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At least 847 records · Page 47

SCALE 6.2 Lattice Physics Performance Assessment

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission relies on the lattice physics analysis capabilities of the SCALE code system to perform confirmatory licensing analyses. Either SCALE lattice physics code—TRITON/NEWT or Polaris—can be used to generate cross section data used by the PARCS nodal core simulator for full-core neutronics calculations. This report presents an assessment of the accuracy of SCALE lattice physics codes for preparation of lattice physics data that are used to support simulator codes such as the NRC’s PARCS, for UO 2 -mixed oxide (MOX)/Zr fueled light water reactor (LWR) analyses. Due to the nature of lattice physics calculations, critical reactor experiment benchmarks cannot be modeled in explicit detail in a lattice physics code. However, this limitation does not mean that these measurement data are not usable for lattice physics studies. Therefore, either geometry approximations or axial buckling must be implemented to determine the critical water height. These modeling limitations have led to development of a three-phase assessment strategy. In the first phase, selected critical experiment benchmarks are modeled using the SCALE 3D continuous-energy (CE) Monte Carlo (MC) code KENO, which is the most rigorous neutron transport method available in SCALE, with no approximations in the spatial, angle, or energy treatments. Biases and statistical uncertainties in quantities of interest such as k eff and pin power distributions are determined by comparing CE KENO results to experimental data. This first phase in the accuracy assessment is to demonstrate and establish the use of CE KENO as a reference solution for the second phase. In the second phase, 14 numerical test suites are used to compare SCALE lattice physics calculations with CE KENO as a reference solution. In the third phase, SCALE lattice physics depletion calculations are performed, and the spent fuel isotopic results are compared with available radiochemical assay measurements. Isotopic measurement comparisons provide quantitative assessment of isotopic density distribution predictions with the depletion models in SCALE lattice physics codes. This report documents results for all test suites. The assessment was performed using standard production techniques unless otherwise noted. Both TRITON/NEWT and Polaris exhibited acceptable accuracy for most test cases. For the few test cases in which acceptable accuracy criteria were not met, further code and data development are planned. The computer codes used in this assessment are as follows: SCALE 6.2 rev19189 (pre-release of 6.2.1) was used for CE KENO, TRITON/NEWT and Polaris (PWR only) calculations; SCALE 6.2.2 was used for Polaris calculations to address several updates in support of support boiling water reactor (BWR) lattice geometries. For this work, there is no difference between SCALE 6.2.1 and SCALE 6.2.2 beyond the inclusion of the Polaris BWR analysis capability; The ENDF/B-VII.1 continuous energy and 252 group libraries deployed in SCALE 6.2 were generated with AMPX 6.2 that is distributed with SCALE.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Localizing Low-Grade Heat Using Hybrid Photonic-Phononic Materials

Creating next-generation devices capable of transducing waste heat into useful work will require building blocks designed to direct low-grade thermal energy at length scales well below the diffraction limit. Characterizing thermally induced energy transfer at the nanoscale, however, is a formidable task due to the simultaneous demand of high spatial and spectral resolution at infrared energies. Leveraging recent advancements in electron energy loss (EEL) and gain (EEG) spectroscopy, we reveal that individual nanostructures can concentrate energy by the resonant thermal excitation of their photonic Fabry–Pérot modes. Specifically, we show that the spatially localized gain signal increases upon in situ heating. Finally, theoretical modeling elucidates the mechanism for these observations by showing that a Purcell enhancement in the local photonic density of states drives the increased rate of infrared energy transfer from the ambient environment to each nanostructure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The Water‐Year Water Balance of the Colorado River Basin

Abstract Model‐estimated monthly water balance components (i.e., potential evapotranspiration, actual evapotranspiration, and runoff ( R )) for 146 United States (U.S.) Geological Survey 8‐digit hydrologic units located in the Colorado River Basin (CRB) are used to examine the temporal and spatial variability of the CRB water balance for water years 1901 through 2014 (a water year is the period from October 1 of one year through September 30 of the following year). Results indicate that the CRB can be divided into six subregions with similar temporal variability in monthly R . The water balance analyses indicated that approximately 75% of total water‐year R is generated by just one CRB subregion and that most of the R in the basin is derived from surplus ( S ) water generated during the months of October through April. Furthermore, the analyses show that temporal variability in S is largely controlled by the occurrence of negative atmospheric pressure anomalies over the northwestern conterminous U.S. (CONUS) and positive atmospheric pressure anomalies over the southeastern CONUS. This combination of atmospheric pressure anomalies results in an anomalous flow of moist air from the North Pacific Ocean into the CRB, particularly the Upper CRB. Additionally, the occurrence of extreme dry and wet periods in the CRB appears to be related to variability of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.

