Resistant biomacromolecules in marine microalgae of the classes Eustigmatophyceae and Chlorophyceae: Geochemical implications

Non-hydrolysable macromolecular constituents (i.e. algaenans) were isolated from two out of seven marine microalgae investigated. Nannochloropsis salina and Nannochloropsis sp. from the class of Eustigmatophyceae produce highly aliphatic algaenans. Flash pyrolysis and chemical degradations with HI and RuO₄ allowed for the identification of their chemical structure, which is mainly composed of polyether-linked long-chain (up to C₃₆) n-alkyl units. The building blocks of this polymer were also recognized in lipid fractions. The green microalgae (Chlorophyceae) Chlorella spaerckii, Chlorococcum sp. and Nannochloris sp. were earlier thought to biosynthesize algaenans comprising aliphatic and/or aromatic moieties. However, a new isolation method utilizing trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) prior to the other hydrolyses revealed that the macromolecular material isolated from these three chlorophytes was either hydrolysable with TFA or artefacts from the former method. Similar to algaenans from fresh water green microalgae, the aliphatic eustigmatophyte algaenans are likely to be selectively preserved in depositional environments and might ultimately serve as source rock organic matter of marine crude oils. Furthermore, they may play an important role in the cycling of carbon.     

A Comparison of Strategies for Seismic Interferometry

The extraction of the response from field fluctuations excited by random sources has received considerable attention in a variety of different fields. We present three methods for the extraction of the systems response that are based on cross-correlation, deconvolution, and the solution of an integral equation, respectively. For systems that are invariant for time-reversal the correlation method requires random sources on a bounding surface only, but when time-reversal invariance is broken, for example by attenuation, a volume distribution of sources is needed. For this reason the correlation method is not useful for diffusive or strongly attenuating systems. We provide examples of the three methods and compare their merits and drawbacks. We show that the extracted field may satisfy different boundary conditions than does the physical field. This can be used, for example, to suppress surface-related multiples in exploration seismology, to study the coupling of buildings to the subsurface, and to remove the airwave in controlled source electromagnetics (CSEM).     

Review paper: Virtual sources and their responses,Part II: data‐driven single‐sided focusing

In Part I of this paper, we defined a focusing wave field as the time reversal of an observed point‐source response. We showed that emitting a time‐reversed field from a closed boundary yields a focal spot that acts as an isotropic virtual source. However, when emitting the field from an open boundary, the virtual source is highly directional and significant artefacts occur related to multiple scattering. The aim of this paper is to discuss a focusing wave field, which, when emitted into the medium from an open boundary, yields an isotropic virtual source and does not give rise to artefacts. We start the discussion from a horizontally layered medium and introduce the single‐sided focusing wave field in an intuitive way as an inverse filter. Next, we discuss single‐sided focusing in two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional inhomogeneous media and support the discussion with mathematical derivations. The focusing functions needed for single‐sided focusing can be retrieved from the single‐sided reflection response and an estimate of the direct arrivals between the focal point and the accessible boundary. The focal spot, obtained with this single‐sided data‐driven focusing method, acts as an isotropic virtual source, similar to that obtained by emitting a time‐reversed point‐source response from a closed boundary.     

Altimetry with GNSS-R interferometry: first proof of concept experiment

The Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) concept was conceived as a means to densify radar altimeter measurements of the sea surface. Until now, the GNSS-R concept relied on open access to GNSS transmitted codes. Recently, it has been proposed that the ranging capability of the technique for ocean altimetric applications can be improved by using all the signals transmitted in the bandwidth allocated to GNSS, which includes open access as well as encrypted signals. The main objective of this study is to provide experimental proof of this enhancement through a 2-day experiment on the Zeeland Bridge (The Netherlands). In the experiment, we used a custom built GNSS-R system, composed of high gain GPS antennas, calibration subsystem, and an FPGA-based signal processor which implemented the new concepts, an X-band radar altimeter and a local geodetic network. The results obtained indicate that the new approach produces a significant improvement in GNSS-R altimetric performance.     

Real-time single-frequency precise point positioning: accuracy assessment

The performance of real-time single-frequency precise point positioning is demonstrated in terms of position accuracy. This precise point positioning technique relies on predicted satellite orbits, predicted global ionospheric maps, and in particular on real-time satellite clock estimates. Results are presented using solely measurements from a user receiver on the L1-frequency (C1 and L1), for almost 3?months of data. The empirical standard deviations of the position errors in North and East directions are about 0.15?m, and in Up direction about 0.30?m. The 95% errors are about 0.30?m in the horizontal directions, and 0.65?m in the vertical. In addition, single-frequency results of six receivers located around the world are presented. This research reveals the current ultimate real-time single-frequency positioning performance. To put these results into perspective, a case study is performed, using a moderately priced receiver with a simple patch antenna.