Doppler radar sounding of volcanic eruption dynamics at Mount Etna

Besides their common use in atmospheric studies, Doppler radars are promising tools for the active remote sensing of volcanic eruptions but were little applied to this field. We present the observations made with a mid-power UHF Doppler radar (Voldorad) during a 7-h Strombolian eruption at the SE crater of Mount Etna on 11–12 October 1998. Main characteristics of radar echoes are retrieved from analysis of Doppler spectra recorded in the two range gates on either side of the jet axis. From the geometry of the sounding, the contribution of uprising and falling ejecta to each Doppler spectrum can be discriminated. The temporal evolution of total power backscattered by uprising targets is quite similar to the temporal evolution of the volcanic tremor and closely reproduces the overall evolution of the eruption before, during and after its paroxysm. Moreover, during the sharp decrease of eruptive activity following the paroxysm, detailed analysis of video (from camera recording), radar and seismic measurements reveals that radar and video signals start to decrease simultaneously, approximately 2.5 min after the tremor decline. This delay is interpreted as the ascent time through a magma conduit of large gas slugs from a shallow source roughly estimated at about 500 m beneath the SE crater. Detailed analysis of eruptive processes has been also made with Voldorad operating in a high sampling rate mode. Signature of individual outburst is clearly identified on the half part of Doppler spectra corresponding to rising ejecta: temporal variations of the backscattered power exhibit quasi periodic undulations, whereas the maximum velocity measured on each spectrum displays a sharp peak at the onset of each outburst followed by a slow decay with time. Periodicity of power variations (between 3.8 and 5.5 s) is in agreement with the occurrence of explosions visually observed at the SE vent. Maximum vertical velocities of over 160 m s^–1 were measured during the paraoxysmal stage and the renewed activity. Finally, by using a simplified model simulating the radar echoes characteristics, we show that when Voldorad is operating in high sampling rate mode, the power and maximum velocity variations are directly related to the difference in size and velocity of particles crossing the antenna beam.Editorial responsibility: A. Woods     

提高INSAR干涉图质量的过采样方法

在对干涉图中频谱混叠噪声的成因及其影响进行深入分析的基础上,研究通过对原始影像频谱进行过采样来消除频谱混叠的方法;同时为了将过采样后的干涉图恢复到原始影像大小,又探讨了干涉图的欠采样理论,并推导出加权欠采样函数.实验结果表明,文中的过采样--加权欠采样方法能有效消除干涉图中的频谱混叠噪声,经欠采样处理后的干涉图条纹边缘更加清晰,残余点数较原始干涉图减少90%以上.     

Excel在GPS基线解算精度统计中的应用

GPS基线解算就是利用GPS观测值,通过数据处理,得到测站间的基线向量值。基线解算是GPS网平差的基础和关键,基线解算精度直接关系着GPS网的精度,所以,基线解算精度统计是一项很有必要的工作。Excel中大量的公式函数可以应用选择,主要用来进行有繁重计算任务的预算、财务、数据处理等工作,借助于Excel的数据筛选和条件格式功能,可以方便、高效、准确无误地进行GPS精度统计,这在GPS广泛大量使用的今天,有一定的现实意义。     

Theoretical analysis and engineering solution of parasitical spectrum in the CINRAD transmitter

To deal with the universal problem of parasitical frequency spectrum in China New Generation Weather Radar transmitter, this paper establishes mathematical models for parasitical signals existing in radar transmitters and analyzes their effects on weather radar performance. Based on an engineering analysis of their possible sources, a step-by-step method to eliminate parasitical spectrum is presented, which is applied to troubleshooting experimental weather radar. Eventually, parasitical spectrum is basically eliminated. As a result, improved spectrum purity and reduced phase noise is achieved. Moreover, accuracy for velocity estimate as well as ground clutter suppression ability of the radar system is enhanced.     

The Roles of Spatial Locations and Patterns of Initial Errors in the Uncertainties of Tropical Cyclone Forecasts

In this study,a series of sensitivity experiments were performed for two tropical cyclones (TCs),TC Longwang (2005) and TC Sinlaku (2008),to explore the roles of locations and patterns of initial errors in uncertainties of TC forecasts.Specifically,three types of initial errors were generated and three types of sensitive areas were determined using conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP),first singular vector (FSV),and composite singular vector (CSV) methods.Additionally,random initial errors in randomly selected areas were considered.Based on these four types of initial errors and areas,we designed and performed 16 experiments to investigate the impacts of locations and patterns of initial errors on the nonlinear developments of the errors,and to determine which type of initial errors and areas has the greatest impact on TC forecasts.Overall,results from the experiments indicate the following:(1) The impact of random errors introduced into the sensitive areas was greater than that of errors themselves fixed in the randomly selected areas.From the perspective of statistical analysis,and by comparison,the impact of random errors introduced into the CNOP target area was greatest.(2) The initial errors with CNOP,CSV,or FSV patterns were likely to grow faster than random errors.(3) The initial errors with CNOP patterns in the CNOP target areas had the greatest impacts on the final verification forecasts.     

