The near infrared camera on the W.M. Keck telescope

The near infrared camera (NIRC) was used for a science demonstration run on the Keck telescope during 16–24 March 1993. The camera used a 256×256 InSb array manufactured by Santa Barbara Research Corporation. Observations were obtained using narrowband and broad band filters from 1 to 2.4 microns, and grisms with a spectral resolution of 0.6 percent in the J, H and K atmospheric windows. The instrument was fully background limited over the entire wavelength range. The sky background was quite low, reaching 14.3 mag/square arc sec in the broadband K _s filter. The image quality of the camera + telescope was excellent, being seeing limited in the range 0.5–0.9.The science demonstration observations of the NIRC on the Keck Telescope included observations of the most distant galaxy known, 4C41.17 at a redshift z=3.8 and the most luminous object known, the IRAS source FSC10214+4724 at a redshift z=2.29. Observations of the radio galaxy address the problem of the alignment effect in high redshift radio galaxies as well as the environments of such systems. FSC10214+4724 appears to be a merging galaxy that is at least 5×10⁸ years old.Based on observations obtained at the W.M.Keck Observatory, which is operated jointly by the California Institute of Technology and the University of CaliforniaThe W.M. Keck Observatory is operated as a scientific partnership between the California Institute of Technology and the University of California. It was made possible by the generous gift of the W.M. Keck foundation and the support of its president, Howard Keck.     

Testing satellite and ground thermal imaging of low-temperature fumarolic fields: The dormant Nisyros Volcano (Greece)

The Nisyros Volcano (Greece) was monitored by satellite and ground thermal imaging during the period 2000–2002. Three night-scheduled Landsat-7 ETM⁺ thermal (band 6) images of Nisyros Island were processed to obtain land surface temperature. Ground temperature data were also collected during one of the satellite overpasses. Processed results involving orthorectification and 3-D atmospheric correction clearly show the existence of a thermal anomaly inside the Nisyros Caldera. This anomaly is associated mainly with the largest hydrothermal craters and has land surface temperatures 5–10 °C warmer than its surroundings. The ground temperature generally increased by about 4 °C inside the main crater over the period 2000–2002. Ground thermal images of the hydrothermal Stephanos Crater were also collected in 2002 using a portable thermal infrared camera. These images were calibrated to ground temperature data and orthorectified. A difference of about 0–2 °C was observed between the ground thermal images and the ground temperature data. The overall study demonstrates that satellite remote sensing of low-temperature fumarolic fields within calderas can provide a reliable long-term monitoring tool of dormant volcanoes that have the potential to reactivate. Similarly, a portable thermo-imager can easily be deployed for real-time monitoring using telemetric data transfer. The operational costs for both systems are relatively low for an early warning system.     

Investigation of mountain permafrost in the Kozia Dolinka valley,Tatra Mountains,Poland

The Kozia Dolinka valley lies at an altitude above 1900 m a.s.l. on the northern slope of the main ridge of the High Tatra Mountains. Mountain permafrost occurrences were studied with the use of BTS, infrared imaging, water and ground temperature measurements and DC resistivity soundings. The data suggest the existence of isolated patches of permafrost. The lowest observed bottom temperature of winter snow values was in the order of-10C. DC soundings revealed the existence of a high resistivity layer of limited extent. Permafrost seasonal monitoring was conducted with resistivity soundings. Measurements were carried out in spring-autumn 1999, when a distinct change in permafrost thickness was observed.     

Use of camera traps to determine dispersal of tigers in semi-arid landscape,western India

Dispersal is a life history trait that plays a key role in population dynamics. We used camera traps to estimate the distance male and female tigers (Panthera tigris) dispersed from Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR) in semi-arid habitats of western India from 2003 to 2010. We deployed camera traps whenever tiger tracks were found in places adjacent to protected areas where tigers had not been recently reported. We identified tigers by matching strip patterns by using their photographs with the database of camera-trapped tigers of RTR at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. We determined the aerial distance (straight line) between the last location of photo-capture in the natal area (in RTR) and the location of the most recent photo-capture. One female and three male tigers that dispersed from RTR were identified from photographs. The longest distance dispersed by a tiger was 148.4 km, and the average dispersed distance was 124.2 ± 23.7 km (n = 3) for male tigers and 78.4 km for the female tiger. The minimum age of the male tigers when they dispersed was 24 months. These data are important for making conservation and management decisions for restoration of potential connectivity between landscapes.     

