Atmospheric stability index using radio occultation refractivity profiles

A new stability index based on atmospheric refractivity at ~500 hPa level and surface measurements of temperature, pressure and humidity is formulated. The new index named here as refractivity based lifted index (RLI) is designed to give similar results as traditionally used lifted index derived from radiosonde profiles of temperature, pressure and humidity. The formulation of the stability index and its comparison with the traditional temperature profile based lifted index (LI) is discussed. The index is tested on COSMIC radio occultation derived refractivity profiles over Indian region. The forecast potential of the new index for rainfall on 2°×2° latitude–longitude spatial scale with lead time of 3–24 hours indicate that the refractivity based lifted index works better than the traditional temperature based lifted index for the Indian monsoon region. Decreasing values of RLI tend to give increasing rainfall probabilities.     

Impact of AWS observations in WRF-3DVAR data assimilation system: a case study on abnormal warming condition in Odisha

An abnormal warming condition with 3?C5?°C rise in temperature above its normal value was observed in the Indian state of Odisha during 12?C16 November 2009. This study aims at examining the impact of additional weather observations obtained from the automatic weather stations (AWS) installed in the recent past on the numerical simulation of such abnormal warming. AWS observations, such as temperature at 2?m (T2m), dew point temperature at 2?m (Td2m), wind vector at 10?m (speed and direction), and sea level pressure (SLP) have been assimilated into the state-of-the-art Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model using the three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR). Six sets of experiments have been conducted here. There is no data assimilation in the control experiment, whereas AWS and radiosonde observations have been assimilated in rest of the five experiments. The model integrations have been made for 72?h in each experiment starting from 0000 UTC November 12 to 0000 UTC November 15, 2009. Assimilation experiments have also been performed to assess the impact of individual surface parameters on the model simulations. Impact of AWS observations on model simulation has been examined with reference to the control simulation and quantified in terms of root-mean-square error and forecast skill score for temperature, sea level pressure, and relative humidity at three selected stations Bonaigarh, Brahmagiri, and Nuapada in Odisha. Results indicate improvements in the surface air temperature and SLP simulations in the timescale of 72?h at all the three stations due to additional weather data assimilation into the model. Improvements in simulation are significant up to 24?h. The assimilation of additional wind fields significantly improved the temperature simulation at all the three stations. The simulated SLP has also improved significantly due to the assimilation of surface temperature and moisture.     

基于FY-3 A/VIRR数据的藏西北干旱遥感监测研究

藏西北地区生态环境脆弱,由于地形复杂、气候独特,该区的观测资料非常缺乏。利用遥感技术开展藏西北地区的干旱监测,能获取在空间上连续变化的地表干旱情况,对于指导该区农牧业生产具有重要的意义。基于FY-3A/VIRR的一级数据和标准旬产品（地表温度、植被指数）,采用温度植被干旱指数（TVDI）进行藏西北地区的干旱监测研究,并将监测结果分别与基于EOS/MODIS数据监测的结果、同期的野外实测土壤水分数据以及气象站点的降水量数据进行了对比分析。结果表明：利用FY-3A/VIRR数据的TVDI遥感监测结果与实测土壤水分、气象站累计降水量数据均呈显著的负相关关系,通过了0.01水平的显著性检验;利用FY-3A/VIRR数据与EOS/MODIS数据估算的TVDI干旱等级空间分布特征基本一致,FY-3A/VIRR数据可以代替EOS/MODIS数据在藏西北地区开展干旱遥感监测,可为指导藏西北地区农牧业生产提供数据支持。     

Abel inversion for deriving refractivity profile from down-looking GPS radio occultation: simulation analysis

Down-looking (DL) Global Positioning System (GPS) radio occultation can produce an estimate of the atmospheric refractivity profile. The main observations are the bending angle as a function of the impact parameter. DL provides both negative as well as positive elevation angle measurements. Abel inversion can be operated on a profile of partial bending angle found by subtracting the positive elevation measurement from the negative one with the same impact parameter. Abel inversion requires the spherical symmetrical assumption. Basically, partial bending calculation removes the ionospheric bending and hence it is possible to use a single frequency GPS receiver. The current paper introduces a simulation data for the case of a receiver on mountain top. The simulation uses model refractivity from MSISE-90 model as well as radiosonde data. Random noises are added to the bending angle profile before inversion. The result shows that it is possible to produce accurate vertical refractivity profile below the receiver altitude. The calculation of the water vapor profile is also made using temperature profile information from the MSISE-90 model as well as radiosonde. The errors in the retrieved vapor profile are always less than 0.1?mbar.     

