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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 91 records · Page 5

15-minute Parker River gap-filled tide height and salinity data, PIE LTER, Plum Island Sound, MA (2014–2023), for ELM PFLOTRAN modeling

This dataset contains 15-minute tide height and salinity data from the Typha site along the Parker River, part of the Plum Island Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research (PIE LTER) site in Plum Island Sound, Massachusetts (MA) 2014-2023. Tide height (in NAVD88) was compiled from measurements conducted at the mouth of Plum Island Sound and corrected for time lags. Gap-filling of missing periods were done by fitting tidal constituents to the time series. Salinity was measured (and is stored on ESS DIVE ) in 2022 and 2023 using HOBO U24-002 conductivity loggers. River discharge is the most important control on tidal river water salinity at the location (Vallino & Hopkinson, 1998). An artificial neural network was trained to predict river water salinity at the location using Parker River discharge (USGS station 01101000, Parker River at Byfield, MA) and gap-filled salinity observations from a long-term monitoring station ca. 3km downstream from the Typha site (LTER station ‘Middle Road’) as input variables to create continuous time series information. The data set was used in the spin up and simulations of a land surface model coupled to a biogeochemical reaction network (ELM PFLOTRAN) assessing impacts of hydrology and salinity input on methane fluxes in 2022 and 2023 (Sulman et al., 2024). Metadata files ELMPFLOTRAN_tide_salinity_dd.csv and ELMPFLOTRAN_tide_salinity_flmd.csv provide details on site location, data variables, and QA/QC methods .

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

A study of the kinematic dynamo equation with time-dependent coefficients

During an active star formation epoch the interstellar medium of a galaxy is in a hyperactive state, and the average turbulent velocity is higher than in the long periods between star formation epochs. The galactic magnetic field generated by dynamo action depends strongly on the turbulent velocity, so that generation of magnetic field should vary with star formation activity. This paper is a preliminary study of the kinematic dynamo equation with time-dependent coefficients simulating the time dependence of the star formation activities. Ko and Parker argued in a simple model that the thickness of the dynamo region is the most sensitive dynamo parameter. The present work shows that the effect of inflating the galactic disk suddenly is to transform a stationary magnetic field into a growing field while keeping the profile more or less intact. Plane wave solutions for a dynamo with power-law time-dependent parameters show that the field may decay first and then grow, and vice versa, which is quite different from a constant parameter dynamo.

Ko, Chung-Ming↗

The interaction of a magnetized solar wind with the VLISM

The interaction of a magnetized solar wind with magnetized interstellar flow is modelled in two dimensions. The VLISM magnetic field and flow velocity are assumed to be parallel to each other and perpendicular to the sun's magnetic axis, contrast to a recent study by Washimi. The more realistic orientation of the axis and VLISM flow requires a less realistic heliospheric field model in two dimensions. The Parker spiral is replaced by a poloidal field which is tangent to the termination shock, and whose magnitude is consistent with estimates of the heliospheric field at termination shock distances. Of particular interest is the effect of the heliospheric field on the heliospheric flow beyond the termination shock, and on the structure and location of the bow shock

Brackbill, J. U.↗

Orbit Determination Covariance Analyses for the Parker Solar Probe Mission

This paper details pre-launch navigation covariance analyses for the Parker Solar Probe mission. Baseline models and error assumptions are outlined. The results demonstrate how navigation will satisfy requirements and are used to define operational plans. A few sensitivities are identified and the accompanying investigations are described. Predicted state uncertainty results show that most requirements are met with substantial margin. Moreover, navigation sensitivities may be accommodated operationally and this has been incorporated into project planning. Detailed results are presented only for select launch dates, however twenty unique trajectories (one per launch opportunity) have been assessed.

Jones, Drew Ryan↗

Solar wind models

The understanding of the solar wind is based upon Parker's (1958) description of a thermally driven subsonic - supersonic outflow from a fully ionized electron-proton corona. The basic physical processes of thermally driven solar wind models are discussed. Also studied are the effect of alpha particles in the corona on the solar wind proton flux. The acceleration of the solar wind by Alfven waves is discussed.

Leer, Egil↗

Prediction and Verification of Parker Solar Probe Solar Wind Sources at 13.3 Rs

Drawing connections between heliospheric spacecraft and solar wind sources is a vital step in understanding the evolution of the solar corona into the solar wind and contextualizing in situ timeseries. Furthermore, making advanced predictions of this linkage for ongoing heliospheric missions, such as Parker Solar Probe (Parker), is necessary for achieving useful coordinated remote observations and maximizing scientific return. The general procedure for estimating such connectivity is straightforward (i.e., magnetic field line tracing in a coronal model) but validating the resulting estimates is difficult due to the lack of an independent ground truth and limited model constraints. In its most recent orbits, Parker has reached perihelia of 13.3R⊙ and moreover travels extremely fast prograde relative to the solar surface, covering over 120° longitude in 3 days. Here we present footpoint predictions and subsequent validation efforts for Parker Encounter 10, the first of the 13.3R⊙ orbits, which occurred in November 2021. We show that the longitudinal dependence of in situ plasma data from these novel orbits provides a powerful method of footpoint validation. With reference to other encounters, we also illustrate that the conditions under which source mapping is most accurate for near-ecliptic spacecraft (such as Parker) occur when solar activity is low, but also require that the heliospheric current sheet is strongly warped by mid-latitude or equatorial coronal holes. Lastly, we comment on the large-scale coronal structure implied by the Encounter 10 mapping, highlighting an empirical equatorial cut of the Alfvèn surface consisting of localized protrusions above unipolar magnetic separatrices.

