Processing Multibeam Backscatter Data

A new highly precise source of data has recently become available using multibeam sonar systems in hydrography. Multibeam sonar systems can provide hydrographic quality depth data as well as high-resolution seafloor sonar images. We utilize the seafloor backscatter strength data of each beam from multibeam sonar and the automatic classification technology so that we can get the seafloor type identification maps. In this article, analyzing all kinds of error effects in backscatter strength, data are based on the relationship between backscatter strength and seafloor types. We emphasize particularly analyzing the influences of local bottom slope and near nadir reflection in backscatter strength data. We also give the correction algorithms and results of these two influent factors. After processing the raw backscatter strength data and correcting error effects, we can get processed backscatter strength data which reflect the features of seafloor types only. Applying the processed backscatter strength data and mosaicked seafloor sonar images, we engage in seafloor classification and geomorphy interpretation in future research.     

一种便携式高分辨率康普顿背散射扫描仪

兰博集团开发生产的ＬＢＤ１０１型康普顿背散射扫描仪（ＣＢＳ），可以由被测物的单侧进行检查，广泛用于工业领域的无损检测（ＮＤＴ）和无损评价（ＮＤＥ）。这种新仪器采用非常简单而紧凑的单源和单探测器系统。其扫描范围为２００ｍｍ（Ｘ向）×２００ｍｍ（Ｙ向）×１００ｍｍ（Ｚ向或深度），用自动升降装置可调节检测高度为２００ｍｍ～２０００ｍｍ。ＬＢＤ１０１优越的技术指标包括：最高的空间分辨率优于０．８ｍｍ，最好的密度分辨率约为１％，最小可探测的缺陷体积小于０．６ｍｍ３，最小可探测的缺陷大小为０．８，最小可探测裂纹宽度为０．１５ｍｍ。辐射防护安全性能好，辐射剂量率非常低。本文摘要并详细比较了ＣＯＭＳＣＡＮ１６０和ＬＢＤ１０１型ＣＢＳ扫描仪的性能和主要技术指标。本文列出了设计便携式高分辨率ＣＢＳ扫描仪的主要技术问题，还给出了实际检测结果     

Storsteinsfjellbreen: Variations in Mass Balance from the 1960s to the 1990s

When the Norwegian State Power Board decided to plan an extensive water power development in the mountainous areas southeast of Narvik in northern Norway, a large mapping project was started. Detailed maps were constructed at a scale of 1:10 000 from aerial photographs taken in 1960. Several hydrometric stations were installed, and three glaciers were selected for mass balance observations. Storsteinsfjellbreen was the largest of these, and a special glacier map with 10 m contours was printed in four colours, to be used in the field work. Mass balance studies were carried out initially during one 5-year period (1964–68), and also later during another 5-year period (1991–95).
Results from these periods are compared with similar data from the Swedish glacier Storglaciären, about 45 km to the southeast. For all the years except one (1968), the net balance of these glaciers shows a similar pattern: positive years and negative years are synchronous.
A new glacier map was made from a special aerial survey in 1993 at the same scale and of similar accuracy as the first map, so a comparison could be made to calculate the change in glacier volume from 1960 to 1993. From digital terrain models it could be shown that the glacier surface had dropped more than 60 m vertically on the tongue, while the thickness increased above the equilibrium line by up to 20 m. The overall mass loss amounted to 16.8×10⁶ m³ water during 33 years, which corresponds to an extra 2.6 l·s⁻¹·km⁻² (litres per sec. per sq. km) delivered to the river, in addition to the "normal" discharge
due to annual precipitation, which is 36 l·s⁻¹·km⁻² in the area.
A copy of the new glacier map is enclosed with this article.     

1987年9月23日日环食的电离层波动现象

本文给出了利用高频天波返回散射雷达对1987年9月23日日环食电离层效应的观测结果.分析表明,日食期间在日环食带电离层存在明显的不均匀结构和小尺度的波动,而日食过后在见食电离层区域出现大尺度的波动现象.     

Seafloor classification of the mound and channel provinces of the Porcupine Seabight: an application of the multibeam angular backscatter data

In this study multibeam angular backscatter data acquired in the eastern slope of the Porcupine Seabight are analysed. Processing of the angular backscatter data using the ‘NRGCOR’ software was made for 29 locations comprising different geological provinces like: carbonate mounds, buried mounds, seafloor channels, and inter-channel areas. A detailed methodology is developed to produce a map of angle-invariant (normalized) backscatter data by correcting the local angular backscatter values. The present paper involves detailed processing steps and related technical aspects of the normalization approach. The presented angle-invariant backscatter map possesses 12 dB dynamic range in terms of grey scale. A clear distinction is seen between the mound dominated northern area (Belgica province) and the Gollum channel seafloor at the southern end of the site. Qualitative analyses of the calculated mean backscatter values i.e., grey scale levels, utilizing angle-invariant backscatter data generally indicate backscatter values are highest (lighter grey scale) in the mound areas followed by buried mounds. The backscatter values are lowest in the inter-channel areas (lowest grey scale level). Moderate backscatter values (medium grey level) are observed from the Gollum and Kings channel data, and significant variability within the channel seafloor provinces. The segmentation of the channel seafloor provinces are made based on the computed grey scale levels for further analyses based on the angular backscatter strength. Three major parameters are utilized to classify four different seafloor provinces of the Porcupine Seabight by employing a semi-empirical method to analyse multibeam angular backscatter data. The predicted backscatter response which has been computed at 20° is the highest for the mound areas. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the mean backscatter response is also the highest for the mound areas. Interestingly, the slope value of the buried mound areas are found to be the highest. However, the channel seafloor of moderate backscatter response presents the lowest slope and CV values. A critical examination of the inter-channel areas indicates less variability within the estimated three parameters. Financial support of this study was granted by the European Commission Fifth Framework Project GEOMOUND (contract no. EVK3-CT-1999-00016).     

