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At least 253 records · Page 14

Mapping of CO2 at High Spatiotemporal Resolution using Satellite Observations: Global distributions from OCO-2

Satellite observations of CO2 offer new opportunities to improve our understanding of the global carbon cycle. Using such observations to infer global maps of atmospheric CO2 and their associated uncertainties can provide key information about the distribution and dynamic behavior of CO2, through comparison to atmospheric CO2 distributions predicted from biospheric, oceanic, or fossil fuel flux emissions estimates coupled with atmospheric transport models. Ideally, these maps should be at temporal resolutions that are short enough to represent and capture the synoptic dynamics of atmospheric CO2. This study presents a geostatistical method that accomplishes this goal. The method can extract information about the spatial covariance structure of the CO2 field from the available CO2 retrievals, yields full coverage (Level 3) maps at high spatial resolutions, and provides estimates of the uncertainties associated with these maps. The method does not require information about CO2 fluxes or atmospheric transport, such that the Level 3 maps are informed entirely by available retrievals. The approach is assessed by investigating its performance using synthetic OCO-2 data generated from the PCTM/ GEOS-4/CASA-GFED model, for time periods ranging from 1 to 16 days and a target spatial resolution of 1deg latitude x 1.25deg longitude. Results show that global CO2 fields from OCO-2 observations can be predicted well at surprisingly high temporal resolutions. Even one-day Level 3 maps reproduce the large-scale features of the atmospheric CO2 distribution, and yield realistic uncertainty bounds. Temporal resolutions of two to four days result in the best performance for a wide range of investigated scenarios, providing maps at an order of magnitude higher temporal resolution relative to the monthly or seasonal Level 3 maps typically reported in the literature.

Hammerling, Dorit M.↗

On determining the spectrum of primordial inhomogeneity from the COBE DMR sky maps: Results of two-year data analysis

A new technique of Fourier analysis on a cut sky has been applied to the two-year Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) Differential Microwave Radiometer (DMR) 53 and 90 GHz sky maps. The Bayesian power spectrum estimation results are consistent with the Harrison-Zel'dovich n = 1 model. The maximum likelihood estimates of the usual parameters defining the power spectrum of primordial perturbations are n = 1.22 (1.02) and Q(sub rms-PS) = 17 (20) microK including (excluding) the quadrupole. A spectral-index-independent normalization is naturally expressed for the two-year maps in terms of the multipole amplitude a(sub 9) = 8.2 (8.3) microK (to approximately 12 sigma significance). The marginal likelihood function on n obtained by intergration with respect to a(sub 9) renders n = 1.17 +/- 0.31 (0.96 +/- 0.36).

Gorski, K. M.↗

Uncertainty Quantification of GEOS-5 L-band Radiative Transfer Model Parameters Using Bayesian Inference and SMOS Observations

Uncertainties in L-band (1.4 GHz) radiative transfer modeling (RTM) affect the simulation of brightness temperatures (Tb) over land and the inversion of satellite-observed Tb into soil moisture retrievals. In particular, accurate estimates of the microwave soil roughness, vegetation opacity and scattering albedo for large-scale applications are difficult to obtain from field studies and often lack an uncertainty estimate. Here, a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation method is used to determine satellite-scale estimates of RTM parameters and their posterior uncertainty by minimizing the misfit between long-term averages and standard deviations of simulated and observed Tb at a range of incidence angles, at horizontal and vertical polarization, and for morning and evening overpasses. Tb simulations are generated with the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS-5) and confronted with Tb observations from the Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission. The MCMC algorithm suggests that the relative uncertainty of the RTM parameter estimates is typically less than 25 of the maximum a posteriori density (MAP) parameter value. Furthermore, the actual root-mean-square-differences in long-term Tb averages and standard deviations are found consistent with the respective estimated total simulation and observation error standard deviations of m3.1K and s2.4K. It is also shown that the MAP parameter values estimated through MCMC simulation are in close agreement with those obtained with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO).

MCMC↗

Relative dating of Hawaiian lava flows using multispectral thermal infrared images - A new tool for geologic mapping of young volcanic terranes

The weathering of Hawaiian basalts in arid and semiarid environments is accompanied by changes in their thermal infrared emittance spectra. The spectral differences can be measured and mapped with multispectral imaging systems. The differences appear to be related to the degree of development, preservation, and alteration of glassy crusts; the oxidation of iron; and the accretion of silica-rich surface veneers. Because the measurements are quantitative and in image format, they are useful for estimating relative ages in geologic mapping of lava flows. In Hawaii this technique is most diagnostic for distinguishing among sparsely vegetated flows less than 1.5 ka in age.