Characteristics of Seafloor Morphology and Ferromanganese Nodule Occurrence in the Korea Deep-sea Environmental Study (KODES) Area, NE Equatorial Pacific

Seafloor morphology and ferromanganese nodule occurrence were studied using a multibeam side scan sonar (SeaBeam, 2000) and a deep-sea camera system in the Korea Deep-sea Environmental Study (KODES) area, northeast equatorial Pacific. Seafloor morphology and nodule abundance are highly variable even in this small study area. The NNE-SSW oriented hills are parallel and about 100-200 m high. Valleys are very flat-floored, while hilltops are rugged with depressions of tens of meters. Cliffs to about 100 m bound the valleys and the hills. The study area can be classified into three types based both on nodule occurrence and seafloor morphology, mostly G- and B-types and some M-type. G-type is characterized by high nodule abundance, ubiquitous bioturbation, and flat seafloor morphology, while B-type is characterized by irregular-shaped nodules, variable nodule abundance, occurrence of giant nodules and sediment lumps, rugged bottom morphology with depressions, and white calcareous surface sediments. Medium nodule abundance and a generally flat seafloor characterize M-type. G-type occurs mostly in the valley regions, while B-type is on the hilltop areas. M-type is located between the hilltop and the valley. Tectonic movement of the Pacific plate resulted in the elongated abyssal hills and cliffs. The rugged morphology on hilltops resulted from erosion and redistribution of surface siliceous sediments on hilltops by bottom currents, outcropping of underlying calcareous sediments, and dissolution of the carbonate sediments by corrosive bottom water undersaturated with CaCO 3 . Sediment eroded from the hills, which is relatively young and organic-rich, is deposited in the valleys, and diagenetic metal supply to manganese nodules in the valley area is more active than on the hills. We suggest that tectonic movement ultimately constrains morphology, surface sediment facies, bottom currents and sediment redistribution, bioturbation, thickness of the sedimentary layer, and other conditions, which are all interrelated and control nodule occurrence. The best potential area for mining in the study area is the G-type valley zones with about 3-4 km width and NNW-SSE orientation.     

Infrared imaging and spectroscopy with arrays at the University of Montreal

The Montreal Infrared Camera (MONICA) consists of a LN₂ cryostat enclosing a NICMOS3 array, re-imaging optics and a filter wheel mechanism containing broad-band and circular variable filters. A polarimetry mode with a warm half wave plate and a cold polarizer/filter combination is also supported. At the CFHT 0.5 (FWHM) images are routinely obtained with limiting magnitudes of 22.8 at J and 21.7 at K (S/N=3 in 1hr).The Spectrometre Infrarouge de Montréal (SIMON) is a versatile grating spectrometer with spectral resolutions ranging from 300 to 5000. Presently under construction, this spectrometer will initially contain a 512×512 HgCdTe array. Use of reflective optics will allow a future upgrade to a similar format InSb array, extending the wavelength coverage to 5m. SIMON will also have an imaging mode to facilitate the centering of objects within interchangeable slits.     

数码航摄(DMC)像控布设方案研究

利用1∶3500、1∶6000、1∶20000三种比例尺的DMC航摄资料,在航线数不变的条件下分别采用每隔4、6、8、10、16条基线进行像控点布设,在立体测图仪上加密、纠正、测图,提取地物点其坐标与外业检测成果比较,检验其对1∶500、1∶1000、1∶5000三种比例尺成图精度的影响。     

In-flight Performance of the Advanced Camera for Surveys CCDs

The Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), installed in the Hubble Space telescope in March 2002, will significantly extend HST's deep, survey imaging capabilities. ACS has met, or exceeded, all of its key performance specifications. In this paper we briefly review the in-flight performance of the instrument's CCD detectors and preview early ACS science observations. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

高分五号卫星大气参数探测综述

高分五号卫星搭载了大气痕量气体差分吸收光谱仪、主要温室气体探测仪、大气多角度偏振探测仪、大气环境红外甚高分辨率探测仪、可见短波红外高光谱相机和全谱段光谱成像仪共6台载荷,对全球环境监测及中国大气气溶胶、臭氧、二氧化硫、二氧化氮、二氧化碳、甲烷和云等多个环境与气象综合监测方面有着重要的意义。为了更好的了解高分五号卫星任务的大气监测内容,本文对高分五号卫星其中的4个大气探测载荷特征和数据处理算法进展进行了总结,涉及各个载荷参数信息、算法介绍和产品初步结果等相关内容。高分五号卫星是中国专门用于大气环境监测任务的遥感卫星,随着后续卫星的发射升空,将对中国乃至全球大气环境监测提供强有力的数据支撑。     

利用数字图像相关方法实现高速相机序列影像运动目标的快速跟踪

以数字图像相关方法为核心设计了一套应用于高速相机序列影像运动目标的跟踪方案,该方案首先在基准窗口周围以局域搜索方法获取目标点的整像素位移值,然后联合使用梯度算法和最小二乘算法估计目标点的亚像素位移值,从而获得目标点的像素坐标,实现对目标点的自动跟踪。本文应用该技术方案处理了构筑物振动台实验的高速相机视频测量影像数据,与商用软件PhotoModeler Scanner 相比,跟踪结果具有同等精度,在计算速度上有优势。