Search results for "brightness"
showing 10 items of 162 documents
Multi-channel and multi-angle algorithms for estimating sea and land surface temperature with ATSR data
1996
Abstract A study has been carried out using LOWTRAN-7 simulations of the Along-Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR) data at 11 and 12 μm wavelengths to compare the merits of the multi-angle technique with those of the currently used multi-channel technique (split-window method) to retrieve both sea surface temperature (SST) and land surface temperature (LST). To this end a simple single-channel double-angle viewing model is presented, which relates actual surface temperature to the two brightness temperatures measured from space in the two views of interest (ATSR nadir and forward). Subsequently, statistical retrieval coefficients for the double angle and split-window techniques are derived via…
Properties of Swift's intermediate bursts
2011
Based on their prompt, high-energy emission, gamma-ray bursts are usually classified into short-duration and long-duration classes. A third intermediate group has been identified on statistical grounds but its individual properties have not yet been studied in detail. Using the large sample of follow-up observations of GRBs produced during the Swift era we analyze the individual characteristics of this group. We find that intermediate bursts are significantly different from short GRBs but share many properties with long bursts, probably pointing to a common progenitor type. However, we find that intermediate bursts are significantly dimmer and have on average lower redshifts. Based on their…
Direct assessment of the sensitivity drift of SQM sensors installed outdoors
2021
Long-term monitoring of the evolution of the artificial night sky brightness is a key tool for developing science-informed public policies and assessing the efficacy of light pollution mitigation measures. Detecting the underlying artificial brightness trend is a challenging task, since the typical night sky brightness signal shows a large variability with characteristic time scales ranging from seconds to years. In order to effectively isolate the weak signature of the effect of interest, determining the potential long term drifts of the radiance sensing systems is crucial. If these drifts can be adequately characterized, the raw measurements could be easily corrected for them and transfor…
Correction for aerosol effects on satellite sea surface temperature measurements
1998
Estimation of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) from split- window algorithms for NOAA-AVHRR data can be determined with rms values of 0.7 K on a global basis. However, this figure is not compatible with the stringent accuracy of 0.3 K required by climate studies. Among the different sources of errors, the presence of tropospheric aerosols in the satellite field of view prevents the retrieval of accurate satellite SSTs. Still, the effect of aerosols on temperature measurements derived from remote sensing techniques has been traditionally overlooked. Very few studies have addressed the problem of giving split-window algorithms which incorporate aerosol correction, although retrieving algorithms …
Global Long-Term Brightness Temperature Record from L-Band SMOS and Smap Observations
2021
Passive microwave remote sensing observations at L-band provide key and global information on surface soil moisture (SM) and vegetation optical depth (VOD), which are related to the Earth water and carbon cycles. Only two spaceborne L-band sensors are currently operating: SMOS, launched end of 2009 and thus providing now a 11-year global dataset and SMAP, launched beginning of 2015. To ensure SM and L-VOD data continuity in the event of failure of one of the space-borne SMOS or SMAP sensors, we developed a consistent brightness temperature (TB) record by first producing consistent 40° SMOS and SMAP TB estimates based on SMOS-IC and SMAP enhanced data resp., and then fusing them via linear f…
Simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of the low-mass X-ray binary GX 13+1
2004
We present the results of two simultaneous X-ray/radio observations of the low-mass X-ray binary GX 13+1, performed in July/August 1999 with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer and the Very Large Array. In X-rays the source was observed in two distinct spectral states; a soft state, which had a corresponding 6 cm flux density of ~0.25 mJy, and a hard state, which was much brighter at 1.3-7.2 mJy. For the radio bright observation we measured a delay between changes in the X-ray spectral hardness and the radio brightness of ~40 minutes, similar to what has been found in the micro-quasar GRS 1915+105. We compare our results with those of GRS 1915+105 and the atoll/Z-type neutron star X-ray binarie…
Camera-based measurement of relative image contrast in projection displays
2013
International audience; This research investigated the measured contrast of projection displays based on pictures taken by un-calibrated digital cameras under typical viewing conditions. A high-end radiometer was employed as a reference to the physical response of projection luminance. Checkerboard, gray scale and color complex test images with a range of the projector's brightness and contrast settings were projected. Two local and two global contrast metrics were evaluated on the acquired pictures. We used contrast surface plots and Pearson correlation to investigate the measured contrast versus the projector's brightness and contrast settings. The results suggested, as expected, the proj…
A numerical study of tropical cross-tropopause transport by convective overshoots
2007
Abstract. Observations obtained during the Tropical Convection, Cirrus and Nitrogen Oxides (TROCCINOX) golden day have revealed the presence of ice particles up to 410 K (18.2 km) 2 km above the local tropopause. The case was investigated using a three-dimensional quadruply nested non-hydrostatic simulation and Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) observations. The simulation reproduced the measurements along the flight track fairly well. A reasonable agreement with MSG observations was also achieved: the 10.8-μm brightness temperature (BT) minimum of 187 K was reproduced (a value 6 K colder than the environmental cold-point temperature) as was the positive BT difference between the 6.2- and 10…
A simple method for estimating downward longwave radiation from surface and satellite data by clear sky
1990
Abstract An attempt to derive downward longwave radiation at the surface in clear sky conditions is presented. A method that integrates satellite-measured infrared radiation temperatures with ground measurements of water vapour pressure is applied to Meteosat data. Satellite-derived fluxes are compared with corresponding ground-measured fluxes at three different sites in France and during various seasons. Comparison of the daily averaged fluxes shows a correlation coefficient of 0–88 and an r.m.s. difference between satellite estimates and ground measurements of 12 Wm-2.
The EuroSTARRS airborne campaign in support of the SMOS mission: first results over land surfaces
2004
A number of experiments using ground-based and airborne sensors have shown the high potential of L-band passive microwave radiometry for estimating and monitoring surface soil moisture. This has led to the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission, a European Space Agency (ESA) Earth Explorer Opportunity mission. SMOS has the objective to observe soil moisture over land and sea surface salinity over sea, both key parameters for atmospheric, oceanographic and hydrological predictive models. In preparation of SMOS, the EuroSTARRS airborne campaign was carried out in November 2001. Multi-angular measurements of the surface brightness temperature at L-band (1.4 GHz) at vertical polarizati…