Generalised variational assimilation of cloud-affected brightness temperature using simulated hyper-spectral atmospheric infrared sounder data

Assimilated channel brightness temperature data from infrared sounders accounting for cloud effects have a positive effect on weather forecasting, especially in weather-sensitive areas. When cloud effects are included, the channel brightness temperature deviations follow a non-Gaussian distribution. However, classical variational data assimilation follows a Gaussian distribution. When processing the cloud-affected brightness temperature, useful data are lost through the cloud detection process, thus assimilating some channel brightness temperatures with weight function peaks above the cloud top. Furthermore, strict quality control of brightness temperature removes outliers. By adopting the generalised variational assimilation method, which assumes that errors follow a non-Gaussian distribution, this paper assimilates the cloud-affected brightness temperature using simulated data for the hyper-spectral atmospheric infrared sounder (AIRS). A channel set is formed by dynamically selecting AIRS channels. The experiments for retrieving temperature and humidity data demonstrate that the generalised variational assimilated cloud-affected brightness temperature method performs better than the classical method.     

Effect of surface roughness on microwave brightness temperature from lunar surface: Numerical analysis with a hybrid method

A hybrid method, combining the radiative transfer theory and the method of moments (MoM), is proposed to study the potential effect of the lunar surface roughness on the microwave brightness temperature. The total upward emission reaching the lunar surface from below media is calculated by the radiative transfer theory, and then the brightness temperature is obtained by weighting the bidirectional transmission coefficients which is computed using the MoM. The method is validated by both flat and rough surface models with analytic solutions. With the hybrid method, brightness temperatures from simulated lunar model are calculated and compared to those from a flat layered model. The comparisons show that the effect of rough surface on brightness temperature cannot be ignored and also depends on many other factors, such as observation angle and polarizations. For vertical polarization, an optimal observation angle may exist to reduce the effect of surface roughness. These results indicate that the knowledge of lunar surface roughness is important in microwave remote sensing to the Moon and may probably provide a guide to lunar projects in future.     

An attempt for objective analysis of TIROS-N images

An attempt for digital processing of analog images taken in the infrared channel (10.5–11.5 μm) from TIROS-N is presented. The data digitized to 8-bits are normalized by using SR Data Manipulator. The investigated period is November 3–4, 1979. The geographic rectification moves the data into a polar stereographic map. To estimate the cloud heights empirical relationships are applied. The following characteristics of the cloud field are produced: the cloud amount, the dominant cloud-type, the daily variation of IR brightness temperature and the cloud texture. The results are visualized on a colour display.     

Scientific results from the pioneer Saturn infrared radiometer

The Pioneer 11 Infrared Radiometer instrument made observations of Saturn and its rings in broadband channels centered at 20 and 45 μm and obtained whole-disk information on Titan. A planetary average effective temperature of 96.5±2.5 K implies a total emission 2.8 times the absorbed sunlight. Correlation with radio science results implies that the molar fraction of H₂ is 90±3% (assuming the rest is He). Temperatures at the 1 bar level are 137 to 140 K; regions appearing cooler may be overlain by a cloud acting as a 124 K blackbody surface. A minimum temperature averaging 87 K is reached near 0.06 bars. Ring boundaries and optical depths are consistent with those at optical wavelengths. Ring temperatures are 64–86 K on the south (illuminated) side, ～54 K on the north (unilluminated) side, and at least 67 K in Saturn's shadow. There is evidence for a south to north drop in ring temperatures. Titan's 45 μm brightness temperature is 75±5 K.     

The use of stereoscopic satellite observation in the determination of the emissivity of cirrus

The feasibility of determining cirrus “emissivity” from combined stereoscopic and infrared satellite observations in conjunction with radiosounding data is investigated for a particular case study. Simultaneous visible images obtained during SESAME-1979 from two geosynchronous GOES meteorological satellites were processed on the NASA/Goddard interactive system (AOIPS) and were used to determine the stereo cloud top height Z_C as described by Hasler [1]. Iso-contours of radiances were outlined on the corresponding infrared image. Total brightness temperature T_B and ground surface brightness temperature T_S were inferred from the radiances. The special SESAME network of radiosoundings was used to determine the cloud top temperature T_CLD at the level defined by Z_C. The “effective cirrus emissivity” NE where N is the fractional cirrus cloudiness and E is the emissivity in a GOES infrared picture element of about 10 km × 10 km is then computed from T_B, T_S and T_CLD.     