基于多种探测资料对武汉一次短时暴雪天气的监测分析

利用Thies Clima激光雨滴谱仪、MP3000A微波辐射仪、多普勒雷达和人工加密观测资料,分析了2011年2月12日武汉一次暴雪天气过程的演变特征。结果表明:(1)在这次短时暴雪过程中,先后出现了降雨、雨夹雪和纯降雪3个阶段,激光雨滴谱仪监测到该降雨阶段的雨滴谱较宽,最大直径达4.5mm,数浓度比较小,为2～5 429个.m-3.mm-1,雨滴谱型呈双峰型分布特点;(2)微波辐射仪对水汽相态监测显示,08:12-09:34(世界时)期间在1.5～3.5km过冷层比湿维持14～16g.kg-1大值区,之后迅速由雨夹雪过程(仅16min)过渡到纯降雪阶段,在65min内武汉站降雪量达到5.035mm,占整个降雪量的80%以上;(3)雷达反射率因子与粒子谱宽和数浓度密切相关,若后两者越大则对应的雷达回波强度也越大;同时还发现,与微波辐射仪反演的水汽密度、激光雨滴谱仪测得的降水强度也有较好的对应关系,若将这些结合起来对降水的相态变化、强度、量级和持续时间有很好的监测能力。     

夜间稳定边界层中间歇性湍流热通量的 提取及其谱特征

在夜间稳定边界层中, 湍流热通量往往具有间歇性特征。在一阵阵出现的强度较大的湍流热通量之间, 混杂着弱噪声或其他微弱的难以辨识的高频脉动信号。为了研究间歇性湍流热通量的特征, 必须将这些无关信 号剔除, 以提取出干净的湍流热通量。本文提出了一种新的提取间歇性湍流热通量的方法, 该方法通过分析 湍流热通量的概率密度函数, 并与稳定分布进行比较, 湍流热通量的概率密度函数开始偏离稳定分布的位置, 即是间歇性湍流热通量开始出现的阈值。本文通过夜间稳定边界层外场试验数据的验证, 发现利用稳定分布确定 的阈值可有效地提取出间歇性湍流热通量。在此基础之上, 本文对比了提取前后湍流热通量的功率谱, 发现 提取后低频信号的方差所占比重下降, 而高频信号略有上升。此外, 间歇性湍流热通量在高频区的功率谱满足“-7/6”律。     

近红外波段(900—2500 nm)水吸收系数测量

根据水在红外波段强吸收且吸收能力变化大的特点,在所提出可见光波段水吸收系数测量系统基础上增设了薄层水测量装置,使得测量水层厚度可在0.04—350 mm之间变化。在此基础上对厚度为0.04—150 mm的多个厚度水层进行了吸收系数测量,并对消除杂质影响后的测量数据进行了有效整合,得到900—2500 nm波段纯水吸收系数。由于确保了各波段数据均在仪器最佳探测区间取得,所得结果精度较高,且与被普遍接受的前期研究结果相一致,可作为相关定量遥感的基础数据。     

Algorithm Studies on How to Obtain a Conditional Nonlinear Optimal Perturbation (CNOP)

The conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP), which is a nonlinear generalization of the linear singular vector (LSV), is applied in important problems of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, including ENSO predictability, targeted observations, and ensemble forecast. In this study, we investigate the computational cost of obtaining the CNOP by several methods. Differences and similarities, in terms of the computational error and cost in obtaining the CNOP, are compared among the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) algorithm, the limited memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno (L-BFGS) algorithm, and the spectral projected gradients (SPG2) algorithm. A theoretical grassland ecosystem model and the classical Lorenz model are used as examples. Numerical results demonstrate that the computational error is acceptable with all three algorithms. The computational cost to obtain the CNOP is reduced by using the SQP algorithm. The experimental results also reveal that the L-BFGS algorithm is the most effective algorithm among the three optimization algorithms for obtaining the CNOP. The numerical results suggest a new approach and algorithm for obtaining the CNOP for a large-scale optimization problem.     

降水性层云含水量跃变对应的微结构观测研究

利用长春2007年5月16日的一次层状云降水过程的飞机观测资料,并结合天气图、卫星云图及雷达回波等资料,综合分析了此次降水过程中粒子浓度、粒子谱、雷达垂直累积液态水（vertical integrated liquidwater,VIL）、微波辐射计积分液态水（liquid water content,LWC）以及地面雨强特征。研究表明,层状云微结构在水平方向上的起伏较大,出现两次典型的含水量跃变：第1次液态水跃变主要是因为粒子浓度增加;第2次液态水跃变是因为粒子浓度和粒子谱共同作用的结果;雷达VIL值和地面雨强两者呈正相关。