Comparison of split window algorithms to derive land surface temperature from satellite TIRS data

Remote sensing data can be used as the basis for meteorological data. Due to the limitations of meteorological stations on the Earth, derivation of land surface temperature is one of the most important aspects of the remote sensing application in climatology studies. In the present study, Landsat-8 thermal infrared sensor data of the scene located over Khuzestan province with row/path of 165/38 were used to derive land surface temperature (LST). Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), fraction of vegetation cover, satellite brightness temperature, and land surface emissivity were calculated as the vital criteria to derive LSTs using the split window algorithms. LST determination was performed by nine different split window algorithms. Eventually, LST products were evaluated using ground-based measurements at the meteorological stations of the study area. The results showed that algorithm of Coll and Casselles had a highest accuracy with RMSE 1.97 °C, and Vidal’s method presented the lowest accuracy to derive LST with RMSE 4.11 °C. According to the results, regions with high density of vegetation and water resources have lowest diurnal temperature and regions with bare soils and low density of vegetation have a highest diurnal temperature. Results of the study indicated that LST algorithm accuracy is an important factor in the environmental and climate change studies.     

First geophysical and shallow ice core investigation of the Kazbek plateau glacier,Caucasus Mountains

First-ever ice core drilling at Mt. Kazbek (Caucasus Mountains) took place in the summer of 2014. A shallow ice core (18 m) was extracted from a plateau at ~4500 m a.s.l. in the vicinity of the Mt. Kazbek summit (5033 m a.s.l.). A detailed radar survey showed that the maximum ice thickness at this location is ~250 m. Borehole temperature of ?7 °C was measured at 10 m depth. The ice core was analyzed for oxygen and deuterium isotopes and dust concentration. From the observed seasonal cycle, it was determined that the ice core covers the time interval of 2009–2014, with a mean annual snow accumulation rate of 1800 mm w. eq. Multiple melt layers have been detected. δ¹⁸O values vary from ?25 to ?5‰. The dust content was determined using a particle sizing and counting analyzer. The dust layers were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Dust can be separated into two categories by its origin: local and distant. Samples reflecting predominantly local origin consisted mainly of magmatic rocks, while clay minerals were a characteristic of dust carried over large distances, from the deserts of the Middle East and Sahara. The calculated average dust flux over three years at Kazbek was of 1.3 mg/cm² a^?1. Neither δ¹⁸O nor dust records appear to have been affected by summer melting. Overall, the conditions on Kazbek plateau and the available data suggest that the area offers good prospects of future deep drilling in order to obtain a unique environmental record.     

Atmospheric chemistry on Venus, Earth, and Mars: Main features and comparison

This paper deals with two common problems and then considers major aspects of chemistry in the atmospheres of Mars and Venus. (1) The atmospheres of the terrestrial planets have similar origins but different evolutionary pathways because of the different masses and distances to the Sun. Venus lost its water by hydrodynamic escape, Earth lost CO₂ that formed carbonates and is strongly affected by life, Mars lost water in the reaction with iron and then most of the atmosphere by the intense meteorite impacts. (2) In spite of the higher solar radiation on Venus, its thermospheric temperatures are similar to those on Mars because of the greater gravity acceleration and the higher production of O by photolysis of CO₂. O stimulates cooling by the emission at 15 μm in the collisions with CO₂. (3) There is a great progress in the observations of photochemical tracers and minor constituents on Mars in the current decade. This progress is supported by progress in photochemical modeling, especially by photochemical GCMs. Main results in these areas are briefly discussed. The problem of methane presents the controversial aspects of its variations and origin. The reported variations of methane cannot be explained by the existing data on gas-phase and heterogeneous chemistry. The lack of current volcanism, SO₂, and warm spots on Mars favor the biological origin of methane. (4) Venus’ chemistry is rich and covers a wide range of temperatures and pressures and many species. Photochemical models for the middle atmosphere (58-112 km), for the nighttime atmosphere and night airglow at 80-130 km, and the kinetic model for the lower atmosphere are briefly discussed.     

Solutions and periodicity of satellite relative motion under even zonal harmonics perturbations

Finding relative satellite orbits that guarantee long-term bounded relative motion is important for cluster flight, wherein a group of satellites remain within bounded distances while applying very few formationkeeping maneuvers. However, most existing astrodynamical approaches utilize mean orbital elements for detecting bounded relative orbits, and therefore cannot guarantee long-term boundedness under realistic gravitational models. The main purpose of the present paper is to develop analytical methods for designing long-term bounded relative orbits under high-order gravitational perturbations. The key underlying observation is that in the presence of arbitrarily high-order even zonal harmonics perturbations, the dynamics are superintegrable for equatorial orbits. When only J ₂ is considered, the current paper offers a closed-form solution for the relative motion in the equatorial plane using elliptic integrals. Moreover, necessary and sufficient periodicity conditions for the relative motion are determined. The proposed methodology for the J ₂-perturbed relative motion is then extended to non-equatorial orbits and to the case of any high-order even zonal harmonics (J _2n , n ≥ 1). Numerical simulations show how the suggested methodology can be implemented for designing bounded relative quasiperiodic orbits in the presence of the complete zonal part of the gravitational potential.     