沙尘暴影响下北京沙尘气溶胶的垂直分布及溯源分析

采用云-大气气溶胶激光雷达红外探索卫星观测系统(Cloud-Aerosol Lidarand Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations,CALIPSO)资料,得出了2013年3月8-11日的一次途经新疆、甘肃、内蒙古等地的沙尘暴,对造成北京的沙尘天气影响下的沙尘气溶胶的空间垂直分布图。在此基础上研究了衰减后向散射系数、退偏振比、色比等光学特性参数。结果表明:在此次沙尘暴影响下造成的北京地区沙尘天气过程中,气溶胶的退偏振比在0.1~0.4之间,色比大于0.3。3月10-11日北京地区的沙尘气溶胶分布高度从3km以下被抬升至约4km。再利用欧拉-拉格朗日混合单粒子轨道模型(Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model)和NAAPS全球气溶胶模式,模拟分析了这次沙尘的来源和传输过程,表明此次沙尘起源于南疆盆地和内蒙古中西部,影响甘肃大部、内蒙古中西部、宁夏、山西北部和河北西北部、北京等地区。并用双波长迭代反演法初步反演了3月10、11日北京地区处于沙尘天气情况下的气溶胶光学厚度,分别为0.334和0.621。     

Growth and collapse of the Reunion Island volcanoes

This work presents the first exhaustive study of the entire surface of the Reunion Island volcanic system. The focus is on the submarine part, for which a compilation of all multibeam data collected during the last 20 years has been made. Different types of submarine features have been identified: a coastal shelf, debris avalanches and sedimentary deposits, erosion canyons, volcanic constructions near the coast, and seamounts offshore. Criteria have been defined to differentiate the types of surfaces and to establish their relative chronology where possible. Debris avalanche deposits are by far the most extensive and voluminous formations in the submarine domain. They have built four huge Submarine Bulges to the east, north, west, and south of the island. They form fans 20–30 km wide at the coastline and 100–150 km wide at their ends, 70–80 km offshore. They were built gradually by the superimposition and/or juxtaposition of products moved during landslide episodes, involving up to several hundred cubic kilometers of material. About 50 individual events deposits can be recognized at the surface. The landslides have recurrently dismantled Piton des Neiges, Les Alizés, and Piton de La Fournaise volcanoes since 2 Ma. About one third are interpreted as secondary landslides, affecting previously emplaced debris avalanche deposits. On land, landslide deposits are observed in the extensively eroded central area of Piton des Neiges and in its coastal areas. Analysis of the present-day topography and of geology allows us to identify presumed faults and scars of previous large landslides. The Submarine Bulges are dissected and bound by canyons up to 200 m deep and 40 km long, filled with coarse-grained sediments, and generally connected to streams onshore. A large zone of sedimentary accumulation exists to the north–east of the island. It covers a zone 20 km in width, extending up to 15 km offshore. Volcanic constructions are observed near the coast on both Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise volcanoes and are continuations of subaerial structures. Individual seamounts are present on the submarine flanks and the surrounding ocean floor. A few seem to be young volcanoes, but the majority are probably old, eroded seamounts. This study suggests a larger scale and frequency of mass-wasting events on Reunion Island compared to similar islands. The virtual absence of downward flexure of the lithosphere beneath the island probably contributes to this feature. The increased number of known flank–failure events has to be taken into consideration when assessing hazards from future landslides, in particular, the probability of landslide-generated tsunamis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

合成孔径雷达与森林地上生物量反演：好奇和实用的平衡

好奇是科学与技术发展、不断创新的源泉,实用则是科技发展、创新的结果服务人类、回馈社会,两者无不例外共同不断地驱动着合成孔径雷达技术和森林地上生物量反演的研究和发展。在全球气候急剧变化的今天,好奇和实用的平衡则更加至关重要。地球陆地表面森林面积大小和树木生物量是估算各国或者全球碳储量、排放及其变化的重要参数。好奇已产生的成功案例表明,树木生物量的反演与全极化、极化干涉、层析合成孔径雷达SAR(Synthetic Aperture Radar)技术及数据集紧密相关。反思过去,兼顾好奇和实用,对地上树木生物量的反演,建议将来考虑以下4种方案,即星载双波段SAR和异速方程(Allometric Equation),星载激光雷达LiDAR(Light Detection and Ranging)和异速方程,第3个方案是前面两个方案的结合,方案4为探索和好奇性的。     

植被覆盖地表土壤水分遥感反演

以地域特色突出的新疆渭干河-库车河三角洲绿洲为研究区,联合使用雷达数据和光学遥感数据,对干旱区绿洲土壤和植被水分信息进行提取。在同期光学遥感影像数据提取植被归一化差分水分指数基础上,利用"水-云模型"从雷达数据总的后向散射中去除植被影响,建立土壤后向散射系数与土壤含水量的关系,相关系数为HH极化R2=0.5227,HV极化R2=0.3277。结果表明利用C波段HH极化雷达影像数据结合光学影像数据,进行干旱半干旱地区棉花、玉米等农作物种植区地表土壤水分反演时,在中等覆盖条件下去除植被影响有较好的效果。