McCabe, Gregory J.↗

Infiltration Data Package for the E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility Performance Assessment

The infiltration data package contains the input parameters, the cap design and material properties assumptions, and the modeling results for the Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) infiltration model simulations performed in support of the E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility Performance Assessment (PA). The infiltration estimates establish the upper boundary condition for the PORFLOW vadose-zone model and GoldSim model simulations for the following E-Area disposal unit types: Slit and Engineered Trenches, Low-Activity Waste Vault (LAWV), Intermediate-Level Vault (ILV), Componentin- Grout (CIG) special waste form trench segments, and the Naval Reactor Component Disposal Areas (NRCDAs). The infiltration data package builds upon relevant, foundational PA technical reports and memoranda from the past 15 years and is supported by three important components: the HELP model input parameter datasheets, HELP model input and output filenames and directory structure, and infiltration rates as a function of time for each scenario for each disposal unit type. For Slit and Engineered Trenches, a single best-estimate Bahia-grass case of two-percent slope and 585- foot slope length represents an upper bound on intact closure-cap infiltration rates over a 10,000-year period. Building upon the single, bounding, and intact case, two different approaches were considered for incorporating the effect of localized cap subsidence on infiltration rates in the PORFLOW flow and transport model simulations. In the first approach, a Monte Carlo probabilistic model was developed to calculate infiltration rates for 0.54%, 2%, 3.6%, and 4.9% subsidence scenariosa reflecting historical and future non-crushable content for the Slit and Engineered Trenches. The resulting blended (spatially and slope-length averaged) infiltration rates become an inflow upper boundary condition for the PORFLOW vadose zone model simulations. In the second and preferred approach, a Monte Carlo rectangle packing algorithm (Danielson, 2019) and a simplified equation for the total mass flux of water draining into a subsided compartment (Equation 1) will be employed to implement a weighted blending of radionuclide fluxes to the water table using the results of deterministic PORFLOW vadose zone simulations representative of specific subsidence cases. Finally, HELP-model results from sensitivity studies of the intact infiltration case were fit to a log-logistic function to generate infiltration profiles over a 10,000-year period for most-optimistic, more-optimistic, best-estimate, more-pessimistic, and most-pessimistic cases, for both the intact and four subsidence scenarios. For the LAWV and IL vaults, infiltration rate profiles for a 10,000-year period were developed for both an on-vault (above the concrete/metal vault roof) and an off-vault (10-foot soil zone adjacent to vault walls) scenario. The purpose of the off-vault simulations was to confirm that subsurface runoff from the concrete vault roof will adequately drain through the lowermost backfill layers adjacent to the vault walls. The LAWV and ILV infiltration profiles assume collapse of the concrete roof at relative Years 2,905 and 7,100, respectively. The identical Bahia-grass case with two-percent slope and 585-foot slope length assumed for the Slit and Engineered Trenches will represent an upper bound on intact infiltration rates for the NRCDAs and CIG special waste form as well. While the NRCDA casks are assumed to remain structurally intact (i.e., non-assumed to collapse 300 years after the end of operations. Because both rows of the existing CIG trench segments in ST23 (formerly CIG01) extend across the planned cap crest, the subsided CIG trench segments are treated conservatively in the HELP model as a 100%-subsidence case with zero subsurface run-on. The CIG special waste form trench segment infiltration profile, therefore, consists of an intact-cap period from relative Year 100 to Year 300, followed by a 100%-subsidence period from relative Year 300 to Year 10,100.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Image Collection Simulation Using High-Resolution Atmospheric Modeling

