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At least 109 records · Page 6

Evaluating the feasibility of tidal energy extraction at non-operational gas platforms and effects of sedimentation and sea ice in Cook Inlet (Abstract)

Littoral Power Systems (LPS) has been granted a FERC preliminary permit for the Upper Cook Inlet Tidal Energy Project in an area that includes existing non-producing natural gas platforms. LPS is working to understand the feasibility of a 2 MW tidal energy project and is considering multiple technologies, the viability of using the platforms to support deployment and operation of the technologies, as well as the environmental conditions that will interact with tidal energy devices. The proposed TEAMER work will conduct a modeling study to understand 1) current velocity and turbulence; 2) the distribution of sea ice trajectories around the platform; and 3) the likelihood of seabed erosion and deposition through an analysis of shear stress in the seabed near the platforms. The results of this work will contribute to determining the feasibility of the site for tidal energy development.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

TEAMER – Enhanced Flow Measurement for Aquantis Tidal Turbine Test

The AQ10 is a floating, two-bladed, passive yawing tidal turbine developed by Aquantis that has a 10-meterrotor diameter, 160 kW rating, and employs reliable off-the-shelf powertrain and power conversion hardware. Aquantis is planning on-water turbine power performance and loads (blade loading and thrust)testing, where the turbine will be pushed through still water up to 4 knots and placed in a ‘station keeping’ tow in a tidal race up to its rated speed. On-water testing will be conducted using vessels and floating platforms on the sea surface to improve ease of testing and reduce disturbance to the environment. In this TEAMER project, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will conduct water velocity and turbulence measurements in front of the turbine during on-water testing using acoustic Doppler instrumentation. By measuring both the tidal current flowing past the turbine and the resulting electrical power output, test results will provide a power curve (power vs flow speed) for the turbine up to rated power. Measurements of turbulence and velocity shear in front of the rotor will also provide information to assess the structural response of the rotor blades. With this analysis, Aquantis can use the performance and loads data to validate Tidal Bladed and OpenFAST simulations of the measured operating conditions. Measuring the power performance of a prototype turbine is a valuable step to improving device development and conducting a complete power performance assessment to IEC/TS 62600-200 standards in the future.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Cerebral Hypoperfusion Precedes Nausea During Centrifugation

Nausea and motion sickness are important operational concerns for aviators and astronauts. Understanding underlying mechanisms associated with motion sickness may lead to new treatments. The goal of this work was to determine if cerebral blood flow changes precede the development of nausea in motion sick susceptible subjects. Cerebral flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (transcranial Doppler), blood pressure (Finapres) and end-tidal CO2 were measured while subjects were rotated on a centrifuge (250 degrees/sec). Following 5 min of rotation, subjects were translated 0.504 m off-center, creating a +lGx centripetal acceleration in the nasal-occipital plane. Ten subjects completed the protocol without symptoms while 5 developed nausea (4 while 6ff-center and 1 while rotating on-center). Prior to nausea, subjects had significant increases in blood pressure (+13plus or minus 3 mmHg, P less than 0.05) and cerebrovascular resistance (+46 plus or minus 17%, P less than 0.05) and decreases in cerebral flow velocity both in the second (-13 plus or minus 4%) and last minute (-22 plus or minus 5%) before symptoms (P less than 0.05). In comparison, controls demonstrated no change in blood pressure or cerebrovascular resistance in the last minute of off-center rotation and only a 7 plus or minus 2% decrease in cerebral flow velocity. All subjects had significant hypocapnia (-3.8 plus or minus 0.4 mmHg, P less than 0.05), however this hypocapnia could not fully explain the cerebral hypoperfusion associated with the development of nausea. These data indicate that reductions in cerebral blood flow precede the development of nausea. Further work is necessary to determine what role cerebral hypoperfusion plays in motion sickness and whether cerebral hypoperfusion can be used to predict the development of nausea in susceptible individuals.

Serrador, Jorge M.↗

Propagating tides in the mesosphere

A preliminary search has begun for evidence of tides in the 1-hr average line-of-sight mesospheric velocity data from the Urbana radar in the period 1978 to 1982, inclusive. Observations are restricted to the southeasterly component of those velocities. Since observations are only available for a fraction of a day due to the absence of night-time ionization in the Urbana mesosphere, it was decided to adopt an unusual procedure in the search; namely, to perform a Fourier analysis in the vertical direction and look for rotation in phase of vectors representing spatial frequency components. Propagating tidal modes would then show as vectors with a net rotation corresponding to their downward phase velocity. Five year monthly averages of hourly mean horizontal velocities inferred from the Urbana data are given. Consistent diurnal variation is seen for a number of months. These data were analyzed for vertical spatial periods of 3, 4.5, 6, 9, 12, and 24 km. When plotted as a function of time of day, many of the phasors tended to show a net rotation. The sense of rotation of a spinning vector in the complex plane can be determined objectively by computing the signed area swept out by the vector in saving from point to point. This calculation, indicated downward motion in 8 out of 12 months for the 9-km component and in 11 out of 12 months for the 24-km component. A comparison of the magnitudes of the 6 modes showed that the primary component was the 24-km component, a result confirmed by the tidal models of Forbes.