藏北高原土壤湿度时空变化分析

使用2009年DOY (Day of Year) 145~288时段与2001~2010年夏季(DOY 161~240时段)的Terra/MODIS 16 d合成的植被指数产品数据MOD13 A2和8 d合成的地表温度(Land Surface Temperature,T_LS)产品数据MOD11 A2,构建T_LS~I_EV(Enhanced Vegetation Index,I_EV)特征空间,从而得到了条件温度植被干旱指数(Temperature Vegetation Drought Index,I_TVD)反映的藏北土壤湿度空间分布。对藏北高原2009年植被生长季内土壤湿度的季节性变化及2001~2010年夏季土壤湿度的年际变化特征进行分析,研究结论表明:随着植被盖度的增大,干、湿边斜率逐渐变小,植被对环境温度的变化具有缓冲效应;藏北高原土壤湿度的季节性变化明显,主要受温度、降水、植被覆盖和冻土过程等季节性变化的影响;近10年研究区内土壤湿度有轻微的旱化趋势,但不同气候区内的年际变化表现不一致;气温表现不同程度的显著升温趋势,部分站点的降水有不显著减少趋势,其它站点降水表现为年际波动,而区域统计的I_TVD值年际波动与站点气温的变化大体一致。     

Atmospheric temperature profile for a tropical region from TIROS-N microwave sounding unit

Atmospheric temperature profiles have been derived using 53·74 GHz, 54·96 GHz and 57·95 GHz channels data from the Microwave Sounding Unit onboard TIROS-N. For this purpose regression coefficients have been derived using MONEX-79 radiosonde data during the period May to July 1979. The temperature profiles derived at a few selected places were closer to radiosonde profiles than the profiles derived using standard regression coefficients for the tropical region supplied by NOAA.     

Analysis of marine aerosol optical depth retrieved from IRS-P4 OCM sensor and comparison with the aerosol derived from SeaWiFS and MODIS sensor

Aerosol optical depth is regularly derived from SeaWiFS and MODIS sensor and used by the scientific community in various climatic studies. In the present study an attempt has been made to retrieve the aerosol optical depth using the IRS-P4 OCM sensor data and a comparison has been carried out using few representative datasets. The results show that the IRS-P4 OCM retrieved aerosol optical depth is in good agreement with the aerosols retrieved from SeaWiFS as well as MODIS. The RMSE are found to be ±0.0522 between OCM and SeaWIFS and ±0.0638 between OCM and MODIS respectively. However, IRS-P4 OCM sensor retrieved aerosol optical depth is closer to SeaWiFS (correlation = 0.88, slope = 0.96 and intercept = ?0.013) compared to MODIS (correlation = 0.75, slope = 0.91 and intercept = 0.0198). The mean percentage difference indicates that OCM retrieved AOD is +12% higher compared to SeaWiFS and +8% higher compared to MODIS. The mean absolute percentage between OCM derived AOD and SeaWiFS is found to be less (16%) compared to OCM and MODIS (20%).     

土的含水率C-AHFO法现场长期分布式监测可行性研究

本文采用了一种碳纤维加热光缆的光纤含水率测试方法（简称C-AHFO法）,解决了AHFO法监测土的含水率长期（16个月）稳定性问题,并开展了室内标定和现场原位土的含水率监测试验,确定了土中含水率与温度特征值之间的关系,建立了数值模型。室内率定试验结果表明:含水率与温度特征值之间的关系可用分段函数表述。当含水率小于0.08 m3·m-3时,可采用线性关系表述;高于0.08 m3·m-3时可采用对数函数表述。经过16个月的现场监测表明:C-AHFO法在此时间范围稳定,可对土的含水率进行分布式监测,测试误差不超过0.033 m3·m-3,可准确地反映天气和季节变化过程中表层土（深度小于20 cm）的湿度变化,监测结果与数值模拟计算结果具有一致性。该方法的研发和应用为土的大面积实时含水率分布式监测提供了一种新的手段。     

Remote sensing monitoring the spatio-temporal changes of aridification in the Mongolian Plateau based on the general Ts-NDVI space, 1981–2012