A new method is described for simulating the passive remote sensing image collection of ground targets that includes effects from atmospheric physics and dynamics at fine spatial and temporal scales. The innovation in this research is the process of combining a high-resolution weather model with image collection simulation to attempt to account for heterogeneous and high-resolution atmospheric effects on image products. The atmosphere was modeled on a 3D voxel grid by a Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) driven by forcing data constrained by local ground-based and air-based observations. The spatial scale of the atmospheric model (10–100 m) came closer than conventional weather forecast scales (10–100 km) to approaching the scale of typical commercial multispectral imagery (2 m). This approach was demonstrated through a ground truth experiment conducted at the Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Southern Great Plains site. In this experiment, calibrated targets (colored spectral tarps) were placed on the ground, and the scene was imaged with WorldView-3 multispectral imagery at a resolution enabling the tarps to be visible in at least 9–12 image pixels. The image collection was simulated with Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Image Generation (DIRSIG) software, using the 3D atmosphere from the LES model to generate a high-resolution cloud mask. The high-resolution atmospheric model-predicted cloud coverage was usually within 23% of the measured cloud cover. The simulated image products were comparable to the WorldView-3 satellite imagery in terms of the variations of cloud distributions and spectral properties of the ground targets in clear-sky regions, suggesting the potential utility of the proposed modeling framework in improving simulation capabilities, as well as testing and improving the operation of image collection processes.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Benchmarking performance changes in the simulation of extratropical modes of variability across CMIP generations

In this work, we evaluate extratropical modes of variability in the three most recent phases of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3, 5, and 6) to gauge improvement of climate models over time. A suite of high-level metrics is employed to objectively evaluate how well climate models simulate the qobserved Northern Annular Mode (NAM), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Pacific North America pattern (PNA), Southern Annular Mode (SAM), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), North Pacific Oscillation (NPO), and North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO). We apply a Common Basis Function (CBF) approach that projects model anomalies onto observed empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs), together with the traditional EOF approach, to CMIP Historical and AMIP models. We find simulated spatial patterns of those modes have been significantly improved in the newer models, although the skill improvement is sensitive to the mode and season considered. We identify some potential contributions to the pattern improvement of certain modes (e.g., the Southern Hemisphere jet and High-top vertical coordinate), however the performance changes are likely attributed to gradual improvement of the base climate and multiple relevant processes. Less performance improvement is evident in the mode amplitude of these modes and systematic overestimation of the mode amplitude in spring remains in the newer climate models. We find that the post-dominant season amplitude errors in atmospheric modes are not limited to coupled runs but are often already evident in AMIP simulations. This suggests that rectifying the egregious post-dominant season amplitude errors found in many models can be addressed in an atmospheric-only framework making it more tractable to address in the model development process.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Alignment of morphology during high spatial frequency periodic structure formation in GaAs

The interaction among multiple intense ultrashort laser pulses and solids is known to provide a regular nanoscale surface corrugation. A coupled mechanism has been identified that operates in a specific range of fluences in GaAs that exhibits transient loss of the imaginary part of the dielectric function and Χ 2 , which produces a unique corrugation known as high spatial frequency laser induced periodic surface structures (HSFL). The final structures have 180 nm periods, and their alignment perpendicular to the laser polarization is first observed in an intermediate morphology with correlation distances of 150±40 nm. Quantum molecular dynamics simulations suggest that HSFL self-assembly is initiated when the intense laser field softens the interatomic binding potential, which leads to an ultrafast generation of point defects. The morphological evolution begins as self-interstitial diffusion, driven by stress relaxation, to the surface producing 1–2 nm tall islands. An ab initio calculation of excited electron concentration combined with a Drude-Lorentz model of the excited GaAs dielectric function is used to determine that the conditions for SPP coupling at HSFL formation fluences are both satisfied and occur at wavelengths that are imprinted into the observed surface morphologies. The evolution of these morphologies is reported on as the interplay between surface plasmon polaritons that localize defect generation within the structures present on the previous laser exposure and stress relaxation driven defect diffusion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Constraints on simulated past Arctic amplification and lapse rate feedback from observations

