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DOE OSTI2026

In Situ Soil Moisture and Thaw Depth Measurements Coincident with Airborne SAR Data Collections, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 2022

The in-situ soil moisture and thaw depth measurements provided in this dataset were collected coincident with airborne overflights of L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instruments at the Teller, Kougarok, and Council study sites on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Overflights occurred on August 19, 2022. Soil moisture data at Teller and Kougarok was collected on August 19, and at Council on August 20. Thaw depth, soil pits, and any additional measurements were recorded on August 20 and 21. Field measurements and flights were conducted during the summer of 2022 as a collaboration between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) Project’s Airborne SAR Campaign and the Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments (NGEE) Arctic Project. This dataset includes a data file (*.csv), a data dictionary (*_dd.csv) and a file-level metadata (*_flmd.csv). The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), 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).

EARTH SCIENCE > LAND SURFACE > FROZEN GROUND↗

DOE OSTI2023

Benzene polycarboxylic acids, lignin and hydrolysable lipids data from the whole-soil warming experiment at Blodgett Forest, CA, 2018, from: "Rapid loss of complex polymers and pyrogenic carbon in subsoils under whole soil warming"

This data package contains benzene polycarboxylic acids, lignin and hydrolysable lipids data used for the paper: “Rapid loss of subsoil plant-derived polymers and pyrogenic carbon with whole-soil warming”.On April 2018 (after 4.5 years of warming), we collected soil cores down to 90 cm depth from the whole soil profile warming experiment at the University of California Blodgett Forest Research Station, in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Georgetown, CA at 1370 m above sea level. Cores were collected from 6 experimental plots (three replicated blocks); samples were collected in 10 cm increments from 0 to 90 cm depth. This data package includes a file in .csv format and a file in .xlsx format, which can be accessed and processed using MS Excel or R. Benzene polycarboxylic acid, lignin and hydrolysable lipid concentrations are provided as processed data files.The aim of the measurements was to assess how +4°C of whole-soil warming for 4.5 years will affect structurally complex polymeric compounds at different soil depths. The research was supported by Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) project 172744 (DEEP C) and U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research under contract number DE-AC02-05CH11231.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1993

Shallow crustal discontinuities and graben and scarp formation in the Tharsis region of Mars

We recently obtained photoclinometric profiles across all simple grabens and erosional landforms (e.g., troughs, pits, wall-valley heads, and scarps that are bounded above and below by flat surfaces) that occur within Tempe Terra. These data, together with similar data that we obtained for Syria, Sinai, and Lunae Plana and the Alba Patera region, allow regional examination of shallow crust Al discontinuities between latitude 30 deg. S and 50 deg. N and longitude 50 deg. W and 112 deg. W. The profile for each simple graben was used with an appropriate structural model to estimate the depth to the base of the faulted layer. The depths of erosional wall scarps may also indicate the depths of mechanical discontinuities such as a local lithologic or cryospheric boundary. Examination of these data indicates a surprisingly consistent set of shallow crust Al discontinuities for the Tharsis region at depths of 0.4-0.6 km, 1.0-1.4 km, and 2 km; the maximum depth of the features in most study areas appears to be about 4 km. The concentration of values between 0.4 and 0.6 km in most scarp and some faulted-layer depth data is similar to the range in estimated thicknesses of individual exposed Noachian and Hesperian plains units in the Tharsis region. The regional depth data also show two modes near 1 and 2 km in some study areas and a maximum depth near 4 km in most study areas; the faulted-layer depths in excess of 4 km at Alba Patera occur near the summit of the caldera and could be attributed to volcanic loading. Our detailed examination of these depth data includes the following observations: (1) The mode at 1.0-1.4 km depth transcends age and geologic setting in this broad study area; (2) The 2-km mode is most obvious at Alba Patera and moderately well developed at Syria and Sinai Plana, but it is muted at Tempe Terra, which is in the same latitude range as Alba Patera but older; and (3) The 2-km-depth mode is not present in all areas that have features of Amazonian age. We suggest two possible explanations for our observations in the Tharsis region.