S. T. Badman↗

End-Use Savings Shapes Measure Documentation: Heat Pump Rooftop Units

The heat pump rooftop units (RTUs) measure replaces gas furnace and electric resistance RTUs with high-efficiency heat pump rooftop units (HP-RTUs). The HP-RTUs are intended to be top-of-the line, including high-efficiency fans and heat pump systems. The fans are variable speed, allowing the HP-RTUs to operate as single-zone variable air volume systems. The heat pumps are also variable speed, allowing for high part load performance. All schedules in the existing RTUs are transferred to the new HP-RTUs for consistency. Furthermore, any energy efficiency features in the existing baseline RTUs such as energy recovery or economizers are also transferred to the new HP-RTUs for consistency. This measure is applicable to approximately 45% of the ComStock floor area. The HP-RTU measure demonstrates 10.3% total site energy savings (449 trillion British thermal units [TBtu]) for the U.S. commercial building stock modeled in ComStock.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

National Transonic Facility Model and Tunnel Vibrations

Since coming online in 1984, the National Transonic Facility (NTF) cryogenic wind tunnel at the NASA Langley Research Center has provided unique high Reynolds number testing capability. While turbulence levels in the tunnel, expressed in terms of percent dynamic pressure, are typical of other transonic wind tunnels, the significantly increased load levels utilized to achieve flight Reynolds numbers, in conjunction with the unique structural design requirements for cryogenic operation, have brought forward the issue of model and model support structure vibrations. This paper reports new experimental measurements documenting aerodynamic and structural dynamics processes involved in such vibrations experienced in the NTF. In particular, evidence of local un-steady airloads developed about the model support strut is shown and related to well documented acoustic features known as "Parker" modes. Two-dimensional unsteady viscous computations illustrate this model support structure loading mechanism.

Edwards, John W.↗

Magnetic field structure in flare-associated solar-wind disturbances.

Review of the solar-wind disturbance models proposed by Piddington (1958), Gold (1959, 1962), Parker (1961), and De Young and Hundhausen (1971), in an attempt to determine what information and conclusions can be drawn about these models by examining the interplanetary magnetic field. The conclusions reached suggest that little, if any, flux is permanently ejected during the average solar-wind disturbance.

Schatten, K. H.↗

Impact of Drought on Ecohydrology of Southern California Grassland and Shrubland

Abstract Through their rooting profiles and water demands, plants affect the distribution of water in the soil profile. Simultaneously, soil water content controls plant development and interactions within and between plant communities. These plant-soil water feedbacks might vary across plant communities with different rooting depths and species composition. In semiarid environments, understanding these differences will be essential to predict how ecosystems will respond to drought, which may become more frequent and severe with climate change. In this study, we tested how plant-soil water feedbacks responded to drought in two contrasting ecosystem types—grassland and shrubland—in the coastal foothills of southern California. During years 5–8 of an ongoing precipitation manipulation experiment, we measured changes in plant communities and soil moisture up to 2 m depth. We observed different water use patterns in grassland and shrubland communities with distinct plant functional types and water use strategies. Drought treatment did not affect perennial, deep-rooted shrubs because they could access deep soil water pools. However, mid-rooted shrubs were sensitive to drought and experienced decreased productivity and die-off. As a result, water content actually increased with drought at soil depths from 50–150 cm. In grassland, biomass production by annual species, including annual grasses and forbs, declined with drought, resulting in lower water uptake from the surface soil layer. An opportunistic “live fast, die young“ life strategy allowed these species to recover quickly once water availability increased. Our results show how drought interacts with plant community composition to affect the soil water balance of semiarid ecosystems, information that could be integrated into global scale models.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Tools for analysis of optimization models

The software is code for analyzing, debugging, and solving optimization models. The code implements several algorithms and provides convenient APIs to apply these algorithms to optimization models. The algorithms are primarily based on graph theory. They compute well-known partitions of graphs, and use these partitions to provide the user information about their optimization model, including diagnosing certain types of structural modeling errors. Some algorithms may be used as a subroutine to solve an optimization problem, and may call an optimization solver to facilitate this. Well-known linear algebra routines are called to provide further diagnostics. The software contains no data and no models other than toy models used for testing.

Parker, Robert↗

Correlation of elastohydrodynamic film thickness measurements for fluorocarbon type 2 ester, and polyphenyl ether lubricants

A minimum films thickness correlation applicable to heavily loaded elastohydrodynamic (EHD) contacts was formulated from experimental data obtained by an X-ray transmission technique. The correlation, based on data generated with fluorocarbon, type II ester, and polyphenyl ether lubricants, extends a previous analysis developed from data for a synthetic paraffinic oil. The resulting correlation represents the data of the four lubricants reasonably well over a large range of operating conditions. Contained within the derived relation is a factor to account for the high-load dependence displayed by the measurements beyond that which is provided for by the theory. Thermal corrections applied to a commonly used film thickness formula showed little improvement to the general disagreement that exists between theory and test. Choice of contact geometry and material are judged to have a relatively mild influence on the form of the semiempirical model.

Loewenthal, S. H.↗

Large space system control technology status and accomplishments

In the area of antenna modeling and control, preliminary structural models were defined for two representative parabolic reflectors. A control system design evolved for attitude control of the reflectors. The controller design was based on a lumped control concept where the control hardware (sensor and actuators) was mounted at the base of the antenna. In the area of distributed control, static shape control techniques were worked out to establish a prescribed vehicle shape. The corresponding estimation process for determination of vehicle shape from selected sensor measurements was also developed. A model order reduction study was conducted to find the best preflight dynamical models for on board controller design. The problems caused by truncation of the vehicle dynamics required to minimize on board computations were investigated. Estimator designs were developed for on board detection of large structure model errors.

Rodriguez, G.↗