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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 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2025

Converter Compressor Building, SWMU 089 Monitoring Well 21 Area Implementation Work Plan Kennedy Space Center, Florida

This Implementation Work Plan (IWP) was prepared by Tetra Tech, Inc., for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract 80KSC019D0011/80KSC019F0070, for the implementation of a bioremediation Interim Measure (IM) at the Converter Compressor Building (CCB) site located at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. The location of CCB within KSC is shown on Figure A-1. CCB has been designated as Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) 089 under KSC’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action Program. The overall Corrective Action Objective (CAO) for CCB is to reduce concentrations of trichloroethene (TCE), cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE), trans-1,2-dichloroethene (tDCE), and vinyl chloride (VC) to less than State of Florida Groundwater Cleanup Target Levels (GCTLs). The objective for the IM associated with this IM is to reduce groundwater concentrations for the contaminants of concern (COCs) to less than their Natural Default Attenuation Concentrations (NADCs) within the Monitoring Well 21 Area (herein referred to as MW21 Area) via bioremediation injections to support transition to long term monitoring (LTM). This IWP describes the activities that will be performed for the treatment of the MW21 Area. The Revision 1 CCB MW21 Area Interim Measure Work Plan (IMWP; NASA, 2024), which was approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) on December 26, 2024, was used as the design basis for this IWP.

Mark Jonnet↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Grid Value of Ocean Current Energy in Florida: Preprint

Ocean current technology has been proposed as a potential contributor to Florida's energy portfolio. There has been limited investigation of how this energy would be valued when integrated into the Florida electrical grid. This study assesses three future grid scenarios to evaluate the impact of adding ocean current to each. NREL's capacity expansion model, Resource Planning Model, is used to identify the least-cost generation mix through 2050, with and without ocean current. The first scenario, Business as Usual, Base case assuming current policies, ocean current does not replace fossil-based technologies. In the second scenario, we allow solar and storage to have lower costs than the first scenario which allows ocean current to retire gas earlier and more variable generation technologies to be deployed. In the third scenario, the Florida carbon constraint 95 by 2050 from 2020 levels case, ocean current can play a bigger role in decarbonization than the two other cases when coupled with other technologies.

capacity expansion model↗
DOE OSTI2025

Passive Acoustic Monitoring Provides Insights into Avian Use of Energycane Cropping Systems in Southern Florida

Birds are important indicators of ecosystem health and provide a range of benefits to society. It is important, therefore, to understand the impacts of agricultural land use changes on bird populations. The cultivation of energycane (EC)—a sugarcane hybrid—for biofuel production represents one form of agricultural land use change in southern Florida. We used passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) to examine bird community use of experimental EC fields and other agricultural land uses at two study sites in southern Florida. We deployed 16 acoustic recorders in different study plots and used the automatic species identifier BirdNET to identify 40 focal bird species. We found seasonal differences in daily avian species diversity and richness between EC experimental plots and reference agricultural fields (corn fields, orchards, pastureland), and between time periods (pre-planting, post-planting). Daily avian species diversity and richness were lower in the EC experimental plots during Fall and Winter months when plants reached maximum height (>400 cm in some areas). Despite seasonal differences in daily measures of species diversity and richness, we found no differences in cumulative species richness, suggesting that there may be little overall (season-long) effects of EC production. These findings could provide insight to avian seasonal habitat preferences and underscore the potential limitations of PAM in areas experiencing dynamic vegetation changes. More research is needed to better understand if utilization of EC cropping systems results in positive or negative effects on avian populations (e.g., foraging habitat quality, predator–prey dynamics, nest success).

BirdNET↗
NASA NTRS2020

Variation of Florida scrub vegetation along gradients of soil pH and landscape age on a barrier island complex