Davis, P. A.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Updating coastal and navigational charts using ERTS-1 data

A successful processing algorithm for extracting water depth information from ERTS data has been developed. Depth charts for two geographical areas have been constructed representing different solar illumination and water transparency conditions. Absolute depth calculations for water depth to 4.5 fathoms have been demonstrated for the Little Bahama Bank. Depth Charts also were constructed using data in Band 4 and 5 of the ERTS-1 MSS for areas in Lake Michigan. This data represented a low sun angle, poor light transmission in water conditions and gave useful results to 200 meters. In both cases, the ERTS map represented an update in shallow water detail in comparison with available navigation charts for the areas tested. Present processing costs to provide MSS depth charts are estimated to be on the order of $1.50 per sq. mile. The updating of navigation charts for areas hazardous to shipping is an achievable direct application.

Polcyn, F. C.↗

NASA NTRS2019

Smart Handoffs: Preserving User Context Between Tools and Services Related to NASA's EOSDIS Data Archive

NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) is tasked with archiving and distributing Earth Observation data across a range of disciplines, including atmospheric science, oceanography, land processes, natural hazards, solar radiance and even socioeconomic aspects relating to the environment. Given the breadth of disciplines and depth of data that EOSDIS provides, the efficient and intuitive discovery and usage of data by a scientist is of paramount importance. An effective data gathering workflow may involve switching from general use discovery tools to a more bespoke services designed specifically for the scientist's discipline. Providing concrete interoperability between such tools could vastly improve the efficiency of a scientist's workflow.

Analytics↗

NASA NTRS1991

Deep FIFO Surge Buffer

First-in/first-out (FIFO) temporarily stores short surges of data generated by data-acquisition system at excessively high rate and releases data at lower rate suitable for processing by computer. Size and complexity reduced while capacity enhanced by use of newly developed, sophisticated integrated circuits and by "byte-folding" scheme doubling effective depth and data rate.

Temple, Gerald↗

NASA NTRS2011

Integrating Data from GRACE and Other Observing Systems for Hydrological Research and Applications

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission provides a unique view of water cycle dynamics, enabling the only space based observations of water on and beneath the land surface that are not limited by depth. GRACE data are immediately useful for large scale applications such as ice sheet ablation monitoring, but they are even more valuable when combined with other types of observations, either directly or within a data assimilation system. Here we describe recent results of hydrological research and applications projects enabled by GRACE. These include the following: 1) global monitoring of interannual variability of terrestrial water storage and groundwater; 2) water balance estimates of evapotranspiration over several large river basins; 3) NASA's Energy and Water Cycle Study (NEWS) state of the global water budget project; 4) drought indicator products now being incorporated into the U.S. Drought Monitor; 5) GRACE data assimilation over several regions.

Rodell, M.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Mars 2020 Reconstructed Aerothermal Environments and Design Margins

The Mars 2020 aeroshell's thermal protection system was nearly identical to the Mars Science Laboratory system that successfully completed its mission for the Curiosity rover's landing in 2012. It was predicted that, like Mars Science Laboratory, the Mars 2020 heatshield would experience boundary layer transition and that the thermal protection system would provide sufficient material thickness margins against the aerothermal environments, even after adding radiative heating that was not included for Mars Science Laboratory. The Mars 2020 flight instrumentation suite included heatshield sensors similar to Mars Science Laboratory and new backshell measurements. A full set of surface pressure and in-depth temperature data were collected during atmospheric entry. This paper provides an initial analysis of the flight data and focuses on the reconstructed total surface heat flux inferred from the measured temperatures. Turbulent boundary layer conditions again were observed on the Mars 2020 heatshield, and the temperatures at all eleven heatshield and six backshell thermocouple in-depth sensor locations were well within system capabilities due to favorable entry conditions and conservative uncertainties. New computational fluid dynamics results on the reconstructed entry trajectory are compared to the measured surface pressures and reconstructed total heat fluxes. The predicted heatshield surface pressures at six locations match the data qualitatively and quantitatively well, as expected. Smooth-wall laminar heating predictions prior to boundary layer transition fall above the reconstructed heating on the heatshield. After the observed boundary layer transition time, total heat flux based on algebraic turbulence model calculations generally match the heat flux trends relative to one another. The convective heat flux was predicted to constitute the majority of the total heating. On the backshell, smooth-wall laminar total heat flux predictions generally exceed the reconstructed total heating at six locations. At each of these locations, it is estimated that radiative heating provided almost all of the total heating. The Mars 2020 as-flown aerothermal environments were well below the design levels for all measurement locations due to conservative design assumptions and a stressing design trajectory.

