The astroclimatological comparison of the Paranal Observatory and El Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory

The new extremely large telescope projects need accurate evaluation of the candidate sites. In this paper, we present the astroclimatological comparison between the Paranal Observatory, located on the coast of the Atacama Desert (Chile), and the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos (ORM), located in La Palma (Canary Islands). We apply a statistical analysis using long-term data bases from Paranal and Carlsberg Automatic Meridian Circle (CAMC) weather stations. The monthly, seasonal and annual averages of the main synoptical parameters in the two sites are computed. We compare the long-term trends in order to understand the main differences between the two sites. Significant differences between the two analysed sites have been found. Temperature has increasing trends in both observatories with somewhat higher evidence at the ORM. Seasonal variations of pressure at Paranal have been highly decreasing since 1989, and we do not see the same phenomenon at the ORM. The two sites are dominated by high pressure. In cold seasons, relative humidity (RH) is lower than 60 per cent at CAMC and 15 per cent at Paranal. In warm seasons, RH is lower than 40 per cent at CAMC and 20 per cent at Paranal. The analysis of the dew point has shown better conditions at Paranal with respect to CAMC in winter, autumn and spring before 2001, while the two sites are becoming similar afterwards. Winds at the ORM are subject to pronounced local variations.     

The NASA Lunar Impact Monitoring Program

NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office has implemented a program to monitor the Moon for meteoroid impacts from the Marshall Space Flight Center. Using off-the-shelf telescopes and video equipment, the Moon is monitored for as many as 10 nights per month, depending on weather. Custom software automatically detects flashes which are confirmed by a second telescope, photometrically calibrated using background stars, and published on a website for correlation with other observations. Hypervelocity impact tests at the Ames Vertical Gun Range facility have begun to determine the luminous efficiency and ejecta characteristics. The purpose of this research is to define the impact ejecta environment for use by lunar spacecraft designers of the Constellation manned lunar program. The observational techniques and preliminary results will be discussed. The U.S. Government's right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty-free license in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

A framework to facilitate development and testing of image-based river velocimetry algorithms

Image-based methods have compelling, demonstrated potential for characterizing flow fields in rivers, but algorithms like particle image velocimetry (PIV) must be further tested and improved to enable more effective use of these techniques. This paper presents a framework designed for this exact purpose: Simulating Hydraulics and Images for Velocimetry Evaluation and Refinement (SHIVER). The approach involves coupling a hydrodynamic model with a synthetic particle generator to advect particles between frames, as dictated by local velocity vectors and thus construct a plausible image sequence specific to the reach of interest. The resulting time series can then be used as input to a velocimetry algorithm to compare image-derived estimates with known (modelled) velocities to perform an exhaustive, spatially distributed accuracy assessment. As an example application of SHIVER, we examined the effects of interrogation area (IA) size, frame rate, flow velocity, and image sequence duration on the performance of a standard PIV algorithm. This analysis indicated that image-derived velocities were generally in close agreement with those from the flow model (root mean square error <10% and mean bias <3%), except when small IAs were coupled with low frame rates. Velocity estimates were most accurate for the lowest modelled discharge ( $$ at baseflow) and became less reliable as the mean flow velocity increased ( $$ for an intermediate discharge and $$ at bankfull). Accuracy was essentially independent of image sequence duration, implying that long occupations might not be necessary. Errors were concentrated along channel margins, where PIV-based velocities tended to be greater than those from the flow model. Small IAs led to underpredictions of velocity, while larger IAs led to overpredictions. SHIVER is highly modular and could be updated to make use of different hydrodynamic models or image simulators. The framework could also facilitate more thorough sensitivity analyses and comparison of various velocimetry algorithms.     

轿子山大气视宁度测量

本文介绍了轿子山大气视宁度观测的组织实施情况，给出了观测的结果。结果表明；在我们所观测的时间内（４月和５月），轿子山的视宁度是比较好的，在国际上也属上等。此外，我们的观测还表明，山顶的视宁度比半山腰好。因条件所限，其它月份没有得到观测资料，因此对轿子山全年的大气视宁度的情况无法下结论。但是，按照云南省的气象特征和过去的选址经验，４、５月是云南视宁度最差的季节，因此可以推断，轿子山的大气视宁度是比较好的。     

Introducing scale parameters for adjusting area objects in GIS based on least squares and variance component estimation

In this paper, a least‐squares based cadastral parcel area adjustment in geographic information systems (GIS) is developed based on (1) both the areas and coordinates being treated as observations with errors; and (2) scale parameters being introduced to take the systematic effect into account in the process of cadastral map digitization. The area condition equation for cadastral parcel considerations of scale parameters and geometric constraints is first constructed. The effects of the scale error on area adjustment results are then derived, and statistical hypothesis testing is presented to determine the significance of the scale error. Afterwards, Helmert's variance component estimation based on least‐squares adjustment using the condition equation with additional parameters is proposed to determine the weight between the coordinate and area measurements of the parcel. Practical tests are conducted to illustrate the implementation of the proposed methods. Four schemes for solving the inconsistencies between the registered areas and the digitized areas of the parcels are studied. The analysis of the results demonstrates that in the case of significant systematic errors in cadastral map digitization, the accuracies of the adjusted coordinates and areas are improved by introducing scale parameters to reduce the systematic error influence in the parcel area adjustment. Meanwhile, Helmert's variance component estimation method determines more accurate weights of the digitized coordinates and parcel areas, and the least‐squares adjustment solves the inconsistencies between the registered areas and the digitized areas of the parcels.     

