Near-infrared spectral monitoring of Triton with IRTF/SpeX I: establishing a baseline for rotational variability

We present eight new 0.8 to 2.4 μm spectral observations of Neptune's satellite Triton, obtained at IRTF/SpeX during 2002 July 15-22 UT. Our objective was to determine how Triton's near-infrared spectrum varies as Triton rotates, and to establish an accurate baseline for comparison with past and future observations. The most striking spectral change detected was in Triton's nitrogen ice absorption band at 2.15 μm; its strength varies by about a factor of two as Triton rotates. Maximum N₂ absorption approximately coincides with Triton's Neptune-facing hemisphere, which is also the longitude where the polar cap extends nearest Triton's equator. More subtle rotational variations are reported for Triton's CH₄ and H₂O ice absorption bands. Unlike the other ices, Triton's CO₂ ice absorption bands remain nearly constant as Triton rotates. Triton's H₂O ice is shown to be crystalline, rather than amorphous. Triton's N₂ ice is confirmed to be the warmer, hexagonal, β N₂ phase, and its CH₄ is confirmed to be highly diluted in N₂ ice.     

Relative contributions of sublimation and volcanoes to Io's atmosphere inferred from its plasma interaction during solar eclipse

We present a model that describes Io's delayed electrodynamic response to a temporal change in Io's atmosphere. Our model incorporates the relevant physical processes involved in Io's atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere electrodynamic interaction to predict the far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation as Io enters Jupiter's shadow and re-emerges into sunlight. The predicted FUV brightnesses are highly nonlinear as the strength of the electrodynamic interaction depends on the ratios of ionospheric conductances to the torus Alfvén conductance, but the former are functions of electrodynamics and the atmospheric density, which decays rapidly upon entering eclipse. Key factors governing the time evolution are the column density due to sublimation and the column density due to volcanoes, which maintain the background atmosphere during eclipse. The plasma interaction does not react instantaneously, but lags to a temporarily changing atmosphere. We find three qualitatively different scenarios with two of them including a post-eclipse brightening. The brightness ratio of in-sunlight/in-eclipse coupled with the existence of a sub-jovian equatorial spot constrains the volcanic column density to several times 10¹⁸ m⁻², based on the currently available observations. Thus in sunlight, the sublimation driven part of Io's atmosphere dominates the volcanically driven contribution by roughly a factor of 10 or more.     

Linking pesticides and human health: A geographic information system (GIS) and Landsat remote sensing method to estimate agricultural pesticide exposure

Accurate pesticide exposure estimation is integral to epidemiologic studies elucidating the role of pesticides in human health. Humans can be exposed to pesticides via residential proximity to agricultural pesticide applications (drift). We present an improved geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing method, the Landsat method, to estimate agricultural pesticide exposure through matching pesticide applications to crops classified from temporally concurrent Landsat satellite remote sensing images in California. The image classification method utilizes Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values in a combined maximum likelihood classification and per-field (using segments) approach. Pesticide exposure is estimated according to pesticide-treated crop fields intersecting 500 m buffers around geocoded locations (e.g., residences) in a GIS. Study results demonstrate that the Landsat method can improve GIS-based pesticide exposure estimation by matching more pesticide applications to crops (especially temporary crops) classified using temporally concurrent Landsat images compared to the standard method that relies on infrequently updated land use survey (LUS) crop data. The Landsat method can be used in epidemiologic studies to reconstruct past individual-level exposure to specific pesticides according to where individuals are located.     

Tracking pollutants from space: Eight years of IASI satellite observation

The IASI mission flying onboard the MetOp satellites has been providing global observations of the air composition twice a day since 2007. From the atmospheric spectra recorded by the instruments in the thermal infrared spectral range, concentrations of a series of trace gases can be monitored, enhanced levels of pollution can be detected, and particle types can be determined to some extent. This paper recalls the historical context for the IASI remote sensor, reviews its capability to observe some key species for global and regional pollution monitoring, and reports on information services that benefit from the mission.     

SVOM数据档案库软件原型系统的设计与实现

作为中法天文卫星(Space multi-band Variable Object Monitor,SVOM)中方科学中心的重要组成部分,中法天文卫星数据档案库承担了中方科学数据产品本地存储和管理的任务,提供统一的数据产品管理平台,实现中法天文卫星科学数据产品的归档、检索、检出、维护与管理等功能。作为中法天文卫星科学中心预研的一部分,对中法天文卫星数据档案库原型系统进行了需求分析、系统设计,实现能够运行的原型系统,以演示中法天文卫星数据档案库的基本功能和工作流程,验证设计方案的可行性。档案库原型系统具有开放性和低耦合的特点,能够适应中法天文卫星中方数据产品结构的不断变化,在项目早期即可投入试用并不断完善,满足中法天文卫星的任务需求。     

