Electrical properties of Titan's surface from Cassini RADAR scatterometer measurements

We report regional-scale low-resolution backscatter images of Titan's surface acquired by the Cassini RADAR scatterometer at a wavelength of 2.18-cm. We find that the average angular dependence of the backscatter from large regions and from specific surface features is consistent with a model composed of a quasi-specular Hagfors term plus a diffuse cosine component. A Gaussian quasi-specular term also fits the data, but less well than the Hagfors term. We derive values for the mean dielectric constant and root-mean-square (rms) slope of the surface from the quasi-specular term, which we ascribe to scattering from the surface interface only. The diffuse term accommodates contributions from volume scattering, multiple scattering, or wavelength-scale near-surface structure. The Hagfors model results imply a surface with regional mean dielectric constants between 1.9 and 3.6 and regional surface roughness that varies between 5.3° and 13.4° in rms-slope. Dielectric constants between 2 and 3 are expected for a surface composed of solid simple hydrocarbons, water ice, or a mixture of both. Smaller dielectric constants, between 1.6 and 1.9, are consistent with liquid hydrocarbons, while larger dielectric constants, near 4.5, may indicate the presence of water-ammonia ice [Lorenz, R.D., 1998. Icarus 136, 344-348] or organic heteropolymers [Thompson, W.R., Squyres, S.W., 1990. Icarus 86, 336-354]. We present backscatter images corrected for angular effects using the model residuals, which show strong features that correspond roughly to those in 0.94-μm ISS images. We model the localized backscatter from specific features to estimate dielectric constant and rms slope when the angular coverage is within the quasi-specular part of the backscatter curve. Only two apparent surface features are scanned with angular coverage sufficient for accurate modeling. Data from the bright albedo feature Quivira suggests a dielectric constant near 2.8 and rms slope near 10.1°. The dark albedo feature Shangri-La is best fit by a Hagfors model with a dielectric constant close to 2.4 and an rms slope near 9.5°. From the modeled backscatter curves, we find the average radar albedo in the same linear (SL) polarization to be near 0.34. We constrain the total-power albedo in order to compare the measurements with available groundbased radar results, which are typically obtained in both senses of circular polarization. We estimate an upper limit of 0.4 on the total-power albedo, a value that is significantly higher than the 0.21 total albedo value measured at 13 cm [Campbell, D., Black, G., Carter, L., Ostro, S., 2003. Science 302, 431-434]. This is consistent with a surface that has more small-scale structure and is thus more reflective at 2-cm than 13-cm. We compare results across overlapping observations and observe that the reduction and analysis are repeatable and consistent. We also confirm the strong correlations between radar and near-infrared images.     

Magnetically moderated outbursts of WZ Sagittae

We argue that the quiescent value of the viscosity parameter of the accretion disc in WZ Sge may be  α_cold∼ 0.01  , in agreement with estimates of α_cold for other dwarf novae. Assuming the white dwarf in WZ Sge to be magnetic, we show that, in quiescence, material close to the white dwarf can be propelled to larger radii, depleting the inner accretion disc. The propeller therefore has the effect of stabilizing the inner disc and allowing the outer disc to accumulate mass. The outbursts of WZ Sge are then regulated by the (magnetically determined) evolution of the surface density of the outer disc at a radius close to the tidal limit. Numerical models confirm that the recurrence time can be significantly extended in this way. The outbursts are expected to be superoutbursts since the outer disc radius is forced to exceed the tidal (3:1 resonance) radius. The large, quiescent disc is expected to be massive, and to be able to supply the observed mass accretion rate during outburst. We predict that the long-term spin evolution of the white dwarf spin will involve a long cycle of spin-up and spin-down phases.     

中国大陆现今垂直形变特征的初步探讨

利用GPS观测资料进行大范围的垂直形变特征研究是本文研究的重点。通过网络工程基准站和基本站的GPS观测资料，绘制了中国大陆的垂直速率等值线图像，并对中国大陆垂直运动特征进行了定性的分析，结果表明：中国大陆垂直运动在70％以上的区域表现为沉降运动，在青藏高原和除北京外的整个华北块体及燕山块体的垂直运动表现为隆升的趋势。中国大陆西北和东南、西南和东北的整体垂直运动呈一种斜对称状态。对基于GPS观测所得的等值线图与基于水观测所得的等值线图进行了比较，比较结果显示，除了华南块体外，二者在整体趋势上比较一致。     

General Entropy Model of Line Segments Uncertainty in GIS

Spatial data uncertainty can directly affect the quality of digital products and GIS-based decision making. On the basis of the characteristics of randomicity of positional data and fuzziness of attribute data, taking entropy as a measure, the stochastic entropy model of positional data uncertainty and fuzzy entropy model of attribute data uncertainty are proposed. As both randomic-ity and fuzziness usually simultaneously exist in linear segments, their omnibus effects are also investigated and quantified. A novel uncertainty measure, general entropy, is presented. The general entropy can be used as a uniform measure to quantify the total un-certainty caused by stochastic uncertainty and fuzzy uncertainty in GIS.     

Preface and Dedication

Earth, Moon, and Planets -     

广义点摄影测量在建筑物立面轮廓重构中的应用

采用广义点摄影测量理论对建筑物立面框架轮廓进行重构。广义点是对当代线摄影测量以及无穷远点（灭点）理论的升华。实验结果表明,采用线面基元进行立面重构相比于经典的点云重构方法,不仅简洁、高效,还能获得清晰的三维边缘轮廓,且自动化程度较高。     

An Examination of ENSO’s Effect on the Monthly and Seasonal Climate of Hong Kong from a Statistical Perspective

This study aims to examine the effect of El Nino and La Nina on the monthly and seasonal climate of Hong Kong against the ENSO-neutral situation from a statistical perspective. Monthly and seasonal temperature and rainfall of Hong Kong and monthly number of tropical cyclones (TCs) coming within 500 km of the city over the 59-yr (1950-2008) period are examined under three ENSO situations, namely El Nino, La Nina, and ENSO-neutral. It is found that, compared with the ENSO-neutral situation, El Nino tends...