Single star scidar: atmospheric parameters profiling using the simulated annealing algorithm

In this paper, we present a new method to estimate, for each turbulent layer labelled i , the horizontal wind speed   v ( h _i )  , the standard deviation of the horizontal wind speed fluctuations  σ _v ( h_i )  and the integrated value of   C ² _n   over the thickness  Δ h_i   of the turbulent layer   C ² _n ( h_i )Δ h_i   , where   h_i   is the altitude of the turbulent layer. These parameters are extracted from single star scintillation spatiotemporal cross-correlation functions of atmospheric speckles obtained within the generalized mode. This method is based on the simulated annealing algorithm to find the optimal solution required to solve the problem. Astrophysics parameters for adaptive optics are also calculated using   C ² _n ( h_i )  and   v ( h_i )  values. The results of other techniques support this new method.     

基于应力腐蚀和腐蚀疲劳的焊缝磁记忆信号分析

为了研究不同腐蚀条件下的焊缝磁记忆特征信号,对20号钢板状焊缝试件进行残余应力腐蚀、35kN恒拉伸应力腐蚀和35kN静载、25kN动载拉拉腐蚀疲劳对比实验,分析焊缝正、反面磁记忆信号的变化规律,获得焊缝腐蚀发展进程中应力腐蚀与腐蚀疲劳各自对应的磁记忆特征信号.结果表明:在应力腐蚀状态下,不同拉伸载荷对应的磁记忆信号特征不同,35kN恒拉伸应力腐蚀与残余应力腐蚀相比,焊缝区磁记忆信号峰峰值及其梯度更大,磁记忆曲线分布的分散度更大;35kN静载、25kN动载拉拉腐蚀疲劳与35kN恒拉伸应力腐蚀相比,焊缝区磁记忆曲线上下波动多,过零点次数多,磁记忆曲线分布的分散度小.这为磁记忆技术在焊缝工程检测的定性与定量分析提供基础数据.     

Full-scale model testing on a ballastless high-speed railway under simulated train moving loads

Model testing in laboratory, as an effective alternative to field measurement, provides valuable data to understand railway׳s dynamic behaviors under train moving loads. This paper presents comprehensive experimental results on track vibration and soil response of a ballastless high-speed railway from a full-scale model testing with simulated train moving loads at various speeds. A portion of a realistic ballastless railway comprising slab track, roadbed, subgrade, and subsoil was constructed in a larger steel box. A computer-controlled sequential loading system was developed to generate equivalent vertical loadings at the track structure for simulating the dynamic excitations due to train׳s movements. Comparisons with the field measurements show that the proposed model testing can accurately reproduce dynamic behaviors of the track structure and underlying soils under train moving loads. The attenuation characteristics of dynamic soil stresses in a ballastless slab track is found to have distinct differences from that in a ballasted track. The model testing results provide better understanding of the influence of dynamic soil–structure interaction and train speed on the response of track structure and soils.     

LOLAS: an optical turbulence profiler in the atmospheric boundary layer with extreme altitude resolution

We report the development and first results of an instrument called Low Layer SCIDAR (Scintillation Detection and Ranging) (LOLAS) which is aimed at the measurement of optical-turbulence profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer with high altitude resolution. The method is based on the Generalized SCIDAR (GS) concept, but unlike the GS instruments which need a 1-m or larger telescope, LOLAS is implemented on a dedicated 40-cm telescope, making it an independent instrument. The system is designed for widely separated double-star targets, which enables the high altitude resolution. Using a 200-arcsec-separation double star, we have obtained turbulence profiles with unprecedented 12-m resolution. The system incorporates necessary novel algorithms for autoguiding, autofocus and image stabilization. The results presented here were obtained at Mauna Kea Observatory. They show LOLAS capabilities but cannot be considered as representative of the site. A forthcoming paper will be devoted to the site characterization. The instrument was built as part of the Ground Layer Turbulence Monitoring Campaign on Mauna Kea for Gemini Observatory.     

云南天文台三孔较差视宁度监视仪的建立

较详细地讲述了云南天文台三孔较差视宁度监视仪的情况,然而,与一般天文理论和天文技术的专题研究不一样,天文仪器的研制有如说是研究,还不如说是归纳;它不是分析一个具体的尚未解决的难题,而是把许多已知的理论和技术综合起来,构成一台具体的仪器。所以,本文把许多至少是表面上互不相关的理论和技术问题归纳到一篇论文中。仪器是有许多模块组成的,为了看起来逻辑性较强,我们将仪器分模块叙述,全文遵循如下顺序：１在第一篇中,回顾世界各天文台视宁度测量设备的发展史和云南天文台的宁静度测量发展史;２在第二篇中,介绍：１）云南天文台三孔较差视宁度研制任务的来源,仪器的整体状况;２）介绍云南天文台三孔较差视宁度仪的硬件系统;３）介绍云南天文台三孔较差视宁度仪的软件系统;若大模块中有多个小模块,在每一个大模块中,又遵循下述顺序：１）本模块的总体功能;２）构成该模块的基本技术;３）这些基本技术如何构成整体和完成预定功能。３在第三篇中,介绍我们所作的与视宁度测量有关的一些实验和实验结果。