The Arctic has warmed more rapidly than the global mean during the past few decades. The lapse rate feedback (LRF) has been identified as being a large contributor to the Arctic amplification (AA) of climate change. This particular feedback arises from the vertically non-uniform warming of the troposphere, which in the Arctic emerges as strong near-surface and muted free-tropospheric warming. Stable stratification and meridional energy transport are two characteristic processes that are evoked as causes for this vertical warming structure. Our aim is to constrain these governing processes by making use of detailed observations in combination with the large climate model ensemble of the sixth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). We build on the result that CMIP6 models show a large spread in AA and Arctic LRF, which are positively correlated for the historical period of 1951–2014. Thus, we present process-oriented constraints by linking characteristics of the current climate to historical climate simulations. In particular, we compare a large consortium of present-day observations to co-located model data from subsets that show a weak and strong simulated AA and Arctic LRF in the past. Our analyses suggest that the vertical temperature structure of the Arctic boundary layer is more realistically depicted in climate models with weak (w) AA and Arctic LRF (CMIP6/w) in the past. In particular, CMIP6/w models show stronger inversions in the present climate for boreal autumn and winter and over sea ice, which is more consistent with the observations. These results are based on observations from the year-long Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition in the central Arctic, long-term measurements at the Utqiagvik site in Alaska, USA, and dropsonde temperature profiling from aircraft campaigns in the Fram Strait. In addition, the atmospheric energy transport from lower latitudes that can further mediate the warming structure in the free troposphere is more realistically represented by CMIP6/w models. In particular, CMIP6/w models systemically simulate a weaker Arctic atmospheric energy transport convergence in the present climate for boreal autumn and winter, which is more consistent with fifth generation reanalysis of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ERA5). We further show a positive relationship between the magnitude of the present-day transport convergence and the strength of past AA. With respect to the Arctic LRF, we find links between the changes in transport pathways that drive vertical warming structures and local differences in the LRF. This highlights the mediating influence of advection on the Arctic LRF and motivates deeper studies to explicitly link spatial patterns of Arctic feedbacks to changes in the large-scale circulation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Comparing Delay-, Distance-, and Cordon-Based Congestion Pricing Strategies Via Large-Scale Simulation

This study compares the impacts of delay-, distance-, and cordon-based congestion pricing strategies for Austin, Texas, using the POLARIS agent-based activity-based travel demand simulation model. This approach enables agent-level heterogeneity and realistic choice options (including destination, mode, and activity scheduling) for dynamic traffic assignment and congestion feedbacks across a major metro region, which are features lacking in past work. To ensure comparability, distance-based tolls were set to generate the same revenue as delay-based tolling of $3.5 M/day, averaging $1.17/resident/day or $0.42/vehicle-trip. Delay-based pricing delivers 44% lower network delay and 13% lower VHT compared to the no-toll baseline, levels unmatched by other pricing strategies. At the height of the AM peak, drivers pay up to $0.13/mile on average, though most links in the network remain untolled. Distance-based pricing is the most effective at reducing VMT (by 4%), but VHT reductions (of 6%) primarily stem from drivers selecting closer destinations, achieving only one-fourth the delay reduction of delay-based pricing. Across various implementations of delay- and distance-based pricing, the results suggest that spatial variations of tolls are far more important than temporal variations. Cordon tolls produce minimal impacts at the network-wide level, but offer substantial delay reductions inside the cordon. Other major findings include: 1) delay-based pricing increases trip-making during the PM peak period due to backward shifts in discretionary-activity start times by higher-income residents; and 2) tolls’ spatial impacts, including changes in network flows and tolls paid by residents, vary substantially between delay- and distance-based pricing strategies.

Agent-based modeling↗

Quantifying microbial control of soil organic matter dynamics at macrosystem scales

