ARCHIVE - EES Division Highlights/Accomplishments

Archive

June 29, 2005

Paul Johnson Elected Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America
Paul Johnson of EES-11 was elected Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) for contributions to nonlinear acoustics of rocks.  ASA is the premier international scientific society in acoustics.  Since its organization in 1929, the Society has grown steadily in membership. At this time nearly 7000 men and women who work in acoustics throughout the U.S. and abroad belong to this prestigious Society. No more than 0.1% of the membership can be Fellows at any given time. ASA publishes the most significant journal in the field, the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, in addition to Acoustics Research Letters Online (ARLO). ASA includes a variety of fields related to sound, including physics, geophysics, engineering, robotics, oceanography, biology, physiology, psychology, architecture, speech and hearing, music, noise and noise control, and structural acoustics and vibration.

EES's Hawkins Chairs Technical Working Group Meeting at Nevada Test Site
Ward Hawkins (EES-11), as chairman of the Underground Test Area (UGTA) ER project's Technical Working Group (TWG), organized and chaired the June 16th UGTA TWG meeting at the DOE NNSA Nevada Support Office.  The TWG provides technical advice and recommendations to the UGTA Project Manager on topics related to ER at the Nevada Test Site (NTS), such as hydrogeological characterization, the radiological source term, and flow and transport modeling.  The TWG evaluates these scientific and technical studies to promote the effective closure of Corrective Actions Units on the NTS. This advice also aids the DOE in strategic long-term planning of data collection and analysis activities.

June 15, 2005

EES Appointment as Associate Editor for Geophysical Research Letters
Manvendra Dubey (EES-6) was appointed Associate Editor of American Geophysical Union's (AGU)
Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) by the President of the AGU.  GRL is one of 18 scientific journals published by AGU. GRL is a unique confluence of modeling, theoretical, observational, and experimental research communities working across the core, mantle, subsurface, surface, ecology, atmosphere, space, and planetary continuum. Dubey wants to encourage scientists in EES Division to submit publications to GRL.

EES-11 and Collaborators Publish in Journal of Geophysical Research
A paper was recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research by EES-11 authors and their outside collaborators. The citation for the paper is: Maceira, M., S.R. Taylor, C.J. Ammon, X. Yang, and A.A. Velasco, "High resolution surface wave slowness tomography in central Asia," J. Geophys. Res., 110, B06304, doi:10.1029, 2005. In the work reported in the paper, the authors have computed short-period (6 to 30 s), high-resolution surface wave slowness maps using a Bayesian approach. The study area comprises three of the largest sedimentary basins in central Asia as well as Lop Nor Test Site in western China. The model can help improve regional magnitude estimations for construction of mb-Ms seismic discriminants. Moreover, the resulting short-period tomographic results show unprecedented resolution that reveals greater geologic detail that has been achieved using surface waves and that gives insight into the shear velocity structure of the crust underlying this part of Asia.

EES Staff Members Present at Nonproliferation and Arms Control Technology (NPAC TWG) Nuclear Explosion Detection Working Group Meeting
Mike Fehler, Ward Hawkins, Steve Taylor and Leigh House (currently on assignment to NA-22) attended the Nonproliferation and Arms Control Technology (NPAC TWG) Nuclear Explosion Detection Working Group meeting on Close-In Monitoring on June 10, 2005. NPAC TWG was created in 1994 by Presidential Directive as the mechanism to coordinate the R&D response to arms control and nonproliferation challenges. Mike Fehler presented Use of Ambient Seismic Noise for passive determination of local structure, Ward Hawkins summarized Monitoring Technologies for local monitoring, Steve Taylor discussed challenges in Yield Estimation, and Leigh House discussed monitoring of Pre-Test Activities.

EES-12 Certifies Shipments to Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)
The EES-12 WIPP Central Confirmation Project (CCP) Mobile Loading team certified and released four shipments from LANL for transport and disposal at WIPP. EES-12 Mobile Loading personnel are currently certifying and loading shipments at NTS, and assisted the DOE Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) and CCP in preparations for a shipment from Brookhaven National Laboratory to Argonne National Laboratory.

EES's Mike Fehler Gives Talk at Meeting at UC Santa Cruz
Michael Fehler (EES-11) attended the annual meeting of the Wavelet Transform On Propagation and Imaging consortium held by the Modeling and Imaging Laboratory of the University of California at Santa Cruz on May 20-21, 2005. Approximately 40 representatives of 17 industrial partners of the consortium attended the meeting. During the meeting, Fehler presented a one-hour talk on the topic of "Spatial Resolution of Seismic Imaging."