Mars 2020↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Mars 2020 Reconstructed Aerothermal Environments and Design Margins

Mars 2020↗

DOE OSTI2019

Utah FORGE: Wells Wow2 and Wow3 Groundwater Monitoring Data

This dataset includes ground water level data for Utah FORGE Phase 2c ground water monitoring wells Wow2 and Wow3. The readme file explains the fields contained in the included Excel spreadsheet and contains the coordinates for the wells. The Excel spreadsheet contains raw data taken directly from downhole transducers and includes fields labeled Date, Time, LEVEL, and TEMPERATURE.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

NASA NTRS2007

Environmental Public Health Surveillance for Exposure to Respiratory Health Hazards: A Joint NASA/CDC Project to Use Remote Sensing Data for Estimating Airborne Particulate Matter Over the Atlanta, Georgia Metropolitan Area

As part of the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (EPHTN) the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is leading a project called Health and Environment Linked for Information Exchange (HELiX-Atlanta). The goal of developing the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network is to improve the health of communities. Currently, few systems exist at the state or national level to concurrently track many of the exposures and health effects that might be associated with environmental hazards. An additional challenge is estimating exposure to environmental hazards such as particulate matter whose aerodynamic diameter is less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5). HELIX-Atlanta's goal is to examine the feasibility of building an integrated electronic health and environmental data network in five counties of Metropolitan Atlanta, GA. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA/MSFC) is collaborating with CDC to combine NASA earth science satellite observations related to air quality and environmental monitoring data to model surface estimates of PM2.5 concentrations that can be linked with clinic visits for asthma. While use of the Air Quality System (AQS) PM2.5 data alone could meet HELIX-Atlanta specifications, there are only five AQS sites in the Atlanta area, thus the spatial coverage is not ideal. We are using NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) data for estimating daily ground level PM2.5 at 10 km resolution over the metropolitan Atlanta area supplementing the AQS ground observations and filling their spatial and temporal gaps.

Quattrochi, Dale A.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

MEDLI2 Material Response Model Development and Validation

During the entry of Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) the heatshield was equipped with the instrumentation suite Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing Instruments (MEDLI). In-depth thermocouple (TC) data was used to reconstruct the surface heating and temperatures. Discrepancies between MEDLI’s recorded in-depth heating data and the predicted thermal response and recession led to a campaign to characterize and test Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing Instrument 2 (MEDLI2) flight lot thermal protection materials (TPS) at relevant temperatures and pressures for Martian entry conditions. This paper covers the development and validation of MEDLI2 flight lot material response models for the heatshield material Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) and the backshell material Super-Lightweight Ablator (SLA-561V). Virgin and char thermal conductivities were updated as a function of temperature and pressure in the MEDLI2 specific material response models. Other material properties such as virgin and char density, emissivity, absorptivity, and specific heat capacitance was also characterized and compared to the “Heritage” models used during the TPS design phase of Mars 2020. Fully Implicit Ablation and Thermal response (FIAT) simulations were completed using the Heritage and MEDLI2 material response models to provide evidence of the increased accuracy of the MEDLI2 model. FIAT predicted in-depth temperatures were compared to flight lot certification ground-test arc jet test data and MEDLI2 flight thermocouple data.

Material response↗

NASA NTRS2017

Intercomparison of Snow Depth Retrievals over Arctic Sea Ice from Radar Data Acquired by Operation IceBridge

Since 2009, the ultra-wideband snow radar on Operation IceBridge (OIB; a NASA airborne mission to survey the polar ice covers) has acquired data in annual campaigns conducted during the Arctic and Antarctic springs. Progressive improvements in radar hardware and data processing methodologies have led to improved data quality for subsequent retrieval of snow depth. Existing retrieval algorithms differ in the way the air-snow (a-s) and snow-ice (s-i) interfaces are detected and localized in the radar returns and in how the system limitations are addressed (e.g., noise, resolution). In 2014, the Snow Thickness On Sea Ice Working Group (STOSIWG) was formed and tasked with investigating how radar data quality affects snow depth retrievals and how retrievals from the various algorithms differ. The goal is to understand the limitations of the estimates and to produce a well-documented, long-term record that can be used for understanding broader changes in the Arctic climate system. Here, we assess five retrieval algorithms by comparisons with field measurements from two groundbased campaigns, including the BRomine, Ozone, and Mercury EXperiment (BROMEX) at Barrow, Alaska; a field program by Environment and Climate Change Canada at Eureka, Nunavut; and available climatology and snowfall from ERA-Interim (ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) Re-Analysis) reanalysis. The aim is to examine available algorithms and to use the assessment results to inform the development of future approaches. We present results from these assessments and highlight key considerations for the production of a long-term, calibrated geophysical record of springtime snow thickness over Arctic sea ice.