Bowhill, S. A.↗

The Influence of Coastal Fronts on the Movement and Dispersion of Oil Slicks

The author has identified the following significant results. LANDSAT, aircraft, and boats were used successfully to study estuarine and coastal fronts or boundaries. Fronts are a major hydrographic feature in Delaware Bay and in other estuaries. Horizontal salinity gradients of 4% in one meter and convergence velocities of the order of 0.1 m/sec were observed. Visibility improved from one meter to two meters as certain boundaries were crossed. Fronts near the mouth of the bay are associated with the tidal exchange with shelf water. The formation of fronts in the interior of the bay appears to be associated with velocity shears induced by differences in bottom topography with horizontal density difference in the deep water portion of the estuary. Surface slicks and foam collected at frontal convergence zones near boundaries were found to contain concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, and Zn higher by two to four orders of magnitude than concentrations in mean ocean water.

Klemas, V.↗

How are quasars fueled? Simulating interstellar gas in tidally disturbed galaxies

Whether gravitational tides from companions trigger global instabilities in spiral galaxy disks and thus rapid flows of gas into the nucleus to fuel activity is investigated. An n-body computer program is used to simulate the disk of the spiral galaxy within a much more stable, high-velocity dispersion spherical halo. Under sufficient perturbation, the disk undergoes violent distortions due to the disturber and its self-gravitation. The tidal action of companions was simulated and the tidal strengths at which the instabilities appear to match those of the observed companions of Seyferts and quasars was shown. With the additional modifications planned, the gas flow will be more realistically simulated to compare with observations (e.g., colors, velocity fields) of active galaxies.

Byrd, Gene G.↗

Stellar proper motions in the outskirts of classical dwarf spheroidal galaxies with Gaia EDR3

ABSTRACT We use Gaia EDR3 data to identify stars associated with six classical dwarf spheroidals (dSphs) (Draco, Ursa Minor, Sextans, Sculptor, Fornax, Carina) at their outermost radii, beyond their nominal King stellar limiting radius. For all of the dSphs examined, we find radial velocity matches with stars residing beyond the King limiting radius and with ${\gt}50{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ astrometric probability (four in Draco, two in Ursa Minor, eight in Sextans, two in Sculptor, 12 in Fornax, and five in Carina), indicating that these stars are associated with their respective dSphs at high probability. We compare the positions of our candidate ‘extra-tidal’ stars with the orbital tracks of the galaxies, and identify stars, both with and without radial velocity matches, that are consistent with lying along the orbital track of the satellites. However, given the small number of candidate stars, we cannot make any conclusive statements about the significance of these spatially correlated stars. Cross matching with publicly available catalogues of RR Lyrae, we find one RR Lyrae candidate with ${\gt}50{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ astrometric probability outside the limiting radius in each of Sculptor and Fornax, two such candidates in Draco, nine in Ursa Minor, seven in Sextans, and zero in Carina. Follow-up spectra on all of our candidates, including possible metallicity information, will help confirm association with their respective dSphs, and could represent evidence for extended stellar haloes or tidal debris around these classical dSphs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Recent activity in the moon; Proceedings of the Special Symposium, Houston, Tex., March 16, 1976

The papers review evidence for recent activity within the moon as manifested by lunar grid system, transient phenomena, moonquakes, and episodic emissions of radiogenic gases. Topics include a survey of lunar transient phenomena, possible causes of such phenomena, evidence that high-frequency seismic events may be shallow moonquakes, lunar seismicity and tectonics, a hypothesis on the nature of sites of lunar gas venting, and a search for sporadic gas emissions from the moon. Other contributions discuss the release of radiogenic argon-40 from the moon, radon-222 emission as an indicator of current activity on the moon, upper limits to gas emission from sites of lunar transient phenomena, physical processes that could produce transient changes on the lunar surface, critical-velocity gas-plasma interaction as a mechanism for lunar transient phenomena, and tidal triggering of moonquakes, transient phenomena, and radiogenic-gas emissions.

