On the Possibility of Directional Analysis for Geo-neutrinos

The possibility of terrestrial antineutrino directionality studies is considered for future unloaded liquid scintillator detectors. Monte-Carlo simulations suggest that the measurable displacement between prompt and delayed antineutrino signals makes such studies possible. However, it is estimated that on the order of 1000 terrestrial antineutrino events are required to test the simplest models, demanding detectors of 100 kt size to collect sufficient data in a reasonable period of time.     

Mass and density of Asteroid 121 Hermione from an analysis of its companion orbit

We report on Adaptive Optics observations of the satellite of Asteroid 121 Hermione with the ESO-Paranal UT4 VLT and the Keck AO telescopes. The binary system, belonging to the Cybele family, was observed during two observing campaigns in January 2003 and January 2004 aiming to confirm its trajectory and accurately determine its orbital elements. A precessing Keplerian model was used to describe the motion of S/2002 (121) 1. We find that the satellite of Hermione revolves at a=768±11 km from the primary in P=2.582±0.002 days with a roughly circular and prograde orbit (e=0.001±0.001, i=3±2° w.r.t. equator primary). These extensive astrometric measurements enable us to determine the mass of Hermione to be 0.54±0.03×¹⁰¹⁹ kg and its pole solution (λ₀=1.5°±2.00, β₀=10°±2.0 in ecliptic J2000). Additional Keck AO observations taken close to the asteroid opposition in December 2003 give us direct insight into the structure of the primary which presents a bilobated shape. Since the angular resolution is limited to the theoretical angular resolution of the telescope (43 mas corresponding to a spatial resolution of 80 km), two shape models (called snowman and peanut) are proposed based on the images which were deconvolved with MISTRAL deconvolution process. Assuming a purely synchronous orbit and knowing the mass of the primary, the peanut shape composed of two separated components is quite unlikely. Additionally the J₂ calculated from the analysis of the secondary orbit is not in agreement with the peanut model, but close to the snowman shape. The bulk density of the primary as derived from the observed size of the snowman shape is estimated to ρ∼1.8±0.2 g/cm³ implying a porosity ∼14% for this C-type asteroid, corresponding to a fractured asteroid. Considering the IRAS diameter, the density is lower (ρ=1.1±0.3 g/cm³) leading to a high porosity (p=30-60%) with a nominal value of p=48%, which indicates a completely loose rubble-pile structure for the primary. Further work is necessary to better constrain the size, shape, and then internal structure of Hermione's primary.     

Derivation of planetary topography using multi-image shape-from-shading

In many cases, the derivation of high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) from planetary surfaces using conventional digital image matching is a problem. The matching methods need at least one stereo pair of images with sufficient texture. However, many space missions provide only a few stereo images and planetary surfaces often possess insufficient texture.This paper describes a method for the generation of high-resolution DTMs from planetary surfaces, which has the potential to overcome the described problem. The suggested method, developed by our group, is based on shape-from-shading using an arbitrary number of digital optical images, and is termed “multi-image shape-from-shading” (MI-SFS). The paper contains an explanation of the theory of MI-SFS, followed by a presentation of current results, which were obtained using images from NASA's lunar mission Clementine, and constitute the first practical application with our method using extraterrestrial imagery. The lunar surface is reconstructed under the assumption of different kinds of reflectance models (e.g. Lommel-Seeliger and Lambert). The represented results show that the derivation of a high-resolution DTM of real digital planetary images by means of MI-SFS is feasible.     

