Positional accuracy of the Google Earth terrain model derived from stratigraphic unconformities in the Big Bend region,Texas, USA

The Google Earth terrain model could prove beneficial for extraction of positional data in the future. At present, only an aging independent benchmark study (Potere, D., 2008. Horizontal position accuracy of Google Earth's high-resolution imagery archive. Sensors, 8, 7973–7981) provides constraints on positional accuracy for Google Earth imagery. In this investigation, we compared virtually traced positions against high-precision (<1 m) field measurements along three stratigraphic unconformity sub-sections in the Big Bend region to determine current positional accuracy for the Google Earth terrain model. A horizontal position accuracy of 2.64 m RMSE_r was determined for the Google Earth terrain model with mean offset distance being 6.95 m. A vertical position accuracy of 1.63 m RMSE_z with mean offset distance of 2.66 m was also calculated for the terrain model. Results suggest data extracted from the Google Earth terrain model could plausibly be used in future studies. However, we urge caution in using Google Earth data due to limited information disclosures by developers.     

Development of an instantaneous GNSS/MEMS attitude determination system

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are well suited for attitude determination. The key to high-precision GNSS-attitude determination is the ambiguity resolution. In case of kinematic applications, the rapidity of this process is of particular importance. We present a new instantaneous attitude determination system for GNSS-challenged environments. The single-epoch ambiguity resolution is performed by the ambiguity function method aided by a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS), leading to success rates above 99 %. The GNSS/MEMS fusion is realized by the use of an extended Kalman filter. When the system is stationary, a state vector augmentation with a shaping filter reduces systematic effects in the GNSS-attitudes. By means of two field experiments, the system was tested successfully. Despite poor GNSS measurement conditions, it provided reliable and accurate results, with empirical standard deviations in the range of 0.03–0.1 deg for the yaw angle.     

(Near-)real-time orbit determination for GNSS radio occultation processing

The processing of GPS radio occultation measurements for use in numerical weather predictions requires a precise orbit determination (POD) of the host satellite in near-real-time. Making use of data from the GRAS instrument on Metop-A, the performance of different GPS ephemeris products and processing concepts for near-real-time and real-time POD is compared. While previous analyses have focused on the achievable along-track velocity accuracy, this study contributes a systematic comparison of the resulting estimated bending angles. This enables a more rigorous trade-off of different orbit determination methodologies in relation to the end-user needs for atmospheric science products. It is demonstrated that near-real-time GPS orbit and clock products have reached a sufficient quality to determine the Metop-A along-track velocity with an accuracy of better than 0.05 mm/s that was formerly only accessible in post-processing. The resulting bending angles are shown to exhibit standard deviation and bias differences of less than 0.3 % compared with post-processed products up to altitudes of at least 40 km, which is notably better than 1 % accuracy typically assumed for numerical weather predictions in this height regime. Complementary to the analysis of ground-based processing schemes, the potential of autonomous on-board orbit determination is investigated for the first time. Using actual GRAS flight data, it is shown that a 0.5 m 3D rms position accuracy and a 0.2 mm/s along-track velocity accuracy can in fact be obtained in real-time with the currently available GPS broadcast ephemeris quality. Bending angles derived from the simulated real-time processing exhibit a minor performance degradation above tangent point heights of 40 km but negligible differences with respect to ground-based products below this altitude. Onboard orbit determination and, if desired, bending angle computation, can thus enable a further simplification of the ground segment in future radio occultation missions and contribute to reduced product latencies for radio occultation data assimilation in numerical weather predictions.     

Nye kandidater udgået fra Københavns Universitets Geografiske Institut

Danish Journal of Geography: 71–82, 1995.

This paper presents two mega events as tools in the strategic planning of the Copenhagen area. Due to growing inter-metropolitan competition, increasingly offensive and complex means are applied. This demands strong leadership, stable longterm planning and willingness to accept the costs in order to reach the objectives. Marketing versus strategic planning is discussed. The general position of Copenhagen in the European urban system gives perspective to a potential change on the South Scandinavian urban scene. New instruments of strategic planning in Greater Copenhagen are introduced. The competitive level of Copenhagen is analyzed in relation to Stockholm, Berlin and Hamburg. Two examples of mega events are discussed that represent typical elements in urban competition: cultural events and infrastructure improvements. 1) Copenhagen as ‘The cultural City of Europe’ in 1996 represents a temporary mega event. 2) The planned bridge between Copenhagen and the south Swedish city of Malmö, combined with Swedish entrance into EU, opens up for development of the first cross-national integrated large-city region outside the European centre. This is an example of a mega event which will alter the scene permanently. Both events are important issues used in developing a growth strategy for Greater Copenhagen. But neither the cultural city nor the bridge may by themselves guarantee any advantages. It depends upon the ability of local actors to develop and promote the quality of their city. The paper represents a continuation and elaboration on earlier papers, see Matthiessen (1990, 1992) and Andersen &; Jørgensen (1994).     

Byerhvervene. Lokaliseringstendenser 1970–83

Matthiessen. Christian Wichmann: Byerhvervene. Lokaliseringstendenser 1970–83. Geografisk Tidsskrift 87:22–26. København, juni 1987.

The Danish pattern of urban employment changed little 1970–83 although dynamic structural changes occurred, and although the total increased 23% to 2,353,366 urban jobs. The manufacturing deconcentration was more than counteracted by growth in no. of tertiary jobs in the large urban places.     

