2,790 research outputs found
Formation and Evolution of Binary Asteroids
Satellites of asteroids have been discovered in nearly every known small body
population, and a remarkable aspect of the known satellites is the diversity of
their properties. They tell a story of vast differences in formation and
evolution mechanisms that act as a function of size, distance from the Sun, and
the properties of their nebular environment at the beginning of Solar System
history and their dynamical environment over the next 4.5 Gyr. The mere
existence of these systems provides a laboratory to study numerous types of
physical processes acting on asteroids and their dynamics provide a valuable
probe of their physical properties otherwise possible only with spacecraft.
Advances in understanding the formation and evolution of binary systems have
been assisted by: 1) the growing catalog of known systems, increasing from 33
to nearly 250 between the Merline et al. (2002) Asteroids III chapter and now,
2) the detailed study and long-term monitoring of individual systems such as
1999 KW4 and 1996 FG3, 3) the discovery of new binary system morphologies and
triple systems, 4) and the discovery of unbound systems that appear to be
end-states of binary dynamical evolutionary paths.
Specifically for small bodies (diameter smaller than 10 km), these
observations and discoveries have motivated theoretical work finding that
thermal forces can efficiently drive the rotational disruption of small
asteroids. Long-term monitoring has allowed studies to constrain the system's
dynamical evolution by the combination of tides, thermal forces and rigid body
physics. The outliers and split pairs have pushed the theoretical work to
explore a wide range of evolutionary end-states.Comment: 42 pages, 4 figures, contribution to the Asteroids 4 boo
Carbon Free Boston: Offsets Technical Report
Part of a series of reports that includes:
Carbon Free Boston: Summary Report;
Carbon Free Boston: Social Equity Report;
Carbon Free Boston: Technical Summary;
Carbon Free Boston: Buildings Technical Report;
Carbon Free Boston: Transportation Technical Report;
Carbon Free Boston: Waste Technical Report;
Carbon Free Boston: Energy Technical Report;
Available at http://sites.bu.edu/cfb/OVERVIEW:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines offsets as a specific activity or set of activities
intended to reduce GHG emissions, increase the storage of carbon, or enhance GHG removals from the
atmosphere [1]. From a city perspective, they provide a mechanism to negate residual GHG emissions—
those the city is unable to reduce directly—by supporting projects that avoid or sequester them outside
of the city’s reporting boundary.
Offsetting GHG emissions is a controversial topic for cities, as the co-benefits of the investment are
typically not realized locally. For this reason, offsetting emissions is considered a last resort, a strategy
option available when the city has exhausted all others. However, offsets are likely to be a necessity to
achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and promote emissions reductions in the near term. While public and
private sector partners pursue the more complex systems transformation, cities can utilize offsets to
support short-term and relatively cost-effective reductions in emissions. Offsets can be a relatively
simple, certain, and high-impact way to support the transition to a low-carbon world.
This report focuses on carbon offset certificates, more often referred to as offsets. Each offset
represents a metric ton of verified carbon dioxide (CO2) or equivalent emissions that is reduced,
avoided, or permanently removed from the atmosphere (“sequestered”) through an action taken by the
creator of the offset. The certificates can be traded and retiring (that is, not re-selling) offsets can be a
useful component of an overall voluntary emissions reduction strategy, alongside activities to lower an
organization’s direct and indirect emissions. In the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas
Emissions Inventories (GPC), the GHG accounting system used by the City of Boston, any carbon offset
certificates that the City has can be deducted from the City’s total GHG emissions.http://sites.bu.edu/cfb/files/2019/06/CFB_Offsets_Technical_Report_051619.pdfPublished versio
Carbon Free Boston: Energy Technical Report
Part of a series of reports that includes:
Carbon Free Boston: Summary Report;
Carbon Free Boston: Social Equity Report;
Carbon Free Boston: Technical Summary;
Carbon Free Boston: Buildings Technical Report;
Carbon Free Boston: Transportation Technical Report;
Carbon Free Boston: Waste Technical Report;
Carbon Free Boston: Offsets Technical Report;
Available at http://sites.bu.edu/cfb/INTRODUCTION:
The adoption of clean energy in Boston’s buildings and transportation systems will produce sweeping
changes in the quantity and composition of the city’s demand for fuel and electricity. The demand for
electricity is expected to increase by 2050, while the demand for petroleum-based liquid fuels and
natural gas within the city is projected to decline significantly. The city must meet future energy demand
with clean energy sources in order to meet its carbon mitigation targets. That clean energy must be
procured in a way that supports the City’s goals for economic development, social equity, environmental
sustainability, and overall quality of life. This chapter examines the strategies to accomplish these goals.
Improved energy efficiency, district energy, and in-boundary generation of clean energy (rooftop PV)
will reduce net electric power and natural gas demand substantially, but these measures will not
eliminate the need for electricity and gas (or its replacement fuel) delivered into Boston. Broadly
speaking, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the city must therefore (1) reduce its use of fossil fuels
to heat and cool buildings through cost-effective energy efficiency measures and electrification of
building thermal services where feasible; and (2) over time, increase the amount of carbon-free
electricity delivered to the city. Reducing energy demand though cost effective energy conservation
measures will be necessary to reduce the challenges associated with expanding the electricity delivery
system and sustainably sourcing renewable fuels.Published versio
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