This paper has developed a general Ts-NDVI triangle space with vegetation index time-series data from AVHRR and MODIS to monitor soil moisture in the Mongolian Plateau during 1981–2012, and studied the spatio-temporal variations of drought based on the temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI). The results indicated that (1) the developed general Ts-NDVI space extracted from the AVHRR and MODIS remote sensing data would be an effective method to monitor regional drought, moreover, it would be more meaningful if the single time Ts-NDVI space showed an unstable condition; (2) the inverted TVDI was expected to reflect the water deficit in the study area. It was found to be in close negative agreement with precipitation and 10 cm soil moisture; (3) in the Mongolian Plateau, TVDI presented a zonal distribution with changes in land use/land cover types, vegetation cover and latitude. The soil moisture is low in bare land, construction land and grassland. During 1981–2012, drought was widely spread throughout the plateau, and aridification was obvious in the study period. Vegetation degradation, overgrazing, and climate warming could be considered as the main reasons.     

GPS无线电掩星技术监测地球大气

ＧＰＳ无线电掩星技术是从行星掩星（飞行器）探测行星大气^{［１～３］}的遥感技术发展而来的。１９９５年４月３日小型卫星ＭｉｃｒｏＬａｂ１的发射升空，标志着以ＧＰＳ无线电掩星建议为基础ＧＰＳ／ＭＥＴ计划纳入了正式实验阶段。实验结果证实了ＧＰＳ无线电掩星技术在探测地球大气方面潜在的科学价值与实用意义。简要系统地介绍了利用ＧＰＳ无线电掩星技术监测地球大气折射率、温度、气压和水蒸汽丰度等物理参量廓线分布的基本原理、主要误差源和空间分辨率，以及数字模拟结果和初步实验结果，并分析了ＧＰＳ无线电掩星技术在监测全球气候变化和提高数值天气预报精度等方面的潜在贡献。     

Study of land surface temperature and spectral emissivity using multi-sensor satellite data

In this study, an attempt has been made to estimate land surface temperatures (LST) and spectral emissivities over a hard rock terrain using multi-sensor satellite data. The study area, of about 6000 km², is a part of Singhbhum-Orissa craton situated in the eastern part of India. TIR data from ASTER, MODIS and Landsat ETM+ have been used in the present study. Telatemp Model AG-42D Portable Infrared Thermometer was used for ground measurements to validate the results derived from satellite (MODIS/ASTER) data. LSTs derived using Landsat ETM+ data of two different dates have been compared with the satellite data (ASTER and MODIS) of those two dates. Various techniques, viz., temperature and emissivity separation (TES) algorithm, gray body adjustment approach in TES algorithm, Split-Window algorithms and Single Channel algorithm along with NDVI based emissivity approach have been used. LSTs derived from bands 31 and 32 of MODIS data using Split-Window algorithms with higher viewing angle (50°) (LST1 and LST2) are found to have closer agreement with ground temperature measurements (ground LST) over waterbody, Dalma forest and Simlipal forest, than that derived from ASTER data (TES with AST 13). However, over agriculture land, there is some uncertainty and difference between the measured and the estimated LSTs for both validation dates for all the derived LSTs. LST obtained using Single Channel algorithm with NDVI based emissivity method in channel 13 of ASTER data has yielded closer agreement with ground measurements recorded over vegetation and mixed lands of low spectral contrast. LST results obtained with TIR band 6 of Landsat ETM+ using Single Channel algorithm show close agreement over Dalma forest, Simlipal forest and waterbody with LSTs obtained using MODIS and ASTER data for a different date. Comparison of LSTs shows good agreement with ground measurements in thermally homogeneous area. However, results in agriculture area with less homogeneity show difference of LST up to 2°C. The results of the present study indicate that continuous monitoring of LST and emissivity can be undertaken with the aid of multi-sensor satellite data over a thermally homogeneous region.     

