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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 NTRS1980

HCMM: Soil moisture in relation to geologic structure and lithology, northern California

The author has identified the following significant results. Detailed examination of Nite-IR images of intermontane basins in arid and/or semiarid areas of California discloses a ring or halo of relatively lighter greytone around the edges of each basin. Intermontane basins in the Northern Coast Range, however, do not show this thermal haloing. The topographic elevation of the haloes in arid basins shows seasonal variation, but it is present on nearly all images. A similar halo encircles many of the volcanoes on the Modoc Plateau and Southern Cascade Range. Although the halo around the arid intermontane basins can possibly be explained in relation to the location of alluvial fans (and perhaps water content of the rocks), a similar explanation cannot be made for the haloes around volcanoes or for the lack of haloes around basins in the Coast Range. Atmospheric thermal layering may be an alternative explanation; however, this explanation is also riddled with inconsistencies.

Rich, E. I.↗
NASA NTRS1980

HCMM: Soil moisture in relation to geologic structure and lithology, northern California

The author has identified the following significant results. Empirical observations on the ground and examination of aerial color IR photographs indicate that in grassland terrain, the vegetation overlying sandstone tends to become less vigorous sooner in the late spring season than does the area overlain by an adjacent shale unit. The reverse relationship obtains in the fall. These relationships are thought to be a reflection of the relative porosity of each of the units and hence of their ability to retain or lose soil moisture. A comparison of the optically enlarged day and nite IR imagery of the Late Mesozoic interbedded sandstone and shale units along the western margin of the Sacramento Valley, California, taken at seasonally critical times of the year (late spring/early summer and late fall/early winter) reveals subtle seasonal variations of graytone which tend to support the empirical observations after consideration of Sun angle and azimuth, and the internal consistency of the data on each set of satellite imagery.

Rich, E. I.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Soil moisture in relation to geologic structure and lithology, northern California

The author has identified the following significant results. Structural features in the Norther California Coast Ranges are clearly discernable on Nite-IR images and some of the structural linears may results in an extension of known faults within the region. The Late Mesozoic marine sedimentary rocks along the western margin of the Sacramento Valley are clearly defined on the Nite-IR images and in a gross way individual layers of sandstone can be differentiated from shale. Late Pleistocene alluvial fans are clearly differentiated from second generation Holocene fans on the basis of tonal characteristics. Although the tonal characteristics change with the seasons, the differentiation of the two sets of fans is still possible.

Rich, E. I.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Geological Structures in the WaIls of Vestan Craters

A compelling case can be made that Vesta is the parent asteroid for the howardite, eucrite and diogenite (HED) meteorites [1], although this interpretation has been questioned [2]. Generalized models for the structure of the crust of Vesta have been developed based on petrologic studies of basaltic eucrites, cumulate eucrites and diogenites. These models use inferred cooling rates for different types of HEDs and compositional variations within the clan to posit that the lower crust is dominantly diogenitic in character, cumulate eucrites occur deep in the upper crust, and basaltic eucrites dominate the higher levels of the upper crust [3-5]. These models lack fine-scale resolution and thus do not allow for detailed predictions of crustal structure. Geophysical models predict dike and sill intrusions ought to be present, but their widths may be quite small [6]. The northern hemisphere of Vesta is heavily cratered, and the southern hemisphere is dominated by two 400-500 km diameter basins that excavated deep into the crust [7-8]. Physical modeling of regolith formation on 300 km diameter asteroids predicts that debris layers would reach a few km in thickness, while on asteroids of Vesta's diameter regolith thicknesses would be less [9]. This agrees well with the estimated ≤1 km thickness of local debris excavated by a 45 km diameter vestan crater [10]. Large craters and basins may have punched through the regolith/megaregolith and exposed primary vestan crustal structures. We will use Dawn Framing Camera (FC) [11] images and color ratio maps from the High Altitude and Low Altitude Mapping Orbits (HAMO, ~65 m/pixel; LAMO, ~20 m/pixel) to evaluate structures exposed on the walls of craters: two examples are discussed here.