Commercial hunting activities in the Greenland Sea: The impact of the European blubber industry on East Greenland Inuit societies/Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating of Inuit settlement structures in coastal landscapes of Northeast Greenland

Geografisk Tidsskrift—Danish Journal of Geography 110(2):357–363, 2010

Geografisk Tidsskrift—Danish Journal of Geography 110(2):365–371, 2010     

Testing Stokes-Helmert geoid model computation on a synthetic gravity field: experiences and shortcomings

We report on testing the UNB (University of New Brunswick) software suite for accurate regional geoid model determination by use of Stokes-Helmert’s method against an Australian Synthetic Field (ASF) as “ground truth”. This testing has taken several years and has led to discoveries of several significant errors (larger than 5mm in the resulting geoid models) both in the UNB software as well as the ASF. It was our hope that, after correcting the errors in UNB software, we would be able to come up with some definite numbers as far as the achievable accuracy for a geoid model computed by the UNB software. Unfortunately, it turned out that the ASF contained errors, some of as yet unknown origin, that will have to be removed before that ultimate goal can be reached. Regardless, the testing has taught us some valuable lessons, which we describe in this paper. As matters stand now, it seems that given errorless gravity data on 1′ by 1′ grid, a digital elevation model of a reasonable accuracy and no topographical density variations, the Stokes-Helmert approach as realised in the UNB software suite is capable of delivering an accuracy of the geoid model of no constant bias, standard deviation of about 25 mm and a maximum range of about 200 mm. We note that the UNB software suite does not use any corrective measures, such as biases and tilts or surface fitting, so the resulting errors reflect only the errors in modelling the geoid.     

Point process models for fine-resolution rainfall

Abstract

In a recent development in the literature, a new temporal rainfall model, based on the Bartlett-Lewis clustering mechanism and intended for sub-hourly application, was introduced. That model replaced the rectangular rain cells of the original model with finite Poisson processes of instantaneous pulses, allowing greater variability in rainfall intensity over short intervals. In the present paper, the basic instantaneous pulse model is first extended to allow for randomly varying storm types. A systematic comparison of a number of key model variants, fitted to 5-min rainfall data from Germany, then generates further new insights into the models, leading to the development of an additional model extension, which introduces dependence between rainfall intensity and duration in a simple way. The new model retains the original rectangular cells, previously assumed inappropriate for fine-scale data, obviating the need for the computationally more intensive instantaneous pulse model.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis     

Réponse hydrologique d’un bassin semi-aride aux événements pluviométriques et aménagements de versant (bassin du Merguellil,Tunisie centrale)

RÉSUMÉ

L’influence cumulée des aménagements de versants sur les écoulements en zones semi-arides demeure peu étudiée et comprise à l’échelle de grands bassins versants. En Tunisie centrale, nous étudions les variations de la réponse hydrologique du bassin du Merguellil à l’échelle annuelle et pour 114 événements entre 1989 et 2010. Sur cette période, les aménagements de conservation des eaux et des sols ont progressivement drainé de 5% à 30% des surfaces du bassin. L’analyse statistique révèle la forte variabilité des pluies et des débits annuels, mais ne distingue aucune tendance déficitaire. L’approche événementielle démontre que les variations des écoulements annuels sont liées aux apports générés par un nombre très limité (cinq à six par an en moyenne) d’épisodes pluvieux supérieurs à 15 mm. Le nombre très variable de ces évènements ainsi que les écarts importants observés sur leur coefficient de ruissellement (K_R) respectif sont déterminants sur les apports annuels. Pour les événements de plus de 60 mm, les différences d’intensités pluviométriques, de couvert végétal et d’humidité du sol réduisent le ruissellement jusqu’à 80%. Toutefois, les K_R d’averses de moins de 40 mm, sur des sols au couvert végétal et d’humidité semblables, ont également diminué de 45% après l’extension des aménagements de CES à la fin des années 1990.     

Precipitation patterns and associated hydrological extremes in the Yangtze River basin,China, using TRMM/PR data and EOF analysis

Abstract

A decadal-scale study to retrieve the spatio-temporal precipitation patterns of the Yangtze River basin, China, using the Tropical Rain Mapping Mission, Precipitation Radar (TRMM/PR) data is presented. The empirical orthogonal function (EOF) based on monthly TRMM/PR data extracts several leading precipitation patterns, which are largely connected with physical implications at the basin scale. With the aid of gauge station data, the amplitudes of major principal components (PCs) were used to examine the generic relationships between precipitation variations and hydrological extremes (e.g. floods and droughts) during summer seasons over the past decade. The emergence of such major precipitation patterns clearly reveals the possible linkages with hydrological processes, and the oscillations in relation to the amplitude of major PCs are consistent with these observed hydrological extremes. Although the floods in some sections of the Yangtze River were, to some extent, tied to human activities, such as the removal of wetlands, the variations in major precipitation patterns are recognized as the primary driving force of the flow extremes associated with floods and droughts. The research findings indicate that long-distance hydro-meteorological signals of large-scale precipitation variations over such a large river basin can be successfully identified with the aid of EOF analysis. The retrieved precipitation patterns and their low-frequency jumps of amplitude in relation to PCs are valuable tools to help understand the association between the precipitation variations and the occurrence of hydrological extremes. Such a study can certainly aid in disaster mitigation and decision-making in water resource management.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor A. Montanari

Citation Sun, Z., Chang, N.-B., Huang, Q., and Opp, C., 2013. Precipitation patterns and associated hydrological extremes in the Yangtze River basin, China, using TRMM/PR data and EOF analysis. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (7), 1315–1324.