Search results for "Method"
showing 10 items of 13253 documents
A Plot-scale uncertainty analysis of saturated hydraulic conductivity of a clay soil
2021
Abstract Simulating soil hydrological processes at the plot or field scale requires using spatially representative values of the saturated soil hydraulic conductivity, Ks. Sampling campaigns should yield a reliable mean of Ks with a sustainable workload since measuring Ks at many points is challenging. Uncertainty analysis can be used to determine the lowest number of measurements that yield a mean Ks value with a specified accuracy level. Potential and limitations of this analysis were tested in this investigation for different extents of the sampled area and sampling densities. A clay soil was sampled intensively on two plots (plot area = 44 m2), two dates and using both small (0.15 m in …
Modelling Complex Volume Shape Using Ellipsoid: Application to Pore Space Representation
2017
Natural shapes have complex volume forms that are usually difficult to model using simple analytical equations. The complexity of the representation is due to the heterogeneity of the physical environment and the variety of phenomena involved. In this study we consider the representation of the porous media. Thanks to the technological advances in Computed Topography scanners, the acquisition of images of complex shapes becomes possible. However, and unfortunately, the image data is not directly usable for simulation purposes. In this paper, we investigate the modeling of such shapes using a piece wise approximation of image data by ellipsoids. We propose to use a split-merge strategy and a…
PHYSICS-based retrieval of scattering albedo and vegetation optical depth using multi-sensor data integration
2017
Vegetation optical depth and scattering albedo are crucial parameters within the widely used τ-ω model for passive microwave remote sensing of vegetation and soil. A multi-sensor data integration approach using ICESat lidar vegetation heights and SMAP radar as well as radiometer data enables a direct retrieval of the two parameters on a physics-derived basis. The crucial step within the retrieval methodology is the calculus of the vegetation scattering coefficient KS, where one exact and three approximated solutions are provided. It is shown that, when using the assumption of a randomly oriented volume, the backscatter measurements of the radar provide a sufficient first order estimate and …
Methanotrophy in geothermal soils, an overlooked process: The example of Nisyros island (Greece)
2020
Abstract A multidisciplinary field campaign was carried out at Nisyros Island (Greece). Hydrothermal gases were sampled and analysed, and CH4 and CO2 fluxes from the soils were measured with the accumulation chamber method. The sampling area (Lakki plain) covers an area of about 0.08 km2, and includes the main fumarolic areas of Kaminakia, Stefanos, Ramos, Lofos and Phlegeton. Flux values measured at 130 sites range from −3.4 to 1420 mg m−2 d−1 for CH4 and from 0.1 to 383 g m−2 d−1 for CO2. The fumarolic areas show very different CH4 degassing patterns, Kaminakia showing the highest CH4 output values (about 0.8 t a−1 from an area of about 30,000 m2) and Phlegeton the lowest (about 0.01 t a−…
Measuring the electron temperatures of coronal mass ejections with future space-based multi-channel coronagraphs: a numerical test
2018
Context. The determination from coronagraphic observations of physical parameters of the plasma embedded in coronal mass ejections (CMEs) is of crucial importance for our understanding of the origin and evolution of these phenomena. Aims. The aim of this work is to perform the first ever numerical simulations of a CME as it will be observed by future two-channel (visible light VL and UV Ly-α) coronagraphs, such as the Metis instrument on-board ESA-Solar Orbiter mission, or any other future coronagraphs with the same spectral band-passes. These simulations are then used to test and optimize the plasma diagnostic techniques to be applied to future observations of CMEs. Methods. The CME diagno…
Sun-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence I: Instrumental Considerations for Proximal Spectroradiometers
2019
Growing interest in the proximal sensing of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) has been boosted by space-based retrievals and up-coming missions such as the FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX). The European COST Action ES1309 “Innovative optical tools for proximal sensing of ecophysiological processes” (OPTIMISE, ES1309; https://optimise.dcs.aber.ac.uk/) has produced three manuscripts addressing the main current challenges in this field. This article provides a framework to model the impact of different instrument noise and bias on the retrieval of SIF; and to assess uncertainty requirements for the calibration and characterization of state-of-the-art SIF-oriented spectroradiom…
Soil erosion processes in European vineyards: A qualitative comparison of rainfall simulation measurements in Germany, Spain and France
2016
Small portable rainfall simulators are considered a useful tool to analyze soil erosion processes in cultivated lands. European research groups in Spain (Valencia, Málaga, Lleida, Madrid and La Rioja), France (Reims) and Germany (Trier) have used different rainfall simulators (varying in drop size distribution and fall velocities, kinetic energy, plot forms and sizes, and field of application) to study soil loss, surface flow, runoff and infiltration coefficients in different experimental plots (Valencia, Montes de Málaga, Penedès, Campo Real and La Rioja in Spain, Champagne in France and Mosel-Ruwer valley in Germany). The measurements and experiments developed by these research teams give…
Observation of classically 'forbidden' electromagnetic wave propagation and implications for neutrino detection.
2018
Ongoing experimental efforts in Antarctica seek to detect ultra-high energy neutrinos by measurement of radio-frequency (RF) Askaryan radiation generated by the collision of a neutrino with an ice molecule. An array of RF antennas, deployed either in-ice or in-air, is used to infer the properties of the neutrino. To evaluate their experimental sensitivity, such experiments require a refractive index model for ray tracing radio-wave trajectories from a putative in-ice neutrino interaction point to the receiving antennas; this gives the degree of signal absorption or ray bending from source to receiver. The gradient in the density profile over the upper 200 meters of Antarctic ice, coupled wi…
Soil erosion in sloping vineyards assessed by using botanical indicators and sediment collectors in the Ruwer-Mosel valley
2016
Steep slopes, erodible soils, rill and ephemeral gullies, compaction due to wheel. traffic and human trampling are common features in vineyards around the world and result in high soil erosion rates. However, little is known about seasonal and spatial variations of soil erosion rates due to factors such as the impact of the vine plantation, harvest, and tillage on the soil redistribution over the long-term temporal scale. The goal of this study is to assess long-term soil erosion rates and the impact of management on sediment and runoff yield by means of Gerlach troughs and a topographical approach based on botanic benchmarks in two paired vineyards with different ages (3 and 35 years) loca…
Gravitational wave signature of proto-neutron star convection: I. MHD numerical simulations
2021
Gravitational waves provide a unique and powerful opportunity to constrain the dynamics in the interior of proto-neutron stars during core collapse supernovae. Convective motions play an important role in generating neutron stars magnetic fields, which could explain magnetar formation in the presence of fast rotation. We compute the gravitational wave emission from proto-neutron star convection and its associated dynamo, by post-processing three-dimensional MHD simulations of a model restricted to the convective zone in the anelastic approximation. We consider two different proto-neutron star structures representative of early times (with a convective layer) and late times (when the star is…