Eddies in the ocean and atmosphere: Identification by satellite imagery

The results are presented of using a new approach that helps to detect and compute the parameters of eddies in the ocean and tropical cyclones in the atmosphere based on satellite imagery. The approach is based on the concept of dominant orientation of thermal contrasts (DOTC). DOTC is an angle of the statistically significant orientation of brightness contrast in the specified vicinity of the image. DOTC highly correlates with the directions of flows; it is a base for construction of models for identification of eddy motions, namely, synoptic eddies in the oceans and tropical cyclones in the atmosphere. The model-based identification of one or another eddy allows estimating such parameters as the center position, shape, size, and sign (cyclone or anticyclone) of the eddy, and the size of the tropical cyclone eye. Based on the proposed approach, technologies of automatic identification and monitoring of oceanic eddies and tropical cyclones are developed. The results of the practical use of these technologies are presented for the recent years.     

AMSR-E sea surface temperature (SST) charts enhancement

Microwave satellite images used for retrieving sea surface temperatures often have such distortions as noise and blurring of the thermal fronts. An image processing approach based on the Mumford-Shah model of optimal image approximation is considered for the solution to this problem. We divide images into flat areas and frontal zones, and then process these areas separately. Image fragmentation is based on automatic detection of the thermal front lines. SST enhancement in frontal zones is achieved by using image deconvolution methods. It has been shown that SST errors in high gradient areas reach 1–3 °C. The proposed approach can decrease this discrepancy.     

Environmental objectives and indicators of the state of marine and coastal zones in the Northwest Pacific region

On the basis of analyzing the ecological problems of the Northwest Pacific region, we suggest environmental objectives, the attainment of which is to ensure a good marine environment status in the region which is a necessary condition for sustainable nature management. We discuss the operational goals and quantitative criteria and indicators as required for monitoring the current status of ecosystems as well as the progress in achieving the objectives. An analysis is made of experience in using a similar approach in the European Union. It is shown that there is a difference of the environmental status monitoring techniques in the Northwest Pacific region where cooperative efforts on rationalization of nature management are not supported legislatively. In dealing with this problem, a special role would be played by regional and international cooperation, specifically within the United National Environment Programme in the Northwest Pacific region, contributing to a harmonization of the national monitoring systems. The need for international cooperation is also dictated by the irregularity of natural and socioeconomic conditions in the region, which makes the development of unified assessment methods difficult.     

Impact of transboundary and natural factors on chemical composition of precipitation in the Far East of Russia

Variability of precipitation components in the Far East of Russia is analyzed using the monitoring of their chemical composition. It is demonstrated that the increase in precipitation acidity in the region is caused by the growing concentrations of sulfates and nitrates in precipitation. Transboundary transport determines about 60% of the concentration of sulfates and nitrates in the precipitation over the south of the region. Impact of marine aerosol on the chemical composition of precipitation is significant at some coastal stations only.     

Specificity of Atmospheric Correction of Satellite Data on Ocean Color in the Far East

Calculation errors in ocean-brightness coefficients in the Far Eastern are analyzed for two atmospheric correction algorithms (NIR and MUMM). The daylight measurements in different water types show that the main error component is systematic and has a simple dependence on the magnitudes of the coefficients. The causes of the error behavior are considered. The most probable explanation for the large errors in ocean-color parameters in the Far East is a high concentration of continental aerosol absorbing light. A comparison between satellite and in situ measurements at AERONET stations in the United States and South Korea has been made. It is shown the errors in these two regions differ by up to 10 times upon close water turbidity and relatively high aerosol optical-depth computation precision in the case of using the NIR correction of the atmospheric effect.     

Correcting for Cryoprecipitation in the Calibration of IR Channels of the MSU-MR Radiometer

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The presence of cryoprecipitation, which forms a thin film on the input windows of infrared (IR) detectors and distorts the signal, is a major issue in...     

Automatic Calculation of Ice Drift Based on AMSR Data

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The results of applying a new method for the automatic calculation of ice drift based on the sequence of Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR)...