Florida scrub is a fire-maintained shrub vegetation of well-drained, sandy soils associated with ridge systems that originated as coastal dunes. It is unique to Florida and supports many rare plants and animals. Between 1992 and 2005, we sampled 30 stands of long-unburned scrub with 196 line-intercept transects (15 m length) across the Merritt Island-Cape Canaveral barrier island complex where dune ridges range from relatively recent to > 30,000 years old with a range of soil leaching and reaction. These data allow us to determine the relationships of landscape age and soil reaction on community composition. We recorded community composition in < 0.5 m and > 0.5 m height strata. We determined mapped soil type for all transects; for 151 transects we determined soil pH of the 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm layers. Hierarchical cluster analysis of stands (N=30) and transects (N=196) using 41 species (of 53) present in > 2 transects gave two groups: coastal scrub with Quercus virginiana (shrub form) and Serenoa repens as dominant species on the most alkaline soils, and oak-saw palmetto scrub with Quercus chapmanii, Quercus geminata, Quercus myrtifolia, and S. repens on the strongly to somewhat acidic soils. Direct gradient analysis indicated that dominant species except S. repens varied from acidic to alkaline soils. Indicator species analysis identified seven species that indicated acidic soils and five that indicated alkaline soils (P < 0.01). Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordination at the stand level separated the two groups along the first axis, and NMS ordination of the transect data showed the gradient of coastal to oak-saw palmetto scrub. Position of transects on the first axis was related to soil pH class, and to measured pH of the 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm layers. Soils show a progressive leaching of shell material from the surface horizons followed by podsolization; this process takes > 4,000 years. Our results indicate substantial differences between the community composition of scrub vegetation on recent alkaline soils compared to leached acidic soils.

Barrier island↗
NASA NTRS2022

Quantifying Mangrove Canopy Regrowth and Recovery After Hurricane Irma With Large-Scale Repeat Airborne Lidar in the Florida Everglades

Hurricane Irma caused significant damages to mangrove forested wetlands in south Florida, including defoliation, tree snapping, and uprooting. Previous studies have used optical satellite imagery to estimate large-scale forest disturbance and resilience patterns. However, satellite images alone cannot provide measurements of vertical mangrove structure. In this study, we used dense point cloud data collected by NASA Goddard’s LiDAR, Hyperspectral, and Thermal (G-LiHT) airborne imager before (March 2017) and after (December 2017 and March 2020) Hurricane Irma to quantify the recovery, or lack thereof, of the three-dimensional (3D) mangrove forest structure. Recent resilience and vulnerability models developed from Landsat time series following the storm were used to group the lidar data into distinct disturbance-recovery classes. We then analyzed lidar-based forest canopy within each of the recovery classes to test a suite of forest structural characteristics. Our results indicate that 77.0 % of the survey area experienced canopy height loss three months after Hurricane Irma, whereby the majority of canopy height loss occurred in areas with the tallest mangrove forests (i.e., 15–25 m tall). Our analysis shows that the mangrove canopy height in South Florida increased by an average 0.26 m from December 2017 to March 2020, with most of the forest (84.7 % of the survey area) experiencing canopy height regrowth. However, only 38.1 % of the survey area has recovered to pre-storm canopy height. The distribution of canopy height was significantly altered by Hurricane Irma in the low and intermediate resilience classes, but were not significantly different 2.5 years later. Indeed, in areas of low resilience, little to no vertical change has occurred suggesting the absence of canopy regrowth and natural regeneration. Conversely, mangroves in high resilience class, which are dominated by shorter canopies (<5 m), were not heavily damaged by the storm and have maintained the same structural attributes as those before Hurricane Irma. Our findings highlight that hurricane disturbances significantly alter mangrove forest canopy structure, but recovery of vertical structure varies by resilience classes, species composition, and canopy height.

Lidar↗
DOE OSTI2024

Future Climate Projections for South Florida: Improving the Accuracy of Air Temperature and Precipitation Extremes With a Hybrid Statistical Bias Correction Technique

Projecting future climate variables is essential for comprehending the potential impacts on hydroclimatic hazards like floods and droughts. Evaluating these impacts is challenging due to the coarse spatial resolution of global climate models (GCMs); therefore, bias correction is widely used. Here, we applied two statistical methods—standard empirical quantile mapping (EQM) and a hybrid approach, EQM with linear correction (EQM-LIN)—to bias correct precipitation and air temperature simulated by nine GCMs. We used historical observations from 20 weather stations across South Florida to project future climate under three shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). Compared to the EQM, the hybrid EQM-LIN method improved R 2 of daily quantiles by up to 30% over the historical period and improved MAE up to 70% in months that contain most extreme values. Projected extreme precipitation at the weather stations showed that, compared to the EQM-LIN, the EQM method underestimates the high quantiles by up to 26% in SSP585. The projected changes in annual maximum precipitation from historical period (1985–2014) to near future (2040–2069) and far future (2070–2100) were between 2% and 16% across the study area. Projected future precipitation suggested a slight decrease during summer but an increase in fall. This, along with rising summer temperatures, suggested that South Florida can experience rapid oscillations from warmer summers and increased flooding in fall under future climate. Additionally, our comparative analyses with globally and nationally downscaled studies showed that such coarse scale studies do not represent the climatic extremes well, particularly for high quantile precipitation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Grid Value of Ocean Current Energy in Florida