Operation IceBridge↗

DOE OSTI2022

In Situ Soil Moisture and Thaw Depth Measurements Coincident with Airborne SAR Data Collections, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 2019

The in-situ soil moisture and thaw depth measurements provided in this dataset were collected coincident with airborne overflights of L- and P-band SAR instruments at the Teller and Kougarok NGEE Arctic study sites on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Field measurements and flights were conducted in August 2019 as a collaboration between the NASA ABoVE Project's Airborne SAR Campaign and the NGEE Arctic Project. ABoVE protocols for establishing field measurement plots were followed. NGEE Arctic plots for the ground-based measurements are located at existing study sites where SAR data would also add value to current monitoring and characterization efforts of the NGEE Team. The ground-based data will be used by ABoVE to analyze, calibrate and validate the remote sensing products. This dataset follows the format and collection guidelines of the collaboration effort in 2017. Contained in this dataset are *.csv (including data dictionaries), .zip, .kml, .jpgs, .py, and .pdf files.The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), was a research effort (with some overlap with Covid-19 pandemic) 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↗

DOE OSTI2019

Hf-W chronology of ordinary chondrites

Fifteen H, L, and LL ordinary chondrites of petrologic types 4–6 have been analyzed for Hf-W isotope systematics to constrain the chronology, internal structure, and thermal history of their parent bodies. For most samples coarse-grained metals plot below the isochrons defined by silicate-dominated fractions which consist of variable mixtures of silicate minerals with tiny metal inclusions. This offset results from an earlier Hf-W closure in the large metal grains and provides a new means for simultaneously determining cooling rates and Hf-W closure ages for individual samples. For most type 5 and 6 samples, cooling rates and Hf-W ages are inversely correlated, indicating that these samples derive from concentrically zoned bodies in which more strongly metamorphosed samples derive from greater depth. These data, therefore, provide strong evidence for a common ‘onion shell’ structure for the H, L, and LL chondrite parent bodies. The cooling rates and Hf-W ages of some type 5 and 6 chondrites overlap, indicating that the Hf-W systematics provide a more robust measure of the thermal history and burial depth of a given sample than the simple petrographic distinction between types 5 and 6. Two type 6 samples deviate from the correlation between cooling rates and Hf-W ages and cooled much faster than expected for their Hf-W age. These samples likely were excavated by impacts that occurred during high-temperature metamorphism and prior to complete closure of the Hf-W system at ~10 Ma after CAI formation. As these impacts would have disturbed the asteroid’s cooling history, these samples likely derive from different bodies than samples with undisturbed cooling histories, implying that ordinary chondrites derive from more than just three parent bodies. The Hf-W data reveal that metal-silicate fractionation among the H, L, and LL groups occurred between ~2 and ~2.7 Ma after CAI formation and, hence, was about coeval to chondrule formation. As both metal-silicate fractionation and chondrule formation occurred prior to chondrite parent body accretion, there should be no ordinary chondrite chondrules that are younger than ~2.7 Ma. In conclusion, ordinary chondrite precursors had lower Hf/W ratios than carbonaceous chondrites, suggesting that inner and outer solar system materials, respectively, were chemically distinct even for refractory elements.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2024

Geophysical and Environmental Monitoring Data, and Subsurface Flow Modelling Results for Chicken Bone Meadow, Mt. Snodgrass, Crested Butte, CO