June 1, 2005

Hawkins Leads Underground Test Area Information Exchange Meeting
Ward Hawkins (EES-11), as chairman of the Underground Test Area (UGTA) ER project's Technical Working Group (TWG), organized and moderated the recent UGTA Technical Information Exchange at the Desert Research Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada.   This exchange provides an opportunity for researchers to share study results and assists the TWG in providing technical advice and recommendations to the DOE NNSA Nevada Support Office UGTA Project Manager.  The TWG evaluates and recommends, scientific and technical studies that promote the effective closure of Corrective Actions Units on the Nevada Test Site. This advice also aids the DOE in strategic long-term planning of data collection and analysis activities.

EES Gives Talk at 15th Annual Goldschmidt Conference
Quinjun Kang, EES-6, gave an invited talk at the 15th Annual Goldschmidt Conference, May 20-25, 2005 in Moscow, Idaho, in the session "Diffusion-Reaction Systems in the Earth Sciences: New Characterizations and Modeling Approaches."  Kang talked about the work that he and Peter Lichtner, EES-6, are doing on "Lattice Boltzmann pore-scale model for coupled multi-component flow, diffusion, and reaction." The model they developed takes into account convection, diffusion, homogeneous reactions among multiple aqueous species, heterogeneous reactions between the aqueous solution and minerals, as well as changes in solid and pore geometry. One of its applications in modeling crystal growth from supersaturated solution has been published in Geophysical Research Letters. 

More information can be found in the following references:
Q. Kang, D. Zhang, P. C. Lichtner, and I. N. Tsimpanogiannis, Lattice Boltzmann model for crystal growth from supersaturated solution, Geophys. Res. Lett.. 31, L21604 (2004).
Q. Kang and P. C. Lichtner, "Lattice Boltzmann pore-scale model for coupled multi-component flow, diffusion, and reaction," 15th Annual Goldschmidt Conference, May 20-25, 2005 in Moscow, Idaho, USA, SS-18.

EES-12 Tour Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIIP)
On May 4, 2005 Ned Elkins, Group Leader for EES-12, participated in a surface luncheon at the WIPP repository for DOE Associate Deputy Secretary, Bruce Carnes. DOE CBFO officials and other senior contractor personnel also attended. Earlier that morning Mr. Carnes was provided a general briefing of the repository layout, an underground tour, and details of TRU waste characterization, shipping, and emplacement in the WIPP repository located 2150 feet underground in 250,000 year old salt beds.

May 25, 2005

The Use of Interstation Seismic Arrival Time Differences to Account for Regional Path Variability
The work is aimed at determining Earth structure, and improving the ability to locate earthquakes and perform quality control on seismic bulleting data.  Travel times of regional seismic phases are strongly affected by heterogeneity in the crust and uppermost mantle.  Collaborators Scott Phillips, Charlotte Rowe, and Lee Steck (EES-11) have obtained an image of the velocity structure of the uppermost mantle beneath China using a novel method.  This velocity structure allows them to locate earthquakes and explosions in China more accurately.  The method, based on taking time differences between two stations for one event, reduces travel time picking errors, thereby improving the resulting velocity images.  The paper describing this research, "The Use of Interstation Arrival Time Differences to Account for Regional Path Variability," has been accepted for publication in Geophyscial Research Letters.  This work supports the Ground-based Nuclear Explosion Monitoring Program.

May 18, 2005

ZeroNet Decision Team Hosts Meeting with Navajo Water Managers 
On Thursday, May 12, LANL hosted a meeting of the ZeroNet Decision Team who are John Leeper (Director), and Bernadette Tsosie (Senior Hydrologist) of the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources, Water Management Branch. Other participants included Dan Macuga (OEEI) and Cathy Wilson, (EES-2), LANL E&E Council Water Portfolio Co-Managers.  ZeroNet Decision team participants included Paul Rich (EES-9), Mary Ewers (EES-9/UNM), and Laura Weintraub (Systech Engineering). The ZeroNet water-energy initiative has three main components: 1) development of water-saving power generation cooling processes, 2) development of water treatment technologies to decrease freshwater demand by use of degraded and saline water, and 3) development of a decision support system (DSS) for drought planning and economic analysis, with initial focus on the San Juan basin.

The ZeroNet DSS offers stakeholders effective means to address complex water problems. Watershed Tools, based in the Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework (WARMF), provide capabilities 1) to model surface flows, both the natural and controlled, as well as water withdrawals, via an engineering module, and 2) to analyze and visualize results via a stakeholder module. A new ZeroNet module for WARMF enables iterative modeling and production of "what if" scenario libraries to examine consequences of changes in climate, landuse, and water allocation. A Quick Scenario Tool uses system dynamics modeling for rapid analysis and visualization for a variety of uses, including drought planning, economic analysis, evaluation of management alternatives, and risk assessment. A Knowledge Base serves to organize and archive data in easily accessible digital libraries, and to share data from diverse
sources and for diverse uses. All of the decision tools depend upon geographic information system (GIS) capabilities for data/model integration, map-based analysis, and advanced visualization.