A New Mantispid-Like Species of Rhachiberothinae(Neuroptera:Berothidae)from Baltic Amber,with a Critical Review of the Fossil Record of the Subfamily

<正>Whalfera wiszniewskii sp.nov.is described from the Late Eocene Baltic amber.The genus Whalfera is considered as the only fossil genus confidently assigned to the Rhachlberothinae.Others previously placed in this subfamily belong to Paraberothinae(except perhaps for Oisea).The Late Eocene/present Rhachiberothinae and the Cretaceous Paraberothinae are considered to be the subfamilies of Berothidae.     

Geophysical-geochemical investigation of fire-prone landfills

This paper deals with the integration of electrical resistivity tomography and geochemical methods for studying four different fire-prone landfills. Landfill gas composition (CH₄, H₂S, O₂, CO, CO₂) and subsurface temperature were measured with the constant net 50 × 50 m from the depth 10–60 cm. 28 electrical resistivity tomography lines were surveyed, while Wenner and Sclumberger electrode arrays were employed for all measurements. At the studied sites the landfill gas and temperature measurements mapped gas and temperature anomalies over underground fire sources. 2D electrical resistivity tomography lines, performed over these anomalies, showed these fire sources as high-resistivity zones. The joint employment of the electrical imaging and geochemical survey seems to be a useful tool in carrying out diagnostic investigations at fire-prone landfills.     

Sedimentation History of Neogene Lacustrine Sediments of Suseocka Bela Stena Based on Geochemical Parameters (Valjevo-Mionica Basin, Serbia)

Sediments of the western part of the Valjevo-Mionica basin (Serbia) were examined both geochemically and mineralogically to explain, on the basis of their sedimentological characteristics, the causes of changes in their qualitative and quantitative composition. A total of 62 samples obtained from the drillhole at depths up to 400 m was investigated. Using correlation of the obtained data, six geochemical zones were defined, two of which being specially distinguished by their mineralogical, geochemical and sedimentological characteristics. The first one, upper zone A, consists of banded marlstones interbedded with clay and oil shales and is characterized by presence of analcite and searlesite. These minerals and very high contents of Na2O indicate sedimentation in alkaline conditions with increased salinity in arid climate. That provided pronounced water stratification, as well as higher bioproductivity in the basin and sedimentary organic matter preservation. Therefore, the zone A sediments are characterized by high organic matter contents of the type which provides good potential for production of liquid hydrocarbons. Another specific zone, zone F, contains sediments with very high MgO, K2O and Li concentrations. Their geochemical correlation, as well as almost complete absence of illite in this zone, indicates the presence of interstratified clay mineral type illite-saponite (lithium-bearing Mg-smectite).     

Structure analysis of geopolymers synthesized from clay originated from Serbia

The paper presents chemical and structural analysis of geopolymer materials which are obtained by alkali-activated calcined clay (metakaolin) originated from Serbia under strictly defined conditions. Characterization of the metakaolin and geopolymers molecular structure has been done using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The paper presents the possibility of obtaining geopolymer structure and differences in chemical and structural characterization of these materials taking into account the concentration of NaOH as a variable parameter. The results of MALDI analysis of metakaolin and synthesized geopolymer structures using various matrix system: 2,4,6 trihydroxyacetophenone (THAP), α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic, 2,6 dihydroxyacetophenone and laser desorption/ionization, have shown that THAP matrix is the most appropriate for analysing these aluminosilicate materials.     

Metalliferous coals: A review of the main genetic and geochemical types

This paper presents a review of the genetic types and geochemical processes that have formed ‘metalliferous’ coals around the world. Primary attention is given to elements in coal that are currently being extracted from coal as raw material (Ge and U) or have, in our opinion, the best chance for such use (REE, Ag, Au, and PGE). Coals with anomalously high concentrations of other metals having potential for economic by-product recovery (Be, Sc, V, Ga, Sb, Cs, Mo, W, and Re) are briefly considered. Original data and a survey of the literature indicate that metalliferous coals are in many coal basins. Ore formation in coal-bearing structures may occur during peat accumulation, during diagenesis of the organic matter, or by epigenesis. Various metals are supplied to sedimentary basins as minerals that are transported by water and wind or as ionic species in surface water and descending and ascending underground water and may be incorporated into peat or coals. The modes of occurrence of metals in the enriched coals are diverse. The data presented in this review indicates that metalliferous coals should be regarded as promising for economic recovery for by-products in the course of coal mining and combustion.