% of the cloud layers. Cloud and drizzle homogeneities decreased with increased horizontal sampling lengths. Cloud homogeneity increases with increasing cloud fraction. These results can serve as baselines for studying MBL cloud-to-rain conversion and growth processes over the Azores.

Wu, Peng↗
DOE OSTI2020

TAILORED BIOBLENDSTOCKS WITH LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TO OPTIMIZE MCCI ENGINES

The overall objective of the project is to develop and demonstrate a microalgae bio-blendstock with greater than 60% greenhouse gas reduction potential relative to petroleum diesel, that can reduce sooting propensity, increase cetane number and improve engine thermal efficiency relative to a baseline diesel engine operating on conventional fuel. Specific objectives include: (1) development of a new framework for both LCA and TEA that explicitly considers temporal variation in productivity and the frequency of crop loss; (2) determination of how fuel compounds that can be produced from the algal biomass can be ‘bio-tailored’ based on the species composition and biological production process, and subsequent processing via HTL to biocrude, and upgrading of the biocrude; (3) execution of a feedback loop (algae production  biocrude refining  combustion optimization  feedback to refining stage), for optimization of fuels for MCCI combustion; (4) optimization of MCCI combustion and emissions performance, accounting first for the biological processes that dictate the chemical composition of biocrude oil, and second for the subsequent chemical processes that comprise mixing controlled compression ignition combustion; (6) simulation of MCCI engine combustion processes to demonstrate the incorporation of relevant fuel chemistry that captures the specific impacts of optimized algal fuels.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Tailored Bioblendstocks with Low Environmental Impact to Optimize MCCI Engines

The overall objective of the project is to develop and demonstrate a microalgae bio-blendstock with greater than 60% greenhouse gas reduction potential relative to petroleum diesel, that can reduce sooting propensity, increase cetane number and improve engine thermal efficiency relative to a baseline diesel engine operating on conventional fuel. Specific objectives include: (1) development of a new framework for both LCA and TEA that explicitly considers temporal variation in productivity and the frequency of crop loss; (2) determination of how fuel compounds that can be produced from the algal biomass can be ‘bio-tailored’ based on the species composition and biological production process, and subsequent processing via HTL to biocrude, and upgrading of the biocrude; (3) execution of a feedback loop (algae production  biocrude refining  combustion optimization  feedback to refining stage), for optimization of fuels for MCCI combustion; (4) optimization of MCCI combustion and emissions performance, accounting first for the biological processes that dictate the chemical composition of biocrude oil, and second for the subsequent chemical processes that comprise mixing controlled compression ignition combustion; (6) simulation of MCCI engine combustion processes to demonstrate the incorporation of relevant fuel chemistry that captures the specific impacts of optimized algal fuels.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Seismic Observations of the OSIRIS-REx Sample Return Capsule Reentry: Deployment, Signal Characteristics, and Wavefield Phenomenology

Controlled spacecraft reentries from interplanetary trajectories provide rare, well-characterized hypersonic sources for advancing seismoacoustic observation techniques. Here we present seismic observations of the OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule (SRC) reentry on 24 September 2023, recorded by 16 three-component nodal seismometers deployed near Eureka, Nevada, at ground distances of 7–20 km from the capsule trajectory. Air-to-ground coupled signals are detected at all stations, exhibiting impulsive onsets consistent with ballistic shock arrivals from the descending Mach cone. We characterize the seismic wavefield through signal amplitude, period, waveform cross-correlation, and array processing. Signal periods decrease systematically with increasing distance from the trajectory within the airport array, indicating that higher-frequency content becomes more prominent at greater offsets, opposite to expectations from geometric spreading and atmospheric absorption. Seismic array processing identifies frequency-dependent back-azimuth variations whose origin remains unresolved; possible contributing factors include source geometry, scattering by fine-scale layered structure in the stratosphere, and near-surface effects. These observations document a spatially complex seismic wavefield from a well-characterized hypersonic line source and provide constraints for future modeling of atmospheric propagation and air-to-ground coupling.

OSIRIS-REx↗
DOE OSTI2020

Radiation and Polarization Signatures from Magnetic Reconnection in Relativistic Jets. I. A Systematic Study

Blazars are relativistic magnetized plasma outflows from supermassive black holes that point very close to our line of sight. Their emission is nonthermal-dominated and highly variable across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Relativistic magnetic reconnection has been proposed as the driver of particle acceleration during blazar flares. While recent particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations have self-consistently studied the evolution of magnetic reconnection and particle acceleration therein, the resulting radiation signatures have not been systematically explored. In particular, the polarization signatures, which directly reflect the characteristic strongly dynamical evolution of magnetic field during reconnection, have not been carefully investigated. In this paper, we present a systematic study of radiation and polarization signatures arising from magnetic reconnection in blazars, based on combined PIC and polarized radiation transfer simulations with various physical parameters. We identify a harder-when-brighter trend in the spectral evolution. Moreover, higher-frequency bands (ultraviolet to X-ray) tend to flare earlier than lower-frequency bands (infrared to optical) in the synchrotron spectral component. Most importantly, polarization signatures appear more variable with higher frequencies. We find that the variation in temporal polarization depends strongly on the guide field strength. Specifically, reconnection with a significant guide field component leads to a very high polarization degree that contradicts typical blazar observations, while large polarization angle rotations are unique signatures of magnetic reconnection between nearly antiparallel magnetic field lines. These rotations are at least 90° and can extend to >180°, and they may be in either direction. Furthermore, these results imply that blazars that have shown large polarization angle rotations intrinsically have more nearly antiparallel magnetic field morphology.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1965