Soil organic matter (SOM) stocks, decomposition and persistence are largely the product of controls that act locally. Yet the controls are shaped and interact at multiple spatiotemporal scales, from which macrosystem patterns in SOM emerge. Theory on SOM turnover recognizes the resulting spatial and temporal conditionality in the effect sizes of controls that play out across macrosystems, and couples them through evolutionary and community assembly processes. For example, climate history shapes plant functional traits, which in turn interact with contemporary climate to influence SOM dynamics. Selection and assembly also shape the functional traits of soil decomposer communities, but it is less clear how in turn these traits influence temporal macrosystem patterns in SOM turnover. Here, we review evidence that establishes the expectation that selection and assembly should generate decomposer communities across macrosystems that have distinct functional effects on SOM dynamics. Representation of this knowledge in soil biogeochemical models affects the magnitude and direction of projected SOM responses under global change. Yet there is high uncertainty and low confidence in these projections. To address these issues, we make the case that a coordinated set of empirical practices are required which necessitate (1) greater use of statistical approaches in biogeochemistry that are suited to causative inference; (2) long-term, macrosystem-scale, observational and experimental networks to reveal conditionality in effect sizes, and embedded correlation, in controls on SOM turnover; and (3) use of multiple measurement grains to capture local- and macroscale variation in controls and outcomes, to avoid obscuring causative understanding through data aggregation. Here, when employed together, along with process-based models to synthesize knowledge and guide further empirical work, we believe these practices will rapidly advance understanding of microbial controls on SOM and improve carbon cycle projections that guide policies on climate adaptation and mitigation.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Datasets for characterizing extreme events relevant to hydrologic design over the conterminous United States

Despite the close linkage between extreme floods and snowmelt, particularly through rain-on-snow (ROS), hydrologic infrastructure is mostly designed based on standard precipitation Intensity-Duration-Frequency curves (PREC-IDF) that neglect snow processes in runoff generation. For snow-dominated regions, such simplification could result in substantial errors in estimating extreme events and infrastructure design risk. To address this long-standing problem, we applied the Next Generation IDF (NG-IDF) technique to estimate design basis extreme events for different durations and return periods in the conterminous United States (CONUS) to distinctly represent the contribution of rain, snowmelt, and ROS events to the amount of water reaching the land surface. A suite of datasets were developed to characterize the magnitude, trend, seasonality, and dominant mechanism of extreme events for over 200,000 locations. Infrastructure design risk associated with the use of PREC-IDF was estimated. Accuracy of the model simulations used in the analyses was confirmed by long-term snow data at over 200 Snowpack Telemetry stations. The presented spatially continuous datasets are readily usable and instrumental for supporting site-specific infrastructure design.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

ZeoNet: 3D convolutional neural networks for predicting adsorption in nanoporous zeolites

Zeolites are one of the most widely used materials in the chemical industry due to their nanometer-sized pores that can adsorb and react upon molecules selectively. With hundreds of known framework topologies and hundreds of thousands of computationally predicted structures, the ability to rapidly predict zeolite performance allows researchers to prioritize their efforts on the most promising structures for a given application. Although the accuracy of forcefield-based atomistic simulations has advanced significantly in the past two decades, these simulations can be computationally expensive, especially for long-chain, complex molecules. Here, we present ZeoNet, a representation learning framework using convolutional neural networks (ConvNets) and 3D volumetric representations for predicting adsorption in zeolites. ZeoNet was trained on the task of predicting Henry's constants for adsorption, k H , of n-octadecane in more than 330 000 known and predicted zeolite materials. Employing a 3D grid based on the distances to solvent-accessible surfaces, a volumetric representation that can be generated efficiently, the best-performing ZeoNet achieved a correlation coefficient r 2 = 0.977 and a mean-squared error MSE = 3.8 in ln k H , which corresponds to an error of 9.3 kJ mol -1 in adsorption free energy. In comparison, a model based on hand-designed geometric features has values of r 2 = 0.783 and MSE = 35.7. ZeoNet is also relatively efficient and can process ≈8 structures per second on an Nvidia RTX 2080TI GPU, orders of magnitude faster than forcefield-based simulations. A systematic analysis was conducted to investigate how the choice of ConvNet architectures, the linear dimension (L) and spatial resolution (Δd) of the distance grids, batch size, optimizer, and learning rate impact the model performance. We found that ConvNets based on the ResNet architecture offer the best tradeoff between expressiveness and efficiency. The performance for all models reaches a plateau at L = 30–45 Å and depends less sensitively on grid resolution, with a small benefit around Δd = 0.30–0.45 Å. Finally, saliency maps were visualized to identify which regions of the materials contributed the most to model predictions. It was found, interestingly, that the predictions are driven primarily by the accessible pore volume rather than the region occupied by the framework atoms.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Pilot Point Optimization of Mining Boundaries for Lateritic Metal Deposits: Finding the Trade-off Between Dilution and Ore Loss