Kahle, Anne B.↗

Combining Observations in the Reflective Solar and Thermal Domains for Improved Mapping of Carbon, Water and Energy FLuxes

This study investigates the utility of integrating remotely sensed estimates of leaf chlorophyll (C(sub ab)) into a thermal-based Two-Source Energy Balance (TSEB) model that estimates land-surface CO2 and energy fluxes using an analytical, light-use-efficiency (LUE) based model of canopy resistance. Day to day variations in nominal LUE (LUE(sub n)) were assessed for a corn crop field in Maryland U.S.A. through model calibration with CO2 flux tower observations. The optimized daily LUE(sub n) values were then compared to estimates of C(sub ab) integrated from gridded maps of chlorophyll content weighted over the tower flux source area. Changes in Cab exhibited a curvilinear relationship with corresponding changes in daily calibrated LUE(sub n) values derived from the tower flux data, and hourly water, energy and carbon flux estimation accuracies from TSEB were significantly improved when using C(sub ab) for delineating spatio-temporal variations in LUE(sub n). The results demonstrate the synergy between thermal infrared and shortwave reflective wavebands in producing valuable remote sensing data for monitoring of carbon and water fluxes.

Houborg, Rasmus↗

Land use mapping and modelling for the Phoenix Quadrangle

The author has identified the following significant results. In comparing the land use changes from the overlay as detected from ERTS-1 and the high altitude change overlay, total areas of change were of the same magnitude. The greatest variations were a result of differences in dates and areas of coverage between ERTS-1 images and aerial photographs. Separation of citrus from other agricultural land has been moderately successful in the ERTS-1 1:100,000 scale Level 2 land use mapping around Phoenix, although accuracy estimates are not yet available. No feeding operations have been detected from ERTS-1 so far. Preliminary indications are that commercial and services, industrial, and institutional land are not separable from each other using present image interpretation techniques. Urban open areas such as parks and golf courses are readily detectable, particularly when local maps are consulted even though out-of-date. Strip and clustered settlements may be detected depending upon their size and contrast with the surrounding area on the ERTS-1 image.

Place, J. L.↗

Overview of the MSTI 2 on-orbit alignment

The Miniature Sensor Technology Integration (MSTI) 2 Spacecraft is a small 3-axis stabilized spacecraft designed to track mid-range missiles and estimate their state vectors. In order to accurately estimate the target state vector, the MSTI 2 spacecraft must have highly accurate knowledge of its own attitude. Errors in its attitude knowledge arise primarily from the errors in its Attitude Control System (ACS) sensors. The ACS sensors on the spacecraft include a scanning Earth Sensor (ES), a Sun Sensor (SS), and two 2-axis gyros. The On-Orbit Alignment (OOA) generated an error map of the ES and estimated the biases of the SS and the misalignment of the gyros. This paper discusses some of the error sources, and the techniques used to reduce the effects of these errors. The payload carried by the MSTI2 spacecraft is a high fidelity camera, which was aimed at the target using gimballed mirrors. By aiming it at a celestial target, the payload was used as a high-accuracy single-axis attitude reference. This attitude reference was compared to the attitude reference of the ACS sensors, and the errors were attributed to the ACS sensors.

Rygaard, Christopher A.↗

Using Regionalized Air Quality Model Performance and Bayesian Maximum Entropy Data Fusion to Map Global Surface Ozone Concentration and Associated Uncertainty

Estimates of ground-level ozone concentrations have been improved through data fusion of observations and atmospheric chemistry models. Our previous global ozone estimates for the Global Burden of Disease study corrected for bias uniformly across continents and then corrected near monitoring stations using the Bayesian Maximum Entropy (BME) framework for data fusion. Here, we use the Regionalized Air Quality Model Performance (RAMP) framework to correct model bias over a much larger spatial range than BME can, accounting for the spatial inhomogeneity of bias and nonlinearity as a function of modeled ozone. RAMP bias correction is applied to a composite of 9 global chemistry-climate models, based on the nearest set of monitors. These estimates are then fused with observations using BME, which matches observations at measurement stations, with the influence of observations declining with distance in space and time. We create global ozone maps for each year from 1990 to 2017 at fine spatial resolution. RAMP is shown to create unrealistic discontinuities due to the spatial clustering of ozone monitors, which we overcome by applying a weighting for RAMP based on the number of monitors nearby. Incorporating RAMP before BME has little effect on model performance near stations, but strongly increases R 2 by 0.15 at locations farther from stations, shown through a checkerboard cross-validation. Corrections to estimates differ based on location in space and time, confirming heterogeneity. We quantify the likelihood of exceeding selected ozone levels, finding that parts of the Middle East, India, and China are most likely to exceed 55 parts per billion (ppb) in 2017. About 96% of the global population was exposed to ozone levels above the World Health Organization guideline of 60 µg m −3 (30 ppb) in 2017. Our annual fine-resolution ozone estimates may be useful for several applications including epidemiology and assessments of impacts on health, agriculture, and ecosystems.