The annual General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) was held in Vienna, Australia in 24-29 April, 2005. Two EES-11 staff, James Tencate and Fred Pearce attended the meeting and each made a presentation. The information about the presentations is listed below:

Authors: Pearce, F.; Bodin, P.; Brackman, T.; Lawrence, Z.; Gomberg, J.; Steidl, J.; Menq, F.; Guyer, R.; Stokoe, K.; Johnson, P.
Title: Site-specific, nonlinear soil response using an active source

Authors: Tencate, J.; Darling, T.; Vogel, S.; Brown, D.; Clausen, B.; Proffen,
T.; Page, K.
Title: Exploring nonlinear mechanical behavior in rocks at LANSCE

The Annual meeting of the Seismological Society of America was held at Incline Village, Nevada on 27-29 April, 2005. Several EES-11 members attended the meeting, and a total of 13 papers were presented by EES-11 staff.  During the meeting of the SSA Board of Directors that was held the day before the technical meeting began, Michael Fehler was elected President of the Society. He assumed his role during the Board meeting and performed several duties as Society President during the following days including running the Board of Directors meeting, running the annual luncheon of the Society, and attending many committee meetings.

May 4, 2005

EES Co-Hosts Desalination Systems Science and Technology Workshop
The Joint LANL/Sandia Desalination Systems S&T Workshop, co-led by Cathy Wilson (LANL-EES) and Tom Mayer (SNL) was held on April 19th at the Sunrise Springs Resort in La Cienega, N.M. Over 40 PI's participated in the all day workshop, which was aimed at developing collaborative research proposals to target the competitive funding component of Senator Domenici's proposed National Energy and Water Technology Program. Representatives from eight LANL Divisions participated in the workshop including PI's from EES, C, T, MST, B, D, NWIS, and TT. About 15 proposal ideas were developed across four theme areas: Reservoirs and Repositories, Waste Management, Desalination Technologies, and Systems and Sensors. Proposal ideas ranged from smart, adaptable membranes (they can sense biofouling and adjust their properties to eject biofilms) to Zero Discharge Systems (integration of desalination process with chemical and energy production industries to minimize waste). Dr Erik Webb, a member of Senator Domenici's personal staff and primary DOE Lab contact for the new program, visited with PI's at the workshop and answered questions. Outcomes of the workshop include a Workshop Summary, requested by Dr Webb, and a collection of one-page proposal abstracts that will be vetted for potential funding as early as this summer

April 20, 2005

EES Attends Women in Engineering Programs & Advocates Network Meeting
Wendee Brunish, EES-11, and Aviva Sussman, EES-6, attended the joint Women in Engineering Programs & Advocates Network (WEPAN) and National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Administrators (NAMEPA) meeting, held in Las Vegas, NV on April 10-13, 2005. About 300 scientists, engineers, and diversity program coordinators attended the meeting.

The meeting included speakers, workshops, and panel discussions. Many of the sessions focused on strategies for recruitment and retention of women and minorities in engineering. Some of the issues addressed included 1) the image of engineers and engineering; 2) the "chilly" climate for students and early career engineers; 3) the difficulty of balancing work and family commitments; and 4) faulty processes for hiring, promotion, and tenure committees that may unwittingly discriminate against women and minorities.

Jemez Pueblo Students and Teachers Visit GISLab
GISLab (EES-9) hosted visits by Jemez Wallatowa High School teachers on April 13 and 20th, co-organized by Rick Kelley, Doug Walther, and Paul Rich. The overall goal was to introduce students to geographic information system (GIS) science and technology.

The theme of the first session was "GIS past, present, and future", with each GISLab staff member address three questions: 1) What got me started with GIS? 2) What am I doing now with GIS? 3) How does GIS figure in our future?  Presentations included "GISLab at LANL" (Paul Rich), "GIS for carbon sequestration" (Gordon Keating,) "GIS for critical infrastructure protection" ((Marc Witkowski/Donatella Pasqualini), "Production GIS and GIS for geomorphology studies" (Doug Walther/Rick Kelley), "GIS for the Yucca Mountain Project" (Rick Kelley/Frank Perry), "GIS for water resource management" (Mary Ewers), "GIS for microclimate and ecology" (Paul Rich), and "GIS in our future" (Paul Rich). 

The theme for the second session was hands-on experience with GIS, with Rick Kelley and Doug Walther leading an exercise on "Introduction to GIS Data Sources and Cartography." Students completed a project in which they constructed maps of the Jemez Pueblo and surroundings.