利用MODIS数据反演沙漠化地区地表温度的简化模式——以陕西北部地区为例

利用MODIS数据可见光波段、近红外波段和中红外波段,获得提取地表温度所需要的2个基本参数：地表比辐射率和大气透过率;然后对热红外波段b31、b32运用劈窗算法提取出陕北地区地表温度;并利用两种不同经验公式参数得出的结果与相应位置气象观测站观测的卫星过境时刻的地表气温进行比较。结果表明,劈窗算法简化模式能获得较准确的地表温度,符合陕北地区的实际地表状况,印证了应用该简化模式可以在大范围内快速实时监测地表温度。     

基于MODIS数据的石羊河流域地表温度空间格局

利用2010年4期MODIS影像, 基于植被指数、 地表比辐射率、 大气透过率和星上亮度温度, 采用分裂窗口算法, 反演石羊河流域不同季节地表温度并对其进行验证. 结果表明: 石羊河流域四季地表温度变化明显, 昼夜温差很大, 其中, 春季温度分布在-13.45~29.27℃之间; 夏季温度分布在-3.75~56.29℃之间; 秋季温度分布在-10.15~32.67℃之间; 冬季温度分布在-17.15~12.75℃之间. 从地表温度空间分布上看, 在武威、 民勤、 古浪等绿洲地区地表热量丰富, 水土和植被效应显著, 热量呈圈状空间递减趋势; 在下游地区腾格里沙漠和巴丹吉林沙漠地区夏季温度最高, 祁连山东端的石羊河上游地区由于受常年积雪、 河流、 地表植被和海拔等因素影响地表温度较低. MODIS数据为宏观小流域热环境监测提供了新的途径, 且将遥感数据和地表下垫面数据相结合能提高反演精度.     

Advances in microwave remote sensing of the ocean and atmosphere

This article reviews the current state-of-the-art and future prospects of the microwave techniques for remote sensing of the earth’s atmosphere and ocean. Geophysical parameters and their relationship with measured thermal microwave radiation is established through radiative transfer processes. The atmospheric temperature profile obtained from microwave sounding unit (msu) onboardtiros-N series of satellites is operational and is used for numerical weather prediction. The demonstrated applications of scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (smmr) onboard most recent and advancedseasat satellite are highlighted.The capability ofseasat active sensors for monitoring ocean parameters have also been indicated. Feasible applications of microwave techniquese.g. moisture profile with advanced moisture sounder (amsu), and surface pressure from multifrequency active microwave pressure sounder (mps) are also described. Finally the recent and advanced microwave limb sounding (mls) technique and its applications to upper atmospheric research has been reviewed.     

Stability of loess

Lutenegger, A.J. and Hallberg, G.R., 1988. Stability of loess. Eng. Geol., 25: 247–261.

The natural stability of loess soils can be related to fundamental geotechnical properties such as Atterberg limits, water content and void ratio. Field observations of unstable conditions in loess deposits in the upper midwest, U.S.A. show relationships between instability and the in situ moisture content and the liquidity index of the loess. Unstable loess can attain natural moisture contents equal to, or greater than, its liquid limit. Implications of these observations for applied engineering works are described.     

Evaluation of EDI derived from the exponential evapotranspiration model for monitoring China’s surface drought

Drought has become the most severe natural disaster in many provinces of China. In this paper, evaporative drought index (EDI) has been used to monitor China’s surface dryness conditions based on the exponential evapotranspiration (ET) model and Hargreaves equation from JAXA-MODIS Insolation products, GEWEX, NCEP-2 and MODIS NDVI data. The exponential ET model based on the surface net radiation, vegetation index, mean air temperature and diurnal air temperature range (DTaR) has been developed to estimate surface ET of China and has been independently validated using ground-measured data collected from two sites (Arou and Miyun) in China, indicating that the bias varies from −5.96 to 5.02 W/m². The good agreement between daily estimated and ground-measured ET using ground observation data collected from all 22 sites further supports the validity of the exponential ET model for regional ET estimation. Moreover, EDI is closely correlated to the average soil moisture at 0–10 cm soil depth of the Yongning site with coefficient of determination of R ² = 0.52. The spatio-temporal patterns of monthly ET and EDI from April to September of 2004 over China are explored and the result indicates EDI is accordant with the precipitation by comparing the 15-day smoothed EDI with precipitation over six representative sites. The EDI based on the exponential ET model by integrating energy fluxes in response to soil moisture stress has demonstrated its validity for monitoring China’s surface drought events.     