The Martian Nonhydrostatic Components of Moment-of-Inertia

The author puts forward the proposal in this paper that all the terrestrial planets (Venus, the Earth, and Mars) as well as the Moon deviate from hydrostatic equilibrium to some degree. The Earth's level of deviation of these four celestial bodies is minimum, and that of Mars is maximum. Moreover, the author estimates Martian nonhydrostatic components of the principal moments-of-inertia using five models for the interior of Mars. Comparison with other terrestrial planets shows that setting the range of mean moment-of-inertia ratio, I/MR², in 0.345 ~ 0.355for Mars is reasonable. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Experimental Simulation Study of the Dominant Enrichment Area of Terrestrial Organic Matter in the Shallow-Delta Sedimentary System of the Yacheng Formation in the Qiongdongnan Basin

Shallow-delta sedimentary systems receive both terrestrial and marine organic matter. As oil and gas exploration activities determine that the source rocks of the deep-water area of the Qiongdongnan Basin, northern South China Sea, are generally rich in and even dominated by terrestrial organic matter, this has led many researchers to examine the rules governing terrestrial organic matter enrichment in shallow-delta sea sedimentary systems. However, the deep burial of source rocks in deep-water areas and the relatively small amount of drilling undertaken have greatly restricted the study of these rules. In this study, the ‘forward modeling’ research method was used to observe and analyze the deposition and preservation of terrestrial organic matter through flume experiments, where the depositional results were carefully depicted and sampled. The total organic carbon content of selected samples was measured and when combined with qualitative observations and quantitative comparison results, the dominant enrichment areas of terrestrial organic matter were identified. The experimental results show that the overbank parts of the delta front, the dune countercurrent surface, the low-lying parts, the delta front slope area and the shallow-prodelta sea area are where terrestrial organic matter is predominantly enriched. This provides an important basis and guidance for the prediction of the development areas of marine source rocks with terrestrial input in the deep-water areas of the Qiongdongnan Basin.     

基于平面特征的地面雷达点云配准算法

针对地面LiDAR点云配准中不同坐标系点云数据存在对应的平面特征不同的问题,文章提出了一种基于总体最小二乘的地面LiDAR点云数据配准算法:通过对分割后的点云数据平面拟合,得到相应法向量;根据不同坐标系中LiDAR点云数据对应的平面法向量,利用反对称矩阵和罗德里格矩阵的性质,用3个独立参数代替3个旋转参数,采用总体最小二乘法建立旋转矩阵解算模型;采用总体最小二乘法确定平移参数的计算公式;最后根据转换后特征点云与对应平面点云的重复情况,给出了配准模型的精度公式。实验结果表明该方法精度较高,可以取得较好的点云配准效果,适合于含有大量重复平面特征的点云数据的配准。     

地面固定式激光扫描点云中建筑物墙面信息的识别提取

地面固定式激光扫描系统能够获取大面积高分辨率的被测对象表面三维数据,本研究通过对固定式LiDAR激光数据做初分类,从地面点中粗提取具有少量噪声的建筑墙面数据,然后利用平面区域分割算法和立面约束条件提取建筑物墙面数据。在对两份固定式三维激光扫描点云的实验中,通过对不同分辨率的数据利用本文所提算法都取得了较好的墙面提取效果,实验证明了该方法的有效性。     

基于小波的浙江省NDVI与自然—人文因子多尺度空间关联分析

对地表植被的空间分布格局及其与自然、人文因子间的关系开展综合的、多尺度的定量分析,这是全球气候变化背景下土地利用与覆被研究中的一项重要内容。以地处亚热带湿润季风区的浙江省为研究区,设置了东西向(样线A)和北南向(样线B)两条样线,并应用小波分析方法对研究区NDVI、高程、坡度和土地利用强度等因子的尺度特征以及这些因子间的多尺度相关关系进行了分析。结果表明:1研究区内,NDVI、高程、坡度及土地利用强度的空间分布格局存在四个尺度域;2上述因子在样线A及样线B上的空间分布分别存在两个主要特征尺度,其中东西向(样线A)上的特征尺度为40 km和80 km,北南向(样线B)上主要的特征尺度为30 km和50 km;3在较大尺度域(8 km以上),土地利用强度是影响NDVI空间分布的最主要因素,而在小尺度域(0~8 km),坡度和高程因子成为影响NDVI分布的主要因子。研究还认为,小波分析方法为识别地理要素空间分布的特征尺度、量测要素间任意尺度、任意位置上的相干关系,提供了方便的工具。