Search results for "Geodesy"

Investigating centre of mass stabilisation as the goal of posture and movement coordination during human whole body reaching

2000

In the light of experimental results showing significant forward centre of mass (CoM) displacements within the base of support, this study investigated if whole body reaching movements can be executed whilst keeping the CoM fixed in the horizontal axis. Using kinematic simulation techniques, angular configurations were recreated from experimental data imposing two constraints: a constant horizontal position of the CoM and an identical trajectory of the hand to grasp an object. The comparison between recorded and simulated trials showed that stabilisation of the CoM was associated with greater backward hip displacements, which became more marked with increasing object distance. This was in c…

Fatigue-related changes in technique emerge at different timescales during repetitive training

2017

Training consisting of numerous repetitions performed as closely as possible to ideal techniques is common in sports and every-day tasks. Little is known about fatigue-related technique changes that emerge at different timescales when repeating complex actions such as a karate front kick. Accordingly, 15 karatekas performed 600 kicks (1 pre-block and 9 blocks). The pre-block comprised 6 kicks (3 with each leg) at maximum intensity (K-100%). Each block comprised 60 kicks (10 with each leg) at 80% of their self-perceived maximum intensity (K-80%) plus 6 K-100%. In between blocks, the participants rested for 90 seconds. Right leg kinematics (peak joint angles, peak joint angular velocities, pe…

Motor planning of arm movements is direction-dependent in the gravity field.

2007

International audience; In the present study we analyzed kinematic and dynamic features of arm movements in order to better elucidate how the motor system integrates environmental constraints (gravity) into motor planning and control processes. To reach this aim, we experimentally manipulated the mechanical effects of gravity on the arm while maintaining arm inertia constant (i.e. the distribution of the mass around the shoulder joint). Six subjects performed single-joint arm movements (rotation around the shoulder joint) in both sagittal (upward, U, versus downward, D) and horizontal (left, L, versus right, R) planes, at different amplitudes and from different initial positions. Under thes…

Intercomparison and analyses of the climatology of the West African Monsoon in the West African Monsoon Modeling and Evaluation project (WAMME) first…

2010

International audience; This paper briefly presents the West African Monsoon (WAM) Modeling and Evaluation Project (WAMME) and evaluates WAMME general circulation models' (GCM) performances in simulating variability of WAM precipitation, surface temperature, and major circulation features at seasonal and intraseasonal scales in the first WAMME experiment. The analyses indicate that models with specified sea surface temperature generally have reasonable simulations of the pattern of spatial distribution of WAM seasonal mean precipitation and surface temperature as well as the averaged zonal wind in latitude-height cross-section and low level circulation. But there are large differences among mo…

Local Rossby Wave Packet Amplitude, Phase Speed, and Group Velocity: Seasonal Variability and Their Role in Temperature Extremes

2020

AbstractTransient Rossby wave packets (RWPs) are a prominent feature of the synoptic to planetary upper-tropospheric flow at the midlatitudes. Their demonstrated role in various aspects of weather and climate prompts the investigation of characteristic properties like their amplitude, phase speed, and group velocity. Traditional frameworks for the diagnosis of the two latter have so far remained nonlocal in space or time, thus preventing a detailed view on the spatiotemporal evolution of RWPs. The present work proposes a method for the diagnosis of horizontal Rossby wave phase speed and group velocity locally in space and time. The approach is based on the analytic signal of upper-troposphe…

Introduction to the Special Section on Temporal Change Observation for Bio-Geophysical Parameters

2011

The nine papers in this special section are contributions from the AgriSAR-2006 Campaign Workshop, held at ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, in October 2008.

Space-VLBI phase-reference mapping and astrometry

2001

We present 5 GHz space-VLBI observations of the quasar pair B1342+662/B1342+663 that demonstrate the feasibility of phase-reference techniques using an antenna in space. The space-based data were taken by the satellite HALCA, of the space-VLBI mission VSOP. From residual (referenced) phases we derive an upper bound of 10 meters to the uncertainty of the spacecraft orbit reconstruction. An analysis of the phase-reference maps of the sources additionally suggests that the above mentioned uncertaintyis likely not larger than 3 meters. With errors of this magnitude, HALCA is a useful tool for astrometric studies of close pairs of radio sources.

Notes on the Barometric Formula

2020

Constraining the Pre-atmospheric Parameters of Large Meteoroids: Košice, a Case Study

2016

Out of a total around 50,000 meteorites currently known to science, the atmospheric passage was recorded instrumentally in only 25 cases with the potential to derive their atmospheric trajectories and pre-impact heliocentric orbits. Similarly, while observations of meteors generate thousands of new entries per month to existing databases, it is extremely rare they lead to meteorite recovery (http://www.meteoriteorbits.info/). These 25 exceptional cases thus deserve a thorough re-examination by different techniques—not only to ensure that we are able to match the model with the observations, but also to enable the best possible interpretation scenario and facilitate the robust extraction of …

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENTS TO CONTROL SOIL EROSION

2021

[EN] High rates of soil erosion compromise sustainable agriculture. In rainfed agricultural fields, erosion rates several orders of magnitude higher than the erosion rates considered tolerable have been quantified. In Mediterranean rainfed crops such as vineyards, almonds and olive groves, and in the new sloping citrus and persimmon plantations, the rates of soil loss make it necessary to apply measures to reduce them to avoid collapse in agricultural production. Managements such as weeds, catch crops and mulches (straw and pruning remains) are viable options to achieve sustainability. This work applies measurements through plots, simulated rainfall experiments and ISUM (Improved Stock-Unea…