基于背景和变化稀疏性的瞬变源图像重建算法

针对射电干涉测量通过结合长时间观测的多组可见度数据对静态源进行高空间分辨率成像,但无法得到时变信息的问题,提出了一种基于背景和目标变化的直和空间上稀疏性的稀疏基线综合孔径动态场景图像重建算法。将起始时刻的亮温和相邻时刻的亮温变化作为待求解矢量,不同时刻的亮温表示为它们的和,构造测量方程,并利用起始时刻亮温和相邻时刻亮温的稀疏性进行求解,重建出不同时刻的瞬变源图像。仿真实验结果表明,对于小区域背景下的瞬变源,所提算法与已有方法相当,对于大区域背景下的瞬变源,所提算法优于已有方法。      

Wind-field analysis on the basis of METEOSAT images

A method for the determination of cloud motion vectors is proposed by calculating from METEOSAT images the displacement of characteristic formations in the brightness field. The claculations are made for a sector of the Atlantic Ocean (ψ = 48°?38°N, λ = 24°?12°W). The adaptability of the Soebel operator for such calculations is also shown. The calculated wind vectors are in a good agreement with wind data at 850 mb surface.     

Analysis of the brightness temperature features of the lunar surface using 37 GHz channel data from the Chang'E-2 microwave radiometer

Compared with other remote observations, brightness temperatures (T_B) derived from microwave emission measurements provide a unique means to characterize the physical properties of the lunar surface. Using Chang’E-2 microwave radiometer data, we produced 12 global T_B images of the lunar surface during a diurnal cycle with different local times separated by approximately 2?h. There are two types of remarkable T_B units on the lunar surface, the “hot regions” occurring during the lunar day in the lunar Maria regions and the “microwave cold spots” occurring during the nighttime typically related to young craters. Compared with their surroundings, the hot regions are much warmer during the lunar day and slightly colder at night, while the microwave cold spots are much colder during the lunar night and slightly warmer in the daytime. Moreover, the T_B heating and cooling rates of these two units are larger than others at the same average latitude where they are located during the lunar day, especially after sunrise and before sunset. The hot regions have a good agreement with the mare regions with high TiO₂ abundance. Besides, brightness temperatures in the lunar Maria correlate closely with their TiO₂ abundance. For most microwave cold spots, they agree with the young craters, and their brightness temperature distributions have a significant negative correlation with the lunar surface nighttime temperature and rock abundance.     

Multi-channel improvements to satellite-derived global sea surface temperatures

High-quality multispectral measurements from satellites, and the recent development of multiple-window techniques to correct infrared brightness temperatures for atmospheric attenuation, have enabled marked improvements in global mapping of sea surface temperatures. The 4-km resolution data are in two visual bands and three atmospheric windows in the thermal infrared from the advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on NOAA's operational polar satellites. Various threshold and/or spatial homogeniety tests are applied to small data arrays to discriminate nominally cloud-free samples for subsequent processing. Tests of the multi-channel equations against independent buoy data gave bias = 0.42C and scatter = 0.62C. Global statistical comparisons with ships indicate significant improvements in accuracy and coverage over previous satellite-derived surface temperatures.     

基于高分四号数据的多时相多通道云检测算法

针对高分四号（GF-4）卫星影像波段较少导致传统云检测算法难以区分云与冰雪像元的问题,提出一种多时相多通道云检测算法。该算法首先对GF-4卫星影像进行辐射定标和配准,然后利用云与典型地表的光谱差异得到潜在云像元,之后利用序列GF-4卫星影像之间的差异识别出移动的云像元,最后利用中红外波段反演地表亮度温度来去除冰雪像元。该算法在海南、辽宁和安徽3个研究区域进行验证,并将检测结果与传统单时相云检测算法、支持向量机（SVM）云检测算法和实时差分（RTD）云检测算法的检测结果进行对比。结果表明,该算法优于其他3种云检测算法,准确识别率均达到90%以上,误检率均低于5%,有利于GF-4卫星影像的进一步利用。     

Diviner红外温度与嫦娥卫星微波探测仪月表亮温的比较分析

提出使用高分辨率的Diviner辐射计红外温度作为月壤热传导的边界输入条件,使得月壤物理温度廓线的模拟更接近月表真实情况. 利用Diviner物理温度廓线模拟的微波亮温与嫦娥二号卫星微波探测仪（CELMS2）的实测亮温匹配,来分析CELMS2数据的有效性和稳定性,为月壤微波特性的反演奠定基础. 以哥白尼坑区域为例,对比分析了Diviner辐射计红外通道温度与CELMS1实测微波亮温的变化趋势. 选择月球虹湾地区内一位置点（45.1°-45.5°N,33.1°-33.5°W）,分析了CELMS2在该位置点内5个月球时刻的亮温数据. 通过对实测亮温与模拟亮温在经纬度和太阳高度角的匹配分析得到,在高频微波通道内两者的相关性达到96%以上,表明嫦娥二号微波探测仪亮温数据具有较高的稳定性,可以为月壤特性反演研究提供可靠数据来源.      

