Changes in timber haul emissions in the context of shifting forest management and infrastructure

Background  

Although significant amounts of carbon may be stored in harvested wood products, the extraction of that carbon from the forest generally entails combustion of fossil fuels. The transport of timber from the forest to primary milling facilities may in particular create emissions that reduce the net sequestration value of product carbon storage. However, attempts to quantify the effects of transport on the net effects of forest management typically use relatively sparse survey data to determine transportation emission factors. We developed an approach for systematically determining transport emissions using: 1) -remotely sensed maps to estimate the spatial distribution of harvests, and 2) - industry data to determine landscape-level harvest volumes as well as the location and processing totals of individual mills. These data support spatial network analysis that can produce estimates of fossil carbon released in timber transport.     

Use of the L2C signal for inversions of GPS radio occultation data in the neutral atmosphere

Results from processing FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC radio occultations (RO) with the new GPS L2C signal acquired both in phase locked loop (PLL) and open loop (OL) modes are presented. Analysis of L2P, L2C, and L1CA signals acquired in PLL mode shows that in the presence of strong ionospheric scintillation not only L2P tracking, but also L1CA tracking often fails, while L2C tracking is most stable. The use of L2C improves current RO processing in the neutral atmosphere mainly by increasing the number of processed occultations (due to significant reduction in the number of L2 tracking failures) and marginally by a reduction in noise in statistics. The latter is due to the combination of reduced L2C noise (compared to L2P) and increased L1CA noise in those occultations where L2P would have failed. This result suggests application of OL tracking for L1CA and L2C signals throughout an entire occultation to optimally acquire RO data. Two methods of concurrent processing of L1CA and L2C RO signals are considered. Based on testing of individual occultations, these methods allow: (1) reduction in uncertainty of bending angles retrieved by wave optics in the lower troposphere and (2) reduction in small-scale residual errors of the ionospheric correction in the stratosphere.     

Generation of Vegetation Fraction and Surface Albedo Products Over India from Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) Data Onboard Oceansat-2

The use of Local Area Coverage (LAC) data from Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) sensor of Oceansat-2 with its high radiometric resolution (12 bits/pixel) and 2-day repeat cycle for rapid monitoring of vegetation growth and estimating surface albedo for the Indian region is demonstrated in this study. For the vegetation monitoring, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and vegetation fraction (VF) products were estimated by maximum value composite approach fortnightly and were resampled to 1 km. The surface albedo products were realized by converting narrow-band eight-band spectral reflectance OCM data to a) visible (300–700 nm) and b) broad band (300–3,000 nm) data. For validation, the derived products were compared with respective MODIS global products and found to be in good agreement.     

A global inventory of coral reef stressors based on satellite observed nighttime lights

In this article, we present a satellite-based approach to gather information about the threat to coral reefs worldwide. Three chosen reef stressors – development, gas flaring and heavily lit fishing boat activity – are analysed using nighttime lights data derived from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) produced at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, National Geophysical Data Center (NOAA/NGDC). Nighttime lights represent a direct threat to coral reef ecosystems and are an excellent proxy measure for associated human-caused stressors. A lights proximity index (LPI) is calculated, measuring the distance of coral reef sites to each of the stressors and incorporating the stressor's intensity. Colourized maps visualize the results on a global scale. Area rankings clarify the effects of artificial night lighting on coral reefs on a regional scale. The results should be very useful for reef managers and for state administrations to implement coral reef conservation projects and for the scientific world to conduct further research.     

Generation and study of satellite gravity over Gujarat,India and their possible correlation with earthquake occurrences

High-resolution satellite gravity data have been generated and utilized to infer subsurface geological structures in the area of devastating earthquake that struck the Bhuj region in Gujarat on 26 January 2001. Latitudinal gravity profiles have been generated in the Bhuj, Anjar and IBF regions across the epicentres (23.5° N, 69.8° E/M_w 7.0 in 2001; 23.2° N, 70° E/M_w 7.0 in 1956; 24.2° N, 69.2° E/M_w 7.8 in 1819). Substantial differences in gravity anomaly patterns as high as 37 mGal could be observed existing near the epicentre regions. These gravitational differences might have caused due to the plate tectonic processes and due to the changes in densities of different lithospheric zones/sedimentary layers. Temporal variations of the satellite-derived gravity and their probable relations with already occurred major earthquakes in this region have been studied. Hence we conclude that drastic changes in gravity anomalies can be considered as a precursor for occurrences of substantially large earthquakes.     

LONG LINES ON THE EARTH

Abstract

The Arc of the Geodesic.—In the first part of this paper a method was given for computing the azimuth of a geodesic. The method gives the convergence of the geodesic correctly up to the second power of e the eccentricity. The formula (9), however, also depends on the assumption that σ, the arc-length of the geodesic, can be obtained with sufficient accuracy from the Supplemental Dalby Theorem, that is to say, by a purely spherical computation. It is, therefore, needful to show that this supposition is justifiable; a means must in fact be indicated for verifying the assumption.     

EXPANSION OF PAPER AS AFFECTING AREA

Abstract

For the sake of the junior reader we may repeat an old and simple investigation. Let us suppose that the paper on which a map is printed undergoes a regular expansion p in one direction, say the X direction, and another regular expansion q in the Y direction, perpendicular to the former; it is required to know the effect of these expansions on the area of any parcel on the map. Note that, so far as the mathematics are affected, X and Y are not necessarily parallel to the margins of the sheet; we shall take them here as axes of any rectangular coordinate system. The symbols p and q are regarded as ratios, so that 100p and 100p represent the percentage expansions; if the paper contracts instead of expanding, no more is necessary than to change the sign.     

THE TRANSVERSE MERCATOR PROJECTION

Abstract

I. Introduction.—Map projection is a branch of applied mathematics which owes much to J. H. Lambert (v. this Review, i, 2, 91). In his “Beyträge zum Gebrauche der Mathematik und deren Anwendung” (Berlin, 1772) he arrived at a form of projection whereof the Transverse Mercator is a special case, and pointed out that this special case is adapted to a country of great extent in latitude but of small longitudinal width. Germain (“Traité des Projections”, Paris, 1865) described it as the Projection cylindrique orthomorphe de Lambert, but he also introduced the name Projection de Mercator transverse or renversée; he shows that Lambert's treatment of the projection was remarkably simple.