Runcorn, S. K.↗

VLBI Contribution to ITRF2000

The VLBI data set spanning Aug. 1919 to the present is a major constituent of ITRF2000 because of the time span, the geometric strength and the accuracy of the modeling. Formal velocity errors for the best stations are less than 0.3 mm/yr while the probable frame definition error for station velocities is approximately 0.4 mm/yr. The primary systematic errors are the troposphere and tidal loading (solid Earth and ocean). However, the scale of the VLBI TRF is probably only weakly affected because of continued improvements in the tropospheric mapping function and gradient estimation. There are some weaknesses in the spatial distribution of data, particularly in the southern hemisphere, and the quality of the mobile VLBI results is now suboptimal. The deployment of the TIGO system to Chile will improve the geometric coverage. The current state of the art of VLBI analysis will be discussed.

Ma, Chopo↗

Cerebral vasoconstriction precedes orthostatic intolerance after parabolic flight

The effects of brief but repeated bouts of micro- and hypergravity on cerebrovascular responses to head-up tilt (HUT) were examined in 13 individuals after (compared to before) parabolic flight. Middle cerebral artery mean flow velocity (MCA MFV; transcranial Doppler ultrasound), eye level blood pressure (BP) and end tidal CO(2) (P(ET)CO(2)) were measured while supine and during 80 degrees HUT for 30 min or until presyncope. In the postflight tests subjects were classified as being orthostatically tolerant (OT) (n = 7) or intolerant (OI) (n = 6). BP was diminished with HUT in the OT group in both tests (p < 0.05) whereas postflight BP was not different from supine in the OI group. Postflight compared to preflight, the reduction in P(ET)CO(2) with HUT (p < 0.05) increased in both groups, although significantly so only in the OI group (p < 0.05). The OI group also had a significant decrease in supine MCA MFV postflight (p < 0.05) that was unaccompanied by a change in supine P(ET)CO(2). The decrease in MCA MFV that occurred during HUT in both groups preflight (p < 0.05) was accentuated only in the OI group postflight, particularly during the final 30 s of HUT (p < 0.05). However, this accentuated decrease in MCA MFV was not correlated to the greater decrease in P(ET)CO(2) during the same period (R = 0.20, p = 0.42). Although cerebral vascular resistance (CVR) also increased in the OI group during the last 30 s of HUT postflight (p < 0.05), the dynamic autoregulatory gain was not simultaneously changed. Therefore, we conclude that in the OI individuals, parabolic flight was associated with cerebral hypoperfusion following a paradoxical augmentation of CVR by a mechanism that was not related to changes in autoregulation nor strictly to changes in P(ET)CO(2).

Parabolic Flight↗

An accuracy assessment of Magellan Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI)

Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) measurements of the Magellan spacecraft's angular position and velocity were made during July through September, 1989, during the spacecraft's heliocentric flight to Venus. The purpose of this data acquisition and reduction was to verify this data type for operational use before Magellan is inserted into Venus orbit, in August, 1990. The accuracy of these measurements are shown to be within 20 nanoradians in angular position, and within 5 picoradians/sec in angular velocity. The media effects and their calibrations are quantified; the wet fluctuating troposphere is the dominant source of measurement error for angular velocity. The charged particle effect is completely calibrated with S- and X-Band dual-frequency calibrations. Increasing the accuracy of the Earth platform model parameters, by using VLBI-derived tracking station locations consistent with the planetary ephemeris frame, and by including high frequency Earth tidal terms in the Earth rotation model, add a few nanoradians improvement to the angular position measurements. Angular velocity measurements were insensitive to these Earth platform modelling improvements.

Engelhardt, D. B.↗

Atmospheric Lunar Tide in the Low Latitude Thermosphere-Ionosphere

We present simultaneous, independent measurements of the atmospheric semidiurnal lunar tide in neutral winds and plasma velocities from NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer, and in atomic oxygen 135.6 nm airglow measured by the Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk. Westward tidal winds near 115 km at the magnetic equator occur during part of the upward phase of the in-situ plasma drift. Vertical motions associated with the field-aligned plasma velocity occur away from the magnetic equator. The morphology of the lunar tide, and the phasing between the airglow and plasma velocities are consistent with E × B drift as a mechanism for linking neutral wind and plasma perturbations. This work provides the first observational quantification of global-scale E- and F-region coupling through E × B and field-aligned vertical drifts. Plain Language Summary: Tidal winds propagating upward from the neutral atmosphere influence ionospheric dynamo electric fields and vertical plasma drifts. However, these mechanisms have never been fully identified in comprehensive and simultaneous measurements spanning the ionosphere-thermosphere-mesosphere (ITM) system. The atmospheric lunar tide is an effective marker of ITM coupling because it originates at Earth's surface, propagates vertically, and is fully sampled in daytime-only and post-sunset satellite measurements. We utilize measurements from two new NASA missions to track the lunar tide in neutral and plasma velocities, and in an electron density proxy. Our work provides observational confirmation, and quantitative estimates of F-region vertical plasma motions driven by neutral winds and electrodynamical forces