Geological contacts in lateritic metal deposits (footwall topographies) often delineate the orebody boundaries. Spatial variations seen in such contacts are frequently higher than those for the metal grades of the deposit. Therefore, borehole spacing chosen based on the grade variations cannot adequately capture the geological contact variability. Consequently, models created using such boreholes cause high volumetric uncertainties in the actual and targeted ore extraction volumes, which, in turn, lead to high unplanned dilution and ore losses. In this paper, a method to design optimum ore/mining boundaries for lateritic metal deposits is presented. The proposed approach minimizes the dilution/ore losses and comprises two main steps. First, the uncertainty on the orebody boundary is represented using a set of stochastic realizations generated with a multiple-point statistics algorithm. Then, the optimal orebody boundary is determined using an optimization technique inspired by a model calibration method called Pilot Points. The pilot points represent synthetic elevation values, and they are used to construct smooth mining boundaries using the multilevel B-spline technique. The performance of a generated surface is evaluated using the expected sum of losses in each of the stochastic realizations. The simulated annealing algorithm is used to iteratively determine the pilot point values which minimize the expected losses. The results show a significant reduction in the dilution volume as compared to those obtained from the actual mining operation.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Life Cycle Analysis of Natural Gas Supply Chain and End Use Applications in the United States

Natural gas (NG) plays a crucial role in current and future energy systems in the United States due to its abundance and affordability. In this study a life cycle analysis of the NG supply chain in the United States was conducted using Argonne's R&D GREET model, examining stages from recovery to distribution using reported field data processed and documented by National Energy Technology Laboratory. Supply chain emissions were evaluated across multiple spatial scales, including national average, overall regional production, region-to-region, and basin-to-region scenarios. The GHG intensity of the U.S. average NG supply chain was estimated at 10.3 kg CO 2 e/MMBtu (lower heating value), with a range across regions from 7.8 kg CO 2 e/MMBtu (Northeast) to 15.1 kg CO 2 e/MMBtu (Pacific). The analysis further assessed how upstream NG emissions influence the life cycle GHG emissions of key end-use applications, including electricity generation (0.044–0.086 kg CO 2 e/kWh from upstream NG in combined cycle facilities), hydrogen production (1.04–2.20 kg CO 2 e/kg H 2 for steam methane reforming [SMR] and 1.06–2.23 kg CO 2 e/kg for autothermal reforming [ATR]), and transit bus operation utilizing compressed natural gas fuel (0.19–0.37 kg CO 2 e/mile) and hydrogen fuel (0.12–0.25 kg CO 2 e/mile for hydrogen produced in SMR and ATR).

compression↗

Stochastic correlation analysis to rank the impact of intermittent wind generation on unreliability margins of power systems

Power systems are vulnerable to extreme contingencies (like an outage of a major generating substation or transmission line) that can cause significant generation and load loss and can lead to further cascading outages of other transmission facilities and generators in the system. Power systems operators take time-ahead actions (real time to day ahead) actions based on forecasted data as well as telemetry. However, there is a probability of extreme swings in wind generation that can push the power system that is already close to system boundaries into unreliable states. Increasing penetration on wind generation and uncertainties in short term forecast can move the system into operational states that can violate N-1 reliability criteria. While the power system planning accounts for worst case analyses to mitigate such emergencies, it is necessary to understand the spatial and temporal correlation of load buses with intermittent wind generation. The ranking of wind generators based on stochastic correlation to unreliability margins of load buses provides an insight of system vulnerabilities that can be corrected by appropriate emergency controls. A Monte-Carlo simulation of wind uncertainty forecast is performed to identify the probability distributions of unreliability margins. Ranking of wind generators is performed based on stochastic correlation analysis of the wind power generated and the load losses at the buses. This helps in not only identifying weak buses in the power system but also in identifying the vulnerable wind locations to plan for system reinforcements. Power system modeling and hybrid simulation to calculate unreliability margins are performed using DCAT and demonstrated on the 32-bus Nordic test system.

generators, wind forecasting, wind power generatio↗

Connect the Dots: In Situ 4-D Seismic Monitoring of CO 2 Storage With Spatio-Temporal CNNs

