MOS-1/1b MESSR Observations of the Antarctic Sea Ice: Ice Bands and Ice Streamers

Meso- or submeso-scale features of the Antarctic sea ice are investigated using the MOS-1/1b MESSR Images (spatial resolution of approximately 50 m) received at Syowa Station. Particular attention is paid to the ice bands and ice streamers in coastal polynyas. In the Antarctic Ocean, ice bands can be often seen not only at the ice edge but also in the ice interior zone throughout the year and they extend for hundreds of kilometers in the latitudinal direction. It is found that the width and spacing of ice bands tend to decrease from winter to summer. The width of ice band is about 2–6 km in August and September, and 0.1–0.7 km in December. The spacing of ice bands is about 3–10 km in August and September, and 0.1–2 km in December. In coastal polynyas, ice streamers, which are composed of new ice, are sometimes observed. In general, the row of the streamers is spaced at 0.5–2 km with a width of 0.1–1.0 km.     

Near-Infrared Colors of the Binary Kuiper Belt Object 1998 WW 31

We have measured near-infrared colorsof the binary Kuiper Belt object (KBO)1998 WW₃₁ using the Subaru Telescope withadaptive optics. The satellite was detectednear its perigee and apogee(0.18“ and 1.2” apart from the primary).The primary and the satellite have similar H–Kcolors, while the satellite is redder thanthe primary in J–H. Combined with the Rband magnitude previously published byVeillet et al., 2002, the color of the primaryis consistent with that of optically red KBOs. Thesatellite's R-, J-, H-colors suggest thepresence of ～1 μm absorption band dueto rock-forming minerals. If the surface of thesatellite is mainly composed by olivine, thesatellite's albedo is higher value than the canonicallyassumed value of 4%.     

全球植被叶面积指数对温度和降水的响应研究

利用一套新的遥感信息反演的叶面积指数(LAI)数据和生物气候数据,建立了全球尺度的LAI与降水及温度的总体相关和距平相关,用以揭示全球尺度的植被季节和年际的变化对气候变化的响应特征.结果发现,全球尺度植被与气候因子的季节和年际变化随不同的生态系统差异明显.植被LAI与温度的总体正相关的最大值出现在北半球的中高纬度地区;LAI与降水的总体正相关高值(＞0.8)出现在亚洲东部、北美洲北部腹地和热带非洲北部的Sahel地区;最大的LAI与温度的正距平相关(0.4-0.6)出现在东南亚南部、非洲Sahel地区的南部和巴西东部等热带地区;而从LAI与降水的距平相关来看,最明显的特征是出现在西伯利亚、亚洲北部和北美西北部的强的负距平相关.本文进一步阐明了出现相关特征差异的陆-气过程物理机制.