Dependence on the observational time intervals and domain of convergence of orbital determination methods

In the framework of the orbital determination methods, we study some properties related to the algorithms developed by Gauss, Laplace and Mossotti. In particular, we investigate the dependence of such methods upon the size of the intervals between successive observations, encompassing also the case of two nearby observations performed within the same night. Moreover we study the convergence of Gauss algorithm by computing the maximal eigenvalue of the jacobian matrix associated to the Gauss map. Applications to asteroids and Kuiper belt objects are considered.     

Effects on geodetic VLBI measurements due to polarization leakage in S/X receivers

Geodetic very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) delivers time series of station positions and Earth orientation parameters. These series offer a viable and precise way to study Earth crustal and core dynamics and to support space navigation. Their accuracy is degraded by instrumental errors, of which polarization leakage is considered to be one of the largest that is not yet being addressed. Its effect on the data can be corrected, provided one knows the leakage characteristics of the receivers. For this purpose, we designed a VLBI session to measure the polarization leakage at 15 geodetic and very long baseline array stations over the frequency range from 8,212.99 to 8,932.99 MHz. We describe the polarization leakage measurements and the algorithm that was implemented to correct for its effect on the geodetic delay observables. Subsequently, we applied the correction for polarization leakage to the same data that were used to determine the leakage and checked for the resulting improvement. From the measured leakage terms, one would expect polarization leakage to affect the group delay measurements in 90% of the cases by 1.6 ps or less. This proved to be below the statistical noise in our single VLBI session, and hence, an improvement from the correction could not be detected. Applying this analysis in the context of VLBI2010, we provide a specification for the allowable polarization leakage to achieve the target submillimetre accuracy.     

Weighting of Parts in Compositional Data Analysis: Advances and Applications

Mathematical Geosciences - It often occurs in practice that it is sensible to give different weights to the variables involved in a multivariate data analysis—and the same holds for...     

Late Quaternary palaeohydrology of Lake Pergusa (Sicily,southern Italy) as inferred by stable isotopes of lacustrine carbonates

Ten meters of lacustrine deposits retrieved from Lake Pergusa (Sicily, southern Italy) were investigated through stable isotope composition (carbon and oxygen) of authigenic carbonate (calcareous muds) and freshwater shells. The core chronology was established through three AMS dates, and by correlation with a previously dated nearby core. Stable isotope data show that the lake water evolution was mainly dominated by evaporation. Between ca. 20 and 28 ka the recovered sediments have very high δ¹⁸O values, likely corresponding to very dry climatic conditions. The observed rapid oscillations in the δ¹⁸O of the recovered sediments during this period also suggest important climatic fluctuations. More humid conditions dominated during the Holocene period, with the wettest interval occurring between ca. 9000 and 3000 years BP. Late Holocene sediments represent a substantial return to drier conditions. The available pollen data from a nearby core substantially confirm this general climatic trend during the Holocene. The positive correlation between δ¹³C of the calcareous muds and carbonate content suggests that biological activity played a key role in the carbon isotope evolution of dissolved inorganic carbon. However, a clear climatic signal is not evident from the δ¹³C record.