Ruth S. Lieberman↗

Resource Assessment Study of Long Island Sound Tidal Resource in New York State Waters Based on Numerical Modeling (Abstract)

To refine the understanding of the tidal energy resource in Long Island Sound (LIS), Verdant Power and PNNL will collaborate to conduct a numerical modeling campaign in accordance with a Stage 2 resource assessment according to IEC TC 62600-201. The work will develop a high resolution tidal hydrodynamic model using FVCOM in LIS, validate the model using NOAA C-MIST ADCP data, and conduct a Stage 2 array layout design study at selected hotspots within the project area. The teams will also model tidal energy extraction using the FVCOMTEC module at the hotspot sites, based on specific device technologies provided by Verdant Power. Model results from this study will inform additional resource assessment activities such as in situ water velocity measurements for further model validation and elucidate understanding of other key sites in Long Island Sound for commercial-scale tidal energy deployments.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Exploring the origin of the distance bimodality of stars in the periphery of the Small Magellanic Cloud with APOGEE and Gaia

ABSTRACT The Magellanic Cloud system represents a unique laboratory for study of both interacting dwarf galaxies and the ongoing process of the formation of the Milky Way and its halo. We focus on one aspect of this complex, three-body interaction – the dynamical perturbation of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) by the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), and specifically potential tidal effects on the SMC’s eastern side. Using Gaia astrometry and the precise radial velocities (RVs) and multielement chemical abundances from Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE-2) Data Release 17, we explore the well-known distance bimodality on the eastern side of the SMC. Through estimated stellar distances, proper motions, and RVs, we characterize the kinematics of the two populations in the bimodality and compare their properties with those of SMC populations elsewhere. Moreover, while all regions explored by APOGEE seem to show a single chemical enrichment history, the metallicity distribution function (MDF), of the ‘far’ stars on the eastern periphery of the SMC is found to resemble that for the more metal-poor fields of the western periphery, whereas the MDF for the ‘near’ stars on the eastern periphery resembles that for stars in the SMC Centre. The closer eastern periphery stars also show RVs (corrected for SMC rotation and bulk motion) that are, on average, approaching us relative to all other SMC populations sampled. We interpret these trends as evidence that the near stars on the eastern side of the SMC represent material pulled out of the central SMC as part of its tidal interaction with the LMC.

Almeida, Andres (ORCID:0009000007332479)↗

Glacier and Ice Shelves Studies Using Satellite SAR Interferometry

Satellite radar interferometry is a powerful technique to measure the surface velocity and topography of glacier ice. On ice shelves, a quadruple difference technique separates tidal motion from the steady creep flow deformation of ice. The results provide a wealth of information about glacier grounding lines , mass fluxes, stability, elastic properties of ice, and tidal regime. The grounding line, which is where the glacier detaches from its bed and becomes afloat, is detected with a precision of a few tens of meters. Combining this information with satellite radar altimetry makes it possible to measure glacier discharge into the ocean and state of mass balance with greater precision than ever before, and in turn provide a significant revision of past estimates of mass balance of the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets. Analysis of creep rates on floating ice permits an estimation of basal melting at the ice shelf underside. The results reveal that the action of ocean water in sub-ice-shelf cavities has been largely underestimated by oceanographic models and is the dominant mode of mass release to the ocean from an ice shelf. Precise mapping of grounding line positions also permits the detection of grounding line migration, which is a fine indicator of glacier change, independent of our knowledge of snow accumulation and ice melting. This technique has been successfully used to detect the rapid retreat of Pine Island Glacier, the largest ice stream in West Antarctica. Finally, tidal motion of ice shelves measured interferometrically provides a modern, synoptic view of the physical processes which govern the formation of tabular icebergs in the Antarctic.

Rignot, Eric↗

Thermal Pollution Mathematical Model: Verification of Three-Dimensional Free-Surface Model at Anclote Anchorage - Volume 6

The free-surface model presented is for tidal estuaries and coastal regions where ambient tidal forces play an important role in the dispersal of heated water. The model is time dependent, three dimensional, and can handle irregular bottom topography. The vertical stretching coordinate is adopted for better treatment of kinematic condition at the water surface. The results include surface elevation, velocity, and temperature. The model was verified at the Anclote Anchorage site of Florida Power Company. Two data bases at four tidal stages for winter and summer conditions were used to verify the model. Differences between measured and predicted temperatures are on an average of less than 1 C.

Lee, S. S.↗