4-D seismic imaging has been widely used in CO 2 sequestration projects to monitor the fluid flow in the volumetric subsurface region that is not sampled by wells. Ideally, real-time monitoring and near-future forecasting would provide site operators with great insights to understand the dynamics of the subsurface reservoir and assess any potential risks. However, due to obstacles such as high deployment cost, availability of acquisition equipment, exclusion zones around surface structures, only very sparse seismic imaging data can be obtained during monitoring. That leads to an unavoidable and growing knowledge gap over time. The operator needs to understand the fluid flow throughout the project lifetime and the seismic data are only available at a limited number of times. This is insufficient for understanding reservoir behavior. To overcome those challenges, we have developed spatio-temporal neural-network-based models that can produce high-fidelity interpolated or extrapolated images effectively and efficiently. Specifically, our models are built on an autoencoder, and incorporate the long short-term memory (LSTM) structure with a new loss function regularized by optical flow. We validate the performance of our models using real 4-D post-stack seismic imaging data acquired at the Sleipner CO 2 sequestration field. We employ two different strategies in evaluating our models. Numerically, we compare our models with different baseline approaches using classic pixel-based metrics. We also conduct a blind survey and collect a total of 20 responses from domain experts to evaluate the quality of data generated by our models. Finally, via both numerical and expert evaluation, we conclude that our models can produce high-quality 2-D/3-D seismic imaging data at a reasonable cost, offering the possibility of real-time monitoring or even near-future forecasting of the CO 2 storage reservoir.

4-D seismic imaging↗

Concept for maritime near-surface surveillance using water Raman scattering

Here, we discuss a maritime surveillance and detection concept based on Raman scattering of water molecules. Using a range-gated scanning lidar that detects Raman scattered photons from water, the absence or change of signal indicates the presence of a non-water object. With sufficient spatial resolution, a two-dimensional outline of the object can be generated by the scanning lidar. Because Raman scattering is an inelastic process with a relatively large wavelength shift for water, this concept avoids the often problematic elastic scattering for objects at or very close to the water surface or from the bottom surface for shallow waters. The maximum detection depth for this concept is limited by the attenuation of the excitation and return Raman light in water. If excitation in the UV is used, fluorescence can be used for discrimination between organic and non-organic objects. In this paper, we present a lidar model for this concept and discuss results of proof-of-concept measurements. Using published cross section values, the model and measurements are in reasonable agreement and show that a sufficient number of Raman photons can be generated for modest lidar parameters to make this concept useful for near-surface detection.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

A Multi-Sensor Unoccupied Aerial System Improves Characterization of Vegetation Composition and Canopy Properties in the Arctic Tundra: Supporting Data

Remote sensing data collected from Brookhaven National Laboratory's (BNL) heavy-lift unoccupied aerial system (UAS) octocopter platform - the Osprey - operated by the Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Technology (TEST) group. Data was collected from a single flight over the Kougarok hillslope site on 26 July, 2018. The Osprey is a multi-sensor UAS platform that simultaneously measures very high spatial resolution optical red/green/blue (RGB) and thermal infrared (TIR) surface "skin" temperature imagery, as well as surface reflectance at 1nm intervals in the visible to near-infrared spectral range from ~350-1000 nm measured at regular intervals along each flight path. Derived image products include ortho-mosaiced RGB and TIR images, an RGB-based digital surface model (DSM) using the structure from motion (SfM) technique, digital terrain model (DTM), and a canopy height model. Ancillary aircraft data, flight mission parameters, and general flight conditions are also included. This dataset includes *.pdf, *.txt, *.tif, *.dat, and *.csv with most zipped in *.tar.gz files. The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), was a research effort to reduce uncertainty in Earth System Models by developing a predictive understanding of carbon-rich Arctic ecosystems and feedbacks to climate. NGEE Arctic was supported by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research. The NGEE Arctic project had two field research sites: 1) located within the Arctic polygonal tundra coastal region on the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) and the North Slope near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska and 2) multiple areas on the discontinuous permafrost region of the Seward Peninsula north of Nome, Alaska. Through observations, experiments, and synthesis with existing datasets, NGEE Arctic provided an enhanced knowledge base for multi-scale modeling and contributed to improved process representation at global pan-Arctic scales within the Department of Energy's Earth system Model (the Energy Exascale Earth System Model, or E3SM), and specifically within the E3SM Land Model component (ELM).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