This dataset includes geoelectrical monitoring data acquired between October 2021 and November 2022, soil moisture and temperature data, groundwater data obtained from borehole SNIB covering the period from June 2021 to September 2022, and hydrological modelling results. The data were acquired to investigate how variations in bedrock type and topography, and vegetation cover control subsurface flow dynamics. To provide insights into the subsurface flow dynamics and their controls, a monitoring transect was installed at the Chicken Bone Meadow, Mt. Snodgrass, Crested Butte, CO, measuring the spatio-temporal variations of soil moisture, soil and snow temperature, subsurface electrical resistivity variations, and groundwater dynamics. Field data are organized in a folder structure, with Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) data being provided as one file per measurement, and data of the soil moisture and temperature sensors being provided as text files covering the entire monitoring period. The ‘Locations.csv’ file contains the location of all sensors, given in NAD83 – UTM Zone 13N. ERT monitoring data has been processed to filter data based on reciprocal errors (data with errors > 30% were removed), a linear error model was fitted to each survey, and to ensure a constant set of measurements for time-lapse inversion, filtered data were interpolated and assigned a 100% measurement error. Soil moisture and temperature data were acquired at 15 min intervals, and averaged to provide 1h data. Weather data and borehole data (groundwater depth, conductivity and temperature) were acquired at 30 min intervals, and are provided as daily measurements; all measurements are averaged, except of precipitation values, which are given as daily accumulation. The hydrological model was set up along the ERT monitoring transect, and net infiltration was used as surface boundary condition and derived from the weather data. Four different results are provided, (1) results for a parameterization using hydraulic permeability and porosity as derived from the ERT data through petrophysical relationships, and (2) three simplified model results, using 1 to 3 geological layers above the bedrock. Modelling was performed using PFLOTRAN, and for each model the PFLOTRAN input files are provided. The result files include weekly hydrological modelling results (e.g., saturation, velocities, pressures), as well as the model parameterization. The dataset additionally includes a file-level metadata (flmd.csv) file that lists each file contained in the dataset with associated metadata; and a data dictionary (dd.csv) file that contains column/row headers used throughout the files along with a definition, units, and data type.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS2022

Test data analysis of the thermodynamic vent system-augmented top spray injector liquid nitrogen transfer experiments

Traditionally, a cryogenic tank must be pre-chilled to some “target” temperature before the main vent valve can be closed to attempt a non-vented fill (NVF) of cryogenic liquid propellant. This methodology is particularly attractive for performing in-space transfer of cryogens due to the unknown location of the liquid/vapor interface in microgravity and the high likelihood of venting liquid if the vent valve is opened during transfer. This paper presents in-depth test data analysis of a Thermodynamic Vent System (TVS) augmented injector used for cryogenic tank chilldown and fill experiments of a thin-walled Titanium tank. Eight tests were conducted using liquid nitrogen across a range of inlet conditions and boundary conditions, and three different chilldown/fill methods. For four of the tests, the injector sprays liquid into the tank as normal, but also uses a TVS heat exchanger to cool the metallic injector itself as well as the main incoming liquid stream. Results show that using the TVS augmented injector simplifies transfer operation via enhanced condensation at the injector surface at the cost of sacrificing only a small amount of propellant.

No-vent Fill↗

DOE OSTI2020

Hydrologic Model Files (PRMS) for Historical Conditions in the East River Watershed, Colorado between 1987-2019

The data package contains model input and output file for the East River watershed (85 km2) located in the headwaters of the Colorado River. The model is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Precipitation-Modeling Runoff System (PRMS) for the historical, or baseline, condition (1987-2019) to assess the efficiency of summer monsoon rains to generate streamflow. The finite difference grid resolution is 100 m with elevations resampled from the USGS National Elevation Dataset. LANDFIRE raster data is used to derive parameters of dominant cover type, summer and winter cover density, canopy interception characteristics for snow and rain and transmission coefficient for shortwave radiation. Climate forcing uses minimum and maximum daily temperature lapse rates defined by the two Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) stations located in the vicinity of the East River adjusted for aspect. Schofield SNOTEL snowfall is spatially distributed using LiDAR derived snow depth observations from the Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) flown 4 April 2016. Snow depths are converted to snow water equivalent based on ground surveys and density modeling. Rainfall is spatially distributed using the monthly Parameter-elevation Relationships on Independent Slopes Model 30-year monthly averages. Simulated solar radiation is calibrated to match weather station observations. Model verification of snow water equivalent (SWE) accumulation and ablation relies on the 2018 and 2019 ASO maps and weather station snow depth. The data package contains model input files in text format, model documentation in pfd and a readme.txt file to help users understand the file structure to run the program.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