Mittlefehldt, David↗
DOE OSTI2026

Alabama Carbon Storage: Data Sharing and Engagement (Final Report)

This report is the final technical report on Alabama Carbon Storage: Data Sharing Engagement (ACS:DSE) project activities. The goals of the ACS:DSE project are to compile geologic, geophysical, infrastructure, and other relevant CCUS datasets for the study area and develop a geologic model of the study area; develop an online platform to serve data to stakeholders; engage with the public, students, and industry to educate them about CCUS and the data platform; and ensure energy and environmental justice is central to all aspects of the project. Datasets compiled and expanded include formation depths and elevations, digital geophysical well logs, reservoir properties, geologic structures, and geologic models. The geologic data were used to create a three-dimensional geologic model, structure grids, structure contour maps, and fault trace maps. In addition to downloadable datasets, links to CCUS relevant regulatory agencies (e.g., OGB, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and sources for infrastructure and educational information were included on the website Educational materials on CCUS for use by K-12 teachers were produced as part of the ACS:DSE project.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
NASA NTRS1978

An alternative model for the Manicouagan impact structure

Geologic evidence suggests that the 210 million year old Manicouagan impact structure of eastern Quebec is an endogenically altered crater analogous to many lunar floor-fractured craters. According to this hypothesis, the impact at Manicouagan formed a transient cavity 80 km in diameter, generating melted target material which created a pool about 65 km in diameter in the bottom of the crater. Collapse of the transient crater rim and formation of a central peak-ring complex about 15 km in diameter subsequently occurred. Intrusion of a tabular magmatic body into the fractured and brecciated rock below the crater took place before recent glaciation; the intrusion caused an outer ring fracture around the crater.

Orphal, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

ERTS-A data as a teaching and research tool in the Department of Geology

The author has identified the following significant results. The ERTS-1 materials continue to be used in a number of courses including Geology of Alaska, Economic Geology, and Structural Geology. In addition, specific talks about the ERTS-1 material were given at a seminar at the Geophysical Institute, to the Geology Department, to numerous individuals, and were extensively used in a popularized talk on the Geology of Alaska to the local Historical Society.

Grybeck, D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Geologic landform analysis in the central Piedmont of Virginia and North Carolina, 1

The author has identified the following significant results. ERTS-1 imagery in the central Piedmont of Va. and N.C. reveals some geologic structures in the Precambrian and Paleozoic metamorphic terrain as well as structure in the younger Triassic deposits. A major synform five miles wide and more than 20 miles long has been identified in the metamorphic rocks north of Danville, Va. Structures in the metavolcanic Carolina slate belt are also identifiable near the confluence of the Dan and Staunton Rivers. Cleared land and other cultural features tend to coincide with topographic reflection of geologic units, thus enhancing the ERTS-1 resolution of some geologic structures. In other cases pseudostructures may be identified when regular geometric configurations of culture bear little or no relation to underlying geologic units. Interpreting geologic structure in the nearly flat and deeply weather Piedmont is a severe test of ERTS-1 imagery resolution. Doubling the resolution and providing stereoscopic overlap would increase the geologic usefulness of these photographs many fold.

Glover, L., III↗
NASA NTRS1991

Iapetus: Tectonic structure and geologic history

Many papers have been written about the surface of Iapetus, but most of these have discussed either the nature of the strongly contrasting light and dark materials or the cratering record. Little has been said about other geologic features on Iapetus, such as tectonic structures, which would provide constraints on Iapetus' thermal history. Most references have suggested that there is no conclusive evidence for any tectonic activity, even when thermal history studies indicate that there should be. However, a new study of Iapetus' surface involving the use of stereo pairs, an extensive tectonic network has been recognized. A few new observations concerning the craters and dark material were also made. Thus the geology and geologic history of Iapetus can be more fully outlined than before. The tectonic network is shown along with prominent craters and part of the dark material in the geologic/tectonic sketch map. The topology of crater rims and scarps are quite apparent and recognizable in the different image pairs. The heights and slopes of various features given are based on comparison with the depths of craters 50 to 100 km in diameter, which are assumed to have the same depths as craters of similar diameter on Rhea and Titania.

Croft, Steven K.↗