Ocean current energy technology has been proposed as a potential contributor to Florida's energy portfolio. There has been limited investigation of how this energy would be valued when integrated into the Florida electrical grid. This study assesses three future grid scenarios to evaluate the impact of adding zero-cost ocean current energy to each. The Resource Planning Model, a tool developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is used to identify the least-cost generation mix through 2050, with and without ocean current energy. The first scenario is a base case and assumes existing policies in which the addition of ocean current energy does not retire fossil-based technologies but variable generation technologies. In the second scenario, solar and storage technologies are lower cost, and the addition of ocean current generation enables those technologies along with wind to retire existing natural gas units earlier. In the third scenario, which requires a 95% reduction in carbon emissions from 2020 levels by 2050, ocean current energy can play a role in decarbonization along with other variable generation technologies. This analysis is intended to inform stakeholders on the opportunity, potential challenges, and overall value to the grid of ocean current technology from a reliability and availability focused perspective.

capacity expansion model↗
DOE OSTI2026

2000 Southeast Florida Regional Travel Characteristics

The Southeast Florida Regional Travel Characteristics Study (Travel 2000) provided the needed observed travel information for developing planning tools for a three-county region of Southeast Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach). Data collection efforts began in December 1998 and were completed in September 1999. Travel logs were collected for 5,168 households, which included all travel by all residents for one day. In addition, approximately 10,000 bus riders were surveyed, and visitors were surveyed at 79 hotels. Trucking information was gathered from 848 commercial establishments using trucks. Workers were surveyed at seven major employment areas in the three counties.

1Hz data↗
NASA NTRS1972

High altitude color photography as a tool for regional analysis: As demonstrated for southeastern Florida

High altitude color and color infrared photography of the tri-county region of southeast Florida made it feasible to evaluate its potential for quantifying the dimensions of regional change. Attention was focused upon three main aspects of change in the region, which in fact overlap. These were; (1) the transformation of the southeast Florida wetlands; (2) the expansion of agriculture; and (3) the growth of the urbanized area. The development analyzed covered the period of thirteen years from 1956 to 1969. Results using this new 18 km photography were superior because of the degree of resolution, the combined power of color and color infrared interpretation, and the large area covered by each frame. The greatest advantage of high altitude imagery is the time-saving element, since it is possible to delineate and identify major geographic patterns over thousands of sq km very rapidly.

Eyre, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Discrimination of fluoride and phosphate contamination in central Florida for analyses of environmental effects

A study was made of the spatial registration of fluoride and phosphate pollution parameters in central Florida by utilizing remote sensing techniques. Multispectral remote sensing data were collected over the area and processed to produce multispectral recognition maps. These processed data were used to map land areas and waters containing concentrations of fluoride and phosphate. Maps showing distribution of affected and unaffected vegetation were produced. In addition, the multispectral data were processed by single band radiometric slicing to produce radiometric maps used to delineate areas of high ultraviolet radiance, which indicates high fluoride concentrations. The multispectral parameter maps and radiometric maps in combination showed distinctive patterns, which are correlated with areas known to be affected by fluoride and phosphate contamination. These remote sensing techniques have the potential for regional use to assess the environmental impact of fluoride and phosphate wastes in central Florida.

Coker, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Water-management models in Florida from ERTS-1 data

A prototype multiparameter data acquisition network, installed and operated by the U.S. Geological Survey is a viable approach for obtaining near real-time data needed to solve hydrologic problems confronting nearly 2.5 million residents of south Florida. Selected water quantity and quality data obtained from ground stations are transmitted for relay via ERTS-1 to NASA receiving stations in virtual real time. This data relay system has been very reliable and, by coupling the ground information with ERTS imagery, a modeling technique is available for water resource management in south Florida. An ecological model has been designed for the Shark River Slough in Everglades National Park.

Higer, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Electric radiation fields of lightning return strokes in three isolated Florida thunderstorms

Peak value and risetime distributions for the electric radiation fields produced by lightning strokes to ground in three isolated Florida thunderstorms are presented. The storm at 195 km produced about 1000 return strokes having an average peak radiation field (normalized to 100 km) of about 5.5 V/m, the storm at 110 km produced about 700 strokes having 2.0 V/m, and the storm within 10 km produced about 100 strokes having 15.0 V/m. For each storm the average peak radiation field for first strokes was only slightly greater than the average peak field for subsequent strokes. For the sample of three storms the average peak radiation field in a given storm was proportional to the number of subsequent strokes per flash in that storm. The field risetimes for the two distant storms have statistical properties which are essentially identical to those reported for distant storms in Pennsylvania, whereas the close Florida storm exhibited significantly faster risetimes.