Deputy Under Secretary of Energy, Science and Environment Tours Yucca Mountain
On April 13, 2005, EES's Bruce Reinert briefed Diedre Ciriello, Deputy Under Secretary for Energy, Science, and Environment. Ms. Ciriello is a geologist and has responsibilities for YMP. Reinert's briefing included overview of geology, results of testing activities and repository layout.

EES Provides Briefings and Tours of Yucca Mountain
On April 11, Bruce Reinert briefed the Senior Tripsters, a group of about 50 from a retirement community in Las Vegas.

On April 13, Dick Kovach briefed the Clark County Leadership Forum. The group of about 35 were from various governmental units, including the County of Las Vegas, City of Las Vegas, and City of North Las Vegas. The information included an overview of the geology, results of testing activities, and repository layout.

April 13, 2005

LANL Co-Sponsor for 2005 Expanding Your Horizons Conference
Kay Birdsell and Aviva Susman (EES-6) and Wendee Brunish (EES-11), participated in the 2005 Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) conference, organized by the Northern Chapter of New Mexico Network for Women in Science and Engineering (NMNWSE). The conference was held during the last week of March at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Parish Hall in Los Alamos. EYH is a program designed to attract young women into math, engineering, and science. Over 150 teenage girls (in grades 8-10) from Northern New Mexico attended the conference, which was sponsored in part by LANL.

Deputy Secretary of Energy Tours Yucca Mountain
On April 7, 2005, EES's Bruce Reinert accompanied Clay Cell, Deputy Secretary of Energy on a tour of the Yucca Mountain repository. Reinhert assisted in providing information that included an overview of geology, results of testing activities and repository layout. Deputy Secretary Cell was visiting the weapons site and included Yucca Mountain in his itinerary. Accompanying the Deputy Secretary were Ted Garrish, Acting Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM); John Arthur, Deputy Director, OCRWM; Russ Dyer, DOE Assistant Deputy Director for Technical and Regulatory Programs; and Allen Benson, DOE Manager Communications

April 6, 2005

Bradbury Science Museum Hosts ARM Educational Kiosk
Los Alamos teachers, students, and visitors can now learn about climate studies on the North Slope of Alaska by visiting the Bradbury Science Museum and checking out the educational kiosk titled "Climate Change: Science and Traditional Knowledge." Developed by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program's Education and Outreach team in EES-2, the interactive kiosk has been on display at the museum since March 28, 2005. Originally created for the North Slope of Alaska community where ARM research sites are located, the kiosk provides an opportunity for the public to learn about climate studies from both scientific and indigenous perspectives.

Interviews with ARM scientists as well as North Slope community elders and leaders make the kiosk a useful tool for teaching the basics of climate, cultural and social studies. When visiting the Bradbury Science Museum, teachers can request a copy of the kiosk on CD-ROM for in-class usage.  The Inupiat Heritage Center in Barrow, Alaska is home to a permanent kiosk display.

ARM Education and Outreach develops educational resources and promotes awareness of ARM research in communities that host ARM Climate Research Facilities (ACRF). To learn more visit http://education.arm.gov/.

EES Scientists Attend National EarthScope Meeting
EES members Mike Fehler, Andy Newman, Aviva Sussman and David Coblentz attended the National EarthScope meeting this past week at the Santa Ana Pueblo, near Albuquerque. More than 300 earth scientists from around the country were present to summarize the current status of the EarthScope project, consolidate results of regional workshops, and to discuss future research directions. EarthScope is a national-scale undertaking to apply modern observational, analytical, and telecommunications technologies to investigate the structure and evolution of the North American continent. More information is available at www.earthscope.org.

EES-7 Conducts Tours and Briefings of Yucca Mountain Repository
On March 29, Bruce Reinert briefed information on the Yucca Mountain repository to a small group from the Department of Defense (DOD). Yucca Mountain will be the final location for all the Nuclear Reactors for the Naval ships. The DOD provides funding for the project. Visitors from the DOD included Dr. Paul W. Mayberry, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Readiness); Dr. Alex A. Beehler, Asst. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Environment, Safety & Occupational Health); Major General Jack J. Catton Jr., Director, Operational Plans & Joint Force Development; and Colonel Frank Digiovanni, Associate Director for Ranges & Training, Office of the Secretary of Defense

On March 29, Dick Kovach gave an overview of geology, results of testing activities and repository layout to a group from Sandia National Laboratory. SNL is working with LLNL on materials for the waste canisters that will eventually be stored in the repository.

On March 30, Bruce Reinert hosted two groups of visitors from Germany (Die Gazette Newspaper) and Korea. The Korean delegation included high-level representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Energy; Office of the Prime Minister, Office of the President, Korean Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., as well as other agencies. Both countries have nuclear power plants and were looking at disposal issues. Reinert provided information that included an overview of geology, results of testing activities and repository layout.

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