Surface temperature estimation in Singhbhum Shear Zone of India using Landsat-7 ETM+ thermal infrared data

Land surface temperature (LST) is an important factor in global change studies, heat balance and as control for climate change. A comparative study of LST over parts of the Singhbhum Shear Zone in India was undertaken using various emissivity and temperature retrieval algorithms applied on visible and near infrared (VNIR), and thermal infrared (TIR) bands of high resolution Landsat-7 ETM+ imagery. LST results obtained from satellite data of October 26, 2001 and November 2, 2001 through various algorithms were validated with ground measurements collected during satellite overpass. In addition, LST products of MODIS and ASTER were compared with Landsat-7 ETM+ and ground truth data to explore the possibility of using multi-sensor approach in LST monitoring. An image-based dark object subtraction (DOS3) algorithm, which is yet to be tested for LST retrieval, was applied on VNIR bands to obtain atmospheric corrected surface reflectance images. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was estimated from VNIR reflectance image. Various surface emissivity retrieval algorithms based on NDVI and vegetation proportion were applied to ascertain emissivities of the various land cover categories in the study area in the spectral range of 10.4–12.5 μm. A minimum emissivity value of about 0.95 was observed over the reflective rock body with a maximum of about 0.99 over dense forest. A strong correlation was established between Landsat ETM+ reflectance band 3 and emissivity. Single channel based algorithms were adopted for surface radiance and brightness temperature. Finally, emissivity correction was applied on ‘brightness temperature’ to obtain LST. Estimated LST values obtained from various algorithms were compared with field ground measurements for different land cover categories. LST values obtained after using Valor’s emissivity and single channel equations were best correlated with ground truth temperature. Minimum LST is observed over dense forest as about 26 °C and maximum LST is observed over rock body of about 38 °C. The estimated LST showed that rock bodies, bare soils and built-up areas exhibit higher surface temperatures, while water bodies, agricultural croplands and dense vegetations have lower surface temperatures during the daytime. The accuracy of the estimated LST was within ±2 °C. LST comparison of ASTER and MODIS with Landsat has a maximum difference of 2 °C. Strong correlation was found between LST and spectral radiance of band 6 of Landsat-7 ETM+. Result corroborates the fact that surface temperatures over land use/land cover types are greatly influenced by the amount of vegetation present.     

三层月壤模型的多通道微波辐射模拟与月壤厚度的反演

由月球表面数字高程试验性地构造了整个月球表面月壤厚度的分布.根据Clementine探月卫星的紫外-可见光光学数据,计算了整个月球表面月壤中FeO+TiO2含量分布,给出了整个月球表面月壤介电常数分布.由月球表层温度的观测结果以及月壤的导热特性,给出了月尘层与月壤层温度随纬度分布的经验公式.在这些条件的基础上,建立了月尘、月壤、月岩三层微波热辐射模型.由起伏逸散定理,模拟计算了该月球模型多通道辐射亮度温度.然后,以此辐射亮度温度模拟加随机噪声为理论观测值,按三层模型提出了月壤层厚度反演方法.由于高频通道穿透深度小,由高频通道的辐射亮度温度按照两层月尘-月壤微波热辐射模型反演月尘层与月壤层的物理温度,再由穿透深度较大的低频通道辐射亮度温度反演月壤层厚度.对于反演的相对误差也进行了讨论.      

Remote sensing applications in the meteorology and operational hydrology programmes of WMO

Remote sensing from satellites continues to have a very large impact on the activities of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and continues to provide very great benefits to meteorological services throughout the world. Meteorological satellites provide remotely sensed data which can be converted into meteorological measurements such as cloud cover, cloud motion vectors, surface temperature, vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature and humidity, snow and ice cover, ozone and various radiation measurements. The meteorological satellites are part of the global operations of the World Weather Watch Programme which serves as the basic programme of the WMO by supporting other programmes and activities. Satellite measurements are critical to the success of many different components in the World Climate Programme. Special projects are being designed for the 1990s to take advantage of the data from satellite systems designed primarily to provide land or ocean observations. The Applications of Meteorology Programme makes use of remotely sensed data to provide products and services to agricultural, aeronautical and marine activities. The transfer of knowledge and technology in satellite remote sensing applications are important elements of the Technical Co-operation and the Education and Training Programmes.     