一次黄海海雾成因分析及数值模拟试验

根据GOES-9(Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite）可见光卫星云图和韩国济州岛探空资料等,利用RAMS(Regional Atmospheric Modeling System)模式（6.1版）对2009年3月17-18日发生在黄海海域的一次大风条件下出现的海雾天气进行模拟。结果表明：与卫星云图所显示的雾区范围相比,模拟结果对海雾的生成、发展、移动都有较好吻合;云水混合比是影响大气水平能见度分布的主要因子,云水混合比大值区主要集中在距地面300 m以下的低空;雾区存在几个云水混合比大值区,并分布在不同的高度,说明海雾的团状不均匀结构;海上平流雾常发生在风速较大的情况下,RAMS模式对此具有一定的模拟能力。     

基于CALIPSO卫星资料的京津冀地区MODIS卷云云顶高度订正

卷云在大气辐射中扮演着重要角色,对天气系统和气候变化产生重要影响。相比传统地基观测手段,卫星遥感更容易探测到高层卷云的信息,本文利用CALIOP主动遥感仪器可获取较为准确的薄卷云特性的特点,针对MODIS被动遥感探测器反演的薄卷云云顶高度的偏差开展订正研究。研究选取2013～2017年京津冀地区MODIS云产品,结合CALIPSO卫星的卷云云顶高度数据,基于交叉验证的方法得到线性拟合方案,对MODIS卷云云顶高度进行订正。订正后的MODIS与CALIPSO卷云云顶高度差值的分布区间由?3～2 km变为?2.0～2.5 km,峰值由?0.8 km左右变为0.2 km左右。订正效果随云顶高度和云光学厚度的不同有所变化,其中较低层卷云和光学薄卷云的订正效果更明显。     

基于卫星遥感和地面观测资料的汾渭平原空气污染分析

选取中国汾渭平原地区作为研究对象,利用MODIS、OMI和CALIPSO多源卫星遥感资料,同时结合环境监测国控站点污染6要素等逐小时地面环境监测数据以及能见度、霾天气现象记录等地面气象要素资料,综合分析了2013—2018年秋冬季汾渭平原空气质量状况、气溶胶的组分,探讨了卫星遥感气溶胶光学厚度（Aerosol Optical Depth,AOD）与地面污染物浓度的关系,并结合中国气象局化学天气预报系统-EMI评估模式（CUACE-EMI）资料对气象条件和污染减排影响进行评估。结果表明：11个代表城市中有6个城市秋冬季有接近或超过一半的时刻处于污染状态,且污染发生时,各代表城市大多数时刻处于中度及其以上污染级别;三门峡、临汾、运城和西安是霾和重度霾高发的城市,其重度霾爆发频率高达11.63%—14.78%;汾渭平原秋冬季首要污染物为PM_2.5和PM₁₀,以污染沙尘、沙漠沙尘和烟尘为主,出现频率分别为36.24%、25.14%和22.96%;MODIS AOD与空气质量指数（Air Quality Index,AQI）、PM_2.5、PM₁₀质量浓度之间的相关系数分别为0.72、0.70和0.64;汾渭平原2018年气象条件的变化使PM_2.5浓度较2013年、2014年、2015年、2016年和2017年同期上升了17.06%、1.58%、4.34%、11.25%和5.75%,减排措施使PM_2.5浓度较2013年、2014年、2015年、2016年和2017年同期分别下降了8.74%、28.01%、4.93%、3.16%和42.62%。     

中国大气气溶胶辐射特性参数的观测与研究进展

长期系统的气溶胶辐射特性观测资料是定量研究气溶胶辐射和气候效应的重要基础.本文综合介绍中国大气气溶胶辐射特性观测与研究现状和成果,重点包括以下内容:地面太阳光度计联网观测气溶胶光学厚度、单次散射反照率、尺度谱;从全波段太阳辐射反演气溶胶光学厚度、单次散射反照率;浊度计和黑碳仪测量地面气溶胶散射系数和吸收系数;地基/星载激光雷达观测气溶胶(后向散射系数)垂直分布;极轨/静止卫星遥感反演气溶胶光学特性.     

亚洲一号卫星共视法定轨及时刻同步

１９９３年中国科学院同步卫星观测网同步接收亚洲一号卫星的电视信号，进行了多台站时差法定轨及共视法时刻同步试验。试验表明：时差法定轨在经度、纬度方向精度较高，在卫星高度方向误差较大。不进行卫星位置修正时，时刻同步误差小于３μｓ；进行卫星位置修正时的时刻同步误差小于０．９μｓ，可应用于局部或大范围网络时刻同步及同步卫星轨道研究。