Microwave technique measures plasma characteristics

Plasma electron density and temperature distribution are measured by passing a high frequency millimeter wave through plasma. Variations in density and temperature are determined by measuring insertion loss as the plasma travels between the microwave transmitting and receiving antennas.

Leonard, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Parameters influencing dynamic stability characteristics of Viking-type entry configurations at Mach 1.76.

Free-oscillation tests of three Viking-type blunt conical configurations were conducted in a wind tunnel to determine the important variables influencing their dynamic stability characteristics at Mach 1.76. The effects of sting geometry are shown to be significant at low angles of attack, while the effects of cross plane motions and tunnel vibration characteristics appear to be negligible. Variation of the reduced-frequency parameter and model base geometry caused significant effects in the data. An approximate technique was developed for converting effective data from either forced-oscillation or free-oscillation tests to values based on the instantaneous angle of attack.

Whitlock, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Possible explanation for nonthermal radio noise from binary stars.

Radio emission from the binary stars alpha-Sco, beta-Per, and beta-Lyr is interpreted as due to the mass exchange between the components. The electrons in the inflowing stream excite plasma waves near the surface of the receptor star, and these waves generate radio emission. Crude predictions of radio frequency, intensity, and timescales of variation seem compatible with current observations.

Jones, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Propagation of plane waves in a variable area duct carrying a compressible subsonic flow

A complete numerical solution is obtained for plane wave propagation in a variable-area duct which carries a mean compressible flow. The equation solved is a matrix formulation of the equations first derived by Tsien in 1952. Sample calculations are presented for four particular flow configurations: (1) a duct-nozzle-duct combination with the acoustic wave traveling with the flow, (2) a duct-nozzle-duct combination with the acoustic wave traveling against the flow, (3) an inlet-nozzle-duct configuration with the acoustic wave traveling against the flow, and (4) a duct-nozzle-exit configuration with the acoustic wave traveling with the flow. For each of these cases, the variation of energy flux with frequency is shown for particular geometry and flow condition.

Davis, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Precision timing and Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI)

The use of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) for investigating small angular features in galactic and extragalactic radio sources is discussed. Mathematical models are developed to describe the operation of an interferometer and to show the variations in the resultant fringe frequency. The types of sources to which the interferometer will respond are identified.

Clark, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Surface pressure and wake flow fluctuations in a supercritical airfoil flowfield

Nonsteady features of a Whitcomb-type supercritical airfoil flowfield were studied in a series of transonic wind tunnel experiments. Data consisted of mean and fluctuating pressures on the airfoil and in the free stream, velocity fluctuations in the wake region, and airfoil vibrations. Fluctuation data were analyzed statistically for intensity, frequency content, and spatial coherence; variations in these parameters were correlated with changes in the mean airfoil flowfield. Surface pressure fluctuation intensity was influenced primarily by the location and motion of the upper-surface shock, the existence of separation, and (downstream of the shock) the development and upstream propagation of 'shocklets'. Power spectra of pressure fluctuations showed characteristics differences up- and downstream of the shock. Chordwise and spanwise coherences were considerably reduced in the presence of separation. Downwash fluctuations at the edge of the wake were noticeably affected only by the development of trailing-edge flow separation.

Roos, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

OSO-7 observations of solar X-rays in the energy range 10-100 keV

Data on 123 hard X-ray bursts observed by the satellite OSO-7 between Oct. 10, 1971 and June 6, 1972 are described and evaluated. Typical duration of a burst is 100 sec. Average spectral indices lie between 3.5 and 5.5 for two-thirds of the 123 bursts, with a median of 4.6. In some events a soft-hard-soft pattern is observed, but there are numerous examples in which the spectrum softens continuously throughout the burst. The mean shape of the hard X-ray time profile as measured by the full width at half maximum does not depend on burst amplitude; nor does the spectral hardness correlate with the flux. The distribution of burst peak fluxes and the observation of large soft X-ray bursts without accompanying hard X rays suggest the existence of a distinct class of solar flares which emit only soft X rays. No center-to-limb variation was found in the frequency of occurrence of bursts or in the fraction with a nonthermal component. Estimates of the energy in the form of nonthermal electrons and in the flare plasma derived from these data indicate that the total amounts in each are comparable.

Datlowe, D. W.↗