Deriving a sea surface temperature record suitable for climate change research from the along-track scanning radiometers

We describe the approach to be adopted for a major new initiative to derive a homogeneous record of sea surface temperature for 1991–2007 from the observations of the series of three along-track scanning radiometers (ATSRs). This initiative is called (A)RC: (Advanced) ATSR Re-analysis for Climate. The main objectives are to reduce regional biases in retrieved sea surface temperature (SST) to less than 0.1 K for all global oceans, while creating a very homogenous record that is stable in time to within 0.05 K decade⁻¹, with maximum independence of the record from existing analyses of SST used in climate change research. If these stringent targets are achieved, this record will enable significantly improved estimates of surface temperature trends and variability of sufficient quality to advance questions of climate change attribution, climate sensitivity and historical reconstruction of surface temperature changes. The approach includes development of new, consistent estimators for SST for each of the ATSRs, and detailed analysis of overlap periods. Novel aspects of the approach include generation of multiple versions of the record using alternative channel sets and cloud detection techniques, to assess for the first time the effect of such choices. There will be extensive effort in quality control, validation and analysis of the impact on climate SST data sets. Evidence for the plausibility of the 0.1 K target for systematic error is reviewed, as is the need for alternative cloud screening methods in this context.     

ISCCP cloud analysis algorithm intercomparison

The International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) will provide a uniform global climatology of satellite-measured radiances and derive a climatology of cloud radiative properties from these radiances. For this purpose, a pilot study of cloud analysis algorithms was initiated to define a state-of-the-art algorithm for ISCCP. This study compared the results of applying the nine different algorithms to the same satellite radiance data. The comparison allowed for a sharper understanding of the process of detecting clouds and shows that all algorithms can be improved by better information about clear sky radiance values (essentially equivalent to surface property information) and by better understanding of cloud size distribution variations. The dependence of all methods on cloud size distribution led to selection of an advanced bispectral threshold technique for ISCCP because this method is currently better understood and more developed. Further research on cloud algorithms is clearly suggested by these results.     

Stereoscopic imaging from polar orbit and synthetic stereo imaging

The photogrammetric determination of cloud top heights from stereoscopic satellite images seems to be a very good solution to this hitherto unresolved problem. Whereas in the U.S.A., stereoscopic imaging is done by use of geosynchronous weather satellites, in Europe such a system cannot be used because there is only one geosynchronous satellite (METEOSAT). An alternative could be a Stero Line Scanner (SLS) operating on a polar orbiter.SLS would scan twice, forward and backward, producing in this way two image strips for steroscopic viewing and photogrammetric measurements from pole to pole. Because of the cloud motion between the two scans, a SLS needs additional independent height information for reference points, e.g. from a Laser Ranger (LAR). The advantage of this method is that cloud motion, and therefore wind, can also be determined for these reference points. Another solution is a system of two SLS satellites flying one after the other and scanning the same area simultaneously. This allows cloud motion determination across the whole image. The use of infrared channels also allows night operation and provides additional data such as improved seas surface temperatures.The DFVLR is currently studying these problems. Synthetic stereoscopic imaging is being used in a forerunner programm to the SLS project and also for simulation in SLS studies.     

面向战斗机云作战的构造型仿真平台架构

随着大数据、云计算、物联网、移动互联网等信息技术的迅猛发展与广泛应用,新的作战模式不断涌现,以任务分布式指控流程为核心的云作战成为一种全新的跨域全维作战样式。在分析作战云与云作战特征的基础上,结合传统作战仿真流程提出了云作战体系仿真流程,并提出了云作战构造型仿真平台框架的总体方案设计与系统功能设计。通过云作战构造型仿真示例,对比了传统作战样式与云作战样式的观察-调整-决策-行动（OODA）循环,结果表明,云作战样式能够有效缩短OODA循环时间。      

Cloud optical thickness feedbacks in the CO2 climate problem

A radiative-convective equilibrium model is developed and applied to study cloud optical thickness feedbacks in the CO₂ climate problem. The basic hypothesis is that in the warmer and moister CO₂-rich atmosphere, cloud liquid water content will generally be larger than at present, so that cloud optical thickness will be larger too. For clouds other than thin cirrus, the result is to increase the albedo more than to increase the greenhouse effect. Thus the sign of the feedback is negative: cloud optical properties alter in such a way as to reduce the surface and tropospheric warming caused by the addition of CO₂. This negative feedback can be substantial. When observational estimates of the temperature dependence of cloud liquid water content are employed in the model, the surface temperature change due to doubling CO₂ is reduced by about one half.