精量灌溉决策定量指标研究现状与进展

按照土壤 植物 大气连续体(SPAC)理论,灌溉决策的指标可分为三类:土壤水分、作物水分生理状况和气象因素。对这三方面的研究现状与进展作了详细的阐述。在土壤水分监测技术方面,时域反射仪(TDR)技术、微波技术、近红外辐射等的应用,使监测更加准确和便利;用于灌溉决策的作物水分生理信息监测包括:细胞液浓度、叶/水势、茎果微变化、生理电阻电容、声发射等,从目前国际上研究情况来看,叶冠层温度和茎流变化是指示作物水分状况较好的指标;在估算大气蒸发力方面,以参考作物蒸散量为指标,估计作物参考蒸散量的方法以联合国粮农组织(FAO)最新推荐的Penman-Monteith方法较为精细。并对目前灌溉决策指标的综合运用情况进行了总结。讨论了作为精准农业重要组成部分的"精量控制灌溉"今后的发展方向,建议以通过对作物、土壤、气象复合系统的分析和判断,指导灌溉的适时和适量。     

Study of thermodynamic indices in forecasting pre-monsoon thunderstorms over Kolkata during STORM pilot phase 2006–2008

The pre-monsoon convective atmosphere over Kolkata (22.52°N, 88.37°E) during STORM field phase 2006–2008 is investigated using 12 UTC radiosonde data and thermodynamic indices. In the present study, an attempt has been made to assess the skill of various indices and parameters and to propose suitable threshold values in forecasting the occurrence of thunderstorm activity at Kolkata. The thermodynamic indices and parameters used in the present study are lifted index (LI), K index (KI), severe weather threat index (SWEAT), total totals index (TTI), convective available potential energy (CAPE), deep convection index (DCI), humidity index (HI), Boyden index (BI), dew point temperature at 850 hpa (DEW), relative humidity at 700 hpa (RH), and bulk Richardson number (BRN). Validation of the suggested threshold values of indices was conducted on the days of thunderstorm activity. It was found that one index alone cannot predict the occurrence of thunderstorm over Kolkata region. The present study suggests that the indices with highest skill for thunderstorm prediction are KI, DCI, SWEAT, DEW, HI, RH, LI, TTI, while the prediction efficiency is poor for CAPE, BRN, and BI. Observed values of these indices also reveal that scattered, multi-cellular thunderstorms are possible over Kolkata during pre-monsoon months.     

Ranking the rock slope instability potential using the Interaction Matrix (IM) technique; a case study in Iran

All the conventional techniques for the analysis of slope stability ranging from simple kinematic analysis using stereonets, to the various widely used limit equilibrium methods, to sophisticated numerical methods belong to a category that are generally known as the analytic approaches and thus are only able to consider a limited number of affecting factors and then solve the problem in details. In contrast, the systems approaches not only can examine the problem in its totality with a complete list of the components, but also can take the interactions between the factors into account. This paper presents a complete application of a well-known systems technique named the Interaction Matrix (IM) in ranking the instability potential of rock slopes of the Khosh-Yeylagh Main Road, Iran as the case study of the research. For this purpose, 15 stations have been selected and a relatively comprehensive database containing the fieldwork information has been constructed. Following the IM technique, the most important factors relating to the general environment and to the rock mass characteristics have been considered. Their reciprocal causes and effects have been analyzed in order to weight each parameter according to its degree of interactivity in the system. Then, the slope instability index has been calculated which refers to the inherent potential instability of each slope of the examined region. The final instability ranking has been presented for the investigated slopes in Khosh-Yeylagh Main Road based on a simple classification. The main aim of the study is to extend the use of systems approach and specifically the IM technique in slope stability analysis. Also, this research shows the importance of consideration of an approximately complete set of key parameters affecting the stability of rock slopes.     

The assessment of rock slope instability along the Khosh-Yeylagh Main Road (Iran) using a systems approach

The slope instability is connected to a large diversity of causative and triggering factors, ranging from inherent geological structure to the environmental conditions. Thus, assessment and prediction of slope failure hazard is a difficult and complex multi-parametric problem. In contrast to the analytic approaches, the systems approaches are able to consider infinite number of affecting parameters and assess the interactions of each couple of the parameters in the system. This paper presents a complete application of the rock engineering systems approach in prediction of the instability potential of rock slopes in 15 stations along a 20?km section of the Khosh-Yeylagh Main Road, Iran as the case study of the research. In this research, the main objective has been defining the principal causative and triggering factors responsible for the manifestation of slope instability phenomena, quantify their interactions, obtain their weighted coefficients, and calculate the slope instability index, which refers to the inherent potential instability of each slope of the examined region. The final results have been mapped to highlight the rock slopes susceptible to instability. Finally, as a preliminary validation on the utilization of systems approach in the study region, the stability of investigated rock slopes were analyzed using an empirical method and the results were compared. The comparisons showed a rather good coincidence between the given classes of two methods.