Ozone↗

The DECADE cosmic shear project II: photometric redshift calibration of the source galaxy sample

We present the photometric redshift characterization and calibration for the Dark Energy Camera All Data Everywhere (DECADE) weak lensing dataset: a catalog of 107 million galaxies observed by the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) in the northern Galactic cap. The redshifts are estimated from a combination of wide-field photometry, deep-field photometry with associated redshift estimates, and a transfer function between the wide field and deep field that is estimated using a source injection catalog. We construct four tomographic bins for the galaxy catalog, and estimate the redshift distribution, $n(z)$, within each one using the Self-organizing Map Photo-Z (SOMPZ) methodology. Our estimates include the contributions from sample variance, zeropoint calibration uncertainties, and redshift biases, as quantified for the deep-field dataset. The total uncertainties on the mean redshifts are $σ_{\langle}$$_z$$_{\rangle} ≈ 0.01$. The SOMPZ estimates are then compared to those from the clustering redshift method, obtained by cross-correlating our source galaxies with galaxies in spectroscopic surveys, and are shown to be consistent with each other.

Anbajagane, D. [Univ. of Chicago, IL (United State↗

High resolution analysis of satellite gradiometry

Satellite gravity gradiometry is a technique now under development which, by the middle of the next decade, may be used for the high resolution charting from space of the gravity field of the earth and, afterwards, of other planets. Some data analysis schemes are reviewed for getting detailed gravity maps from gradiometry on both a global and a local basis. It also presents estimates of the likely accuracies of such maps, in terms of normalized spherical harmonics expansions, both using gradiometry alone and in combination with data from a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver carried on the same spacecraft. It compares these accuracies with those of current and future maps obtained from other data (conventional tracking, satellite-satellite tracking, etc.), and also with the spectra of various signals of geophysical interest.

Colombo, O. L.↗

Flight test development and evaluation of a Kalman filter state estimator for low-altitude flight

Flight operations dependent on digitized terrain elevation data for navigational reference or trajectory generation are constrained in minimum flight altitude, due to airborne navigation errors and inaccuracies of the reference terrain elevation data. This limitation is not restrictive in traditional medium-altitude implementations of such databases, such as in unmanned aerial vehicles, missiles, or high-performance, high-speed aircraft. In low-altitude, lower speed terrain hugging helicopter missions, however, such constraints on minimum flight altitudes greatly reduce the effectiveness of their missions and diminish the benefits of employing terrain elevation maps. A Kalman filter state estimator has been developed which blends airborne navigation, stored terrain elevation data, and a radar altimeter in estimating above-ground-level (AGL) altitude. This AGL state estimator was integrated in a near-terrain guidance system aboard a research helicopter and flight tested in moderately rugged terrain over a variety of flight and system conditions. The minimum operating altidude of the terrain database referenced guidance system was reduced from 300 ft to 150 ft with the addition of the Kalman filter state estimator.

Zelenka, Richard E.↗

The Mars 2020 lander vision system field test

The Mars 2020 Lander Vision System estimates position relative to a map and provides this information to the spacecraft so that large hazards can be avoided during landing. The LVS is a new mission critical sensor and as such requires extensive validation. A field test conducted in May 2019 was the primary means to prove that the LVS will operate as designed. During this test over 600 independent real-time runs on engineering model LVS hardware and software were executed and clearly showed that it could meet a 40m position estimation requirement over a wide operational envelope. This paper will describe the test approach, operations and results. Specific examples as well as aggregate performance will be discussed along with off-nominal testing and fault recovery.

Montgomery, J.↗

The Mars 2020 Lander Vision System Field Test

The Mars 2020 Lander Vision System estimates position relative to a map and provides this information to the spacecraft so that large hazards can be avoided during landing. The LVS is a new mission critical sensor and as such requires extensive validation. A field test conducted in May 2019 was the primary means to prove that the LVS will operate as designed. During this test over 600 independent real-time runs on engineering model LVS hardware and software were executed and clearly showed that it could meet a 40m position estimation requirement over a wide operational envelope. This paper will describe the test approach, operations and results. Specific examples as well as aggregate per-formance will be discussed along with off-nominal testing and fault recovery.

Johnson, A.↗

Bolometric albedos and diurnal temperatures of the brightest regions on Io

Cylindrical maps of the locations and estimated Bond albedos of the brightest regions on the Io surface have been constructed on the basis of Voyager data; the albedos are then rescaled to correct for radiometric calibration uncertainties. The highest surface albedos are found to be only moderately higher than the Bond albedo of Io as a whole. The brightest regions include two bright patches southeast of the Maui and Amirani active vents, as well as a large equatorial field of high-albedo material and a lone bright patch at high northern latitudes. These maps indicate that Io's albedos are strongly latitude-dependent.