Lin, Y. T.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Electrostatic field changes produced by Florida lightning

The electrical behavior of thunderstorms triggered by local heating and sea-breeze convergence, a low pressure disturbance, and a weak frontal passage has been studied at the NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida. A nonlinear least-squares minimization procedure has been developed to describe changes in the total electrostatic field produced by lightning in terms of point charge models for the cloud charge distributions. The results indicate that discharges to ground usually neutralize cloud charges in the range from -10 to -40 C. The computed charge altitudes for Florida are somewhat higher than for other geographical locations, 6 to 9.5 km, but the corresponding ambient air temperatures, -10 to -34 C, are similar. A large fraction of the discharges to ground show total field changes which are small or even reversed in polarity within 3 km of the discharges. It is suggested that ground discharges often neutralize a small positive charge, 0.5 to 4 C at altitudes of 1 to 3 km, in addition to the larger negative charge higher in the cloud.

Jacobson, E. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Economic consequences of improved temperature forecasts: An experiment with the Florida citrus growers (control group results)

A demonstration experiment is being planned to show that frost and freeze prediction improvements are possible utilizing timely Synchronous Meteorological Satellite temperature measurements and that this information can affect Florida citrus grower operations and decisions. An economic experiment was carried out which will monitor citrus growers' decisions, actions, costs and losses, and meteorological forecasts and actual weather events and will establish the economic benefits of improved temperature forecasts. A summary is given of the economic experiment, the results obtained to date, and the work which still remains to be done. Specifically, the experiment design is described in detail as are the developed data collection methodology and procedures, sampling plan, data reduction techniques, cost and loss models, establishment of frost severity measures, data obtained from citrus growers, National Weather Service, and Federal Crop Insurance Corp., resulting protection costs and crop losses for the control group sample, extrapolation of results of control group to the Florida citrus industry and the method for normalization of these results to a normal or average frost season so that results may be compared with anticipated similar results from test group measurements.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1981

Use of thermal inertia determined by HCMM to predict nocturnal cold prone areas in Florida

The HCMM transparency scenes for the available winter of 1978-1979 were evaluated; scenes were identified on processed magnetic tapes; other remote sensing information was identified; and a soil heat flux model with variable-depth thermal profile was developed. The Image 100 system was used to compare HCMM and GOES transparent images of surface thermal patterns. Excellent correspondence of patterns was found, with HCMM giving the greater resolution. One image shows details of thermal patterns in Florida that are attributable to difference in near surface water contents. The wide range of surface temperatures attributable to surface thermal inertia that exist in the relatively flat Florida topography is demonstrated.

Allen, L. H., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Rainfall results of the Florida Area Cumulus Experiment, 1970-76

The Florida Area Cumulus Experiment of 1970-76 (FACE-1) is a single-area, randomized, exploratory experiment to determine whether seeding cumuli for dynamic effects (dynamic seeding) can be used to augment convective rainfall over a substantial target area in south Florida. Rainfall is estimated using S-band radar observations after adjustment by raingages. The two primary response variables are rain volumes in the total target (TT) and in the floating target (FT), the most intensely treated portion of the target. The experimental unit is the day and the main observational period is the 6 h after initiation of treatment. Analyses without predictors suggest apparent increases in both the location and the dispersion characteristics of rainfall due to seeding in the FT and TT variables with substantial statistical support for the FT results and lesser statistical support for the TT results. Analyses of covariance using meteorologically meaningful predictor variables suggest a somewhat larger effect of seeding with stronger statistical support. These results are interpreted in terms of the FACE conceptual model.

Woodley, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Average diurnal variation of summer lightning over the Florida peninsula

Data derived from a large network of electric field mills are used to determine the average diurnal variation of lightning in a Florida seacoast environment. The variation at the NASA Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station area is compared with standard weather observations of thunder, and the variation of all discharges in this area is compared with the statistics of cloud-to-ground flashes over most of the South Florida peninsula and offshore waters. The results show average diurnal variations that are consistent with statistics of thunder start times and the times of maximum thunder frequency, but that the actual lightning tends to stop one to two hours before the recorded thunder. The variation is also consistent with previous determinations of the times of maximum rainfall and maximum rainfall rate.

Maier, L. M.↗