Simonelli, Damon P.↗

Satellite radar interferometry - Two-dimensional phase unwrapping

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar observations provide a means for obtaining high-resolution digital topographic maps from measurements of amplitude and phase of two complex radar images. The phase of the radar echoes may only be measured modulo 2 pi; however, the whole phase at each point in the image is needed to obtain elevations. An approach to 'unwrapping' the 2 pi ambiguities in the two-dimensional data set is presented. It is found that noise and geometrical radar layover corrupt measurements locally, and these local errors can propagate to form global phase errors that affect the entire image. It is shown that the local errors, or residues, can be readily identified and avoided in the global phase estimation. A rectified digital topographic map derived from the unwrapped phase values is presented.

Goldstein, Richard M.↗

Thickening and Thinning of Antarctic Ice Shelves and Tongues and Mass Balance Estimates

Previous analysis of elevation changes for 1992 to 2002 obtained from measurements by radar altimeters on ERS-l and 2 showed that the shelves in the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) and along the coast of West Antarctica (WA), including the eastern part of the Ross Ice Shelf, were mostly thinning and losing mass whereas the Ronne Ice shelf also in WA was mostly thickening. The estimated total mass loss for the floating ice shelves and ice tongues from ice draining WA and the AP was 95 Gt/a. In contrast, the floating ice shelves and ice tongues from ice draining East Antarctica (EA), including the Filchner, Fimbul, Amery, and Western Ross, were mostly thickening with a total estimated mass gain of 142 Gt/a. Data from ICESat laser altimetry for 2003-2008 gives new surface elevation changes (dH/dt) with some similar values for the earlier and latter periods, including -27.6 and -26.9 cm a-Ion the West Getz ice shelf and -42.4 and - 27.2 cm/a on the East Getz ice shelf, and some values that indicate more thinning in the latter period, including -17.9 and -36.2 cm/a on the Larsen C ice shelf, -35.5 and -76.0 cm/a on the Pine Island Glacier floating, -60.5 and -125.7 .cm/a on the Smith Glacier floating, and -34.4 and -108.9 cm/a on the Thwaites Glacier floating. Maps of measured dH/dt and estimated thickness change are produced along with mass change estimates for 2003 - 2008.

Zwally, H. Jay↗

Revised ion temperatures for Voyager plasma measurements in the Io plasma torus

A calculation error in previous computations of ion temperatures in the Io plasma torus of the Jovian magnetosphere from Voyager plasma-science-experiment measurements is reported, and its effects on subsequently published studies are evaluated. It is found that the temperatures reported by Bagenal et al. (1980) and Bagenal and Sullivan (1981) for Jupiter and by Bridge et al. (1981) for Saturn are half the correct values, with major effects on ionic-species scale heights, plasma-density maps, and flux-tube content estimations. The temperatures given by Bridge et al. (1979) and McNutt et al. (1981) are not affected by the error. A corrected isodensity contour map is presented, and uncertainties in the measurement of ion temperatures are discussed.

Bagenal, F.↗

Cutaneous Microvascular Flow In the Foot During Simulated Variable Gravities

Our objective was to elucidate how varying gravitational fields affect blood perfusion in the sole of the foot. Human subjects underwent whole-body tilting at four angles: upright (1 G(sub z), 22 deg (.38 G(sub z)), 10 deg (.17 G(sub z)), and supine (0 G(sub z)), simulating the gravitational fields of Earth, Mars, Moon, and microgravity, respectively. Cutaneous capillary blood flow was monitored on the plantar surface of the heel by laser Doppler flowmetry while weight bearing load was measured beneath the same foot with a calibrated scale. Foot mean arterial pressures (MAP) were calculated by adding estimated hydrostatic pressures to continuously recorded heart-level blood pressures for each subject. At each tilt angle, subjects increased weight bearing on one foot in graded load increments of one kilogram beginning with zero. The weight bearing at which null flow first occurred was determined as the closing load (CL). Subsequently, the weight bearing was reduced in reverse steps until blood flow returned (opening load, OL). CL and OL were normalized to each subject's body weight and expressed as percent of body weight. Mean CLs (SD in parentheses) for simulated Earth, Mars, Moon, and micro-gravities were 14 (5), 8 (2), 6 (2), and 5 (2) percent of body weight, respectively. OLs were 12 (3), 6 (1), 5 (2), and 4 (1), respectively. Calculated foot MAPs for each simulated gravitational field were 192 (19), 127 (12), 106 (10), and 87 (9) mm Hg, respectively. CL and OL were significantly correlated with foot MAP (r = 0.70, 0.72, respectively). Overall, CL and OL were significantly different (p is less than 0.001). The data suggest that decreased local arterial pressure in the foot lowers tolerance to external compression. Consequently, the human foot sole may be more prone to cutaneous ischernia during loading in microgravity than on Earth.

Chang, David S.↗