Polarimetric Measurements in a Severe Hailstorm

This study explores the utility of polarimetric measurements for discriminating between hydrometeor types with the emphasis on (a) hail detection and discrimination of its size, (b) measurement of heavy precipitation, (c) identification and quantification of mixed-phase hydrometeors, and (d) discrimination of ice forms. In particular, we examine the specific differential phase, the backscatter differential phase, the correlation coefficient between vertically and horizontally polarized waves, and the differential reflectivity, collected from a storm at close range. Three range–height cross sections are analyzed together with complementary data from a prototype WSR-88D radar. The case is interesting because it demonstrates the complementary nature of these polarimetric measurands. Self-consistency among them allows qualitative and some quantitative discrimination between hydrometeors.

Polarimetric Signatures in the Stratiform Region of a Mesoscale Convective System

Four polarimetric measurands were collected in the stratiform region of a mesoscale convective system. The four are the reflectivity factor, the differential reflectivity, the correlation coefficient between orthogonal copolar echoes, and the differential propagation constant. Most striking is a signature of large aggregates (about 10 mm in size) seen in the differential phase through the melting layer. Another significant feature is an abrupt notch in the correlation coefficient that occurs towards the bottom of the bright band. Aircraft observations and a one-dimensional cloud model are used to explain some polarimetric measurements and to infer the presence of aggregates, graupel, and supercooled cloud water in the stratiform region. These unique observations and model data provide inferences concerning the presence of graupel and the growth of large aggregates in the melting layer.

Preferential condensation of SAR-DNA by histone H1 and its SPKK containing octapeptide repeat motif

Linker histone H1 binds preferentially the scaffold associated region (SAR) DNA elements that contain characteristic oligo dA . dT tracts. In the present study, we have compared the condensation brought about by histone H1 of a SAR DNA fragment in the histone spacer region of Drosophila melanogaster with that of a random DNA (pBR322 EcoRI-SalI) fragment by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The condensation of the SAR DNA fragment by histone H1 is 3-4-fold higher than that of the random DNA fragment. A 16-mer peptide, ATPKKSTKKTPKKAKK, the sequence that is present in the C-terminus of histone H1d, which has recently been shown to possess DIVA and chromatin condensing properties, also condenses the SAR DNA fragment preferentially in a highly cooperative manner. We have proposed a model for the dynamics of chromatin structure involving histone H1-SAR DNA interaction through SPKK containing peptide motifs and its competition by AT-hook peptides present in the nonhistone chromosomal proteins like HMG-I and HMG-Y.

An 8-to-1 bit 1-MS/s SAR ADC With VGA and Integrated Data Compression for Neural Recording

Low power consumption per channel and data rate minimization are two key challenges which need to be addressed in future generations of neural recording systems (NRS). Power consumption can be reduced by avoiding unnecessary processing whereas data rate is greatly decreased by sending spike time-stamps along with spike features as opposed to raw digitized data. Dynamic range in NRS can vary with time due to change in electrode-neuron distance or background noise, which demands adaptability. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is one of the most important blocks in a NRS. This paper presents an 8-bit SAR ADC in 0.13-mu m CMOS technology along with input and reference buffer. A novel energy efficient digital-to-analog converter switching scheme is proposed, which consumes 37% less energy than the present state-of-the-art. The use of a ping-pong input sampling scheme is emphasized for multichannel input to alleviate the bandwidth requirement of the input buffer. To reduce the data rate, the A/D process is only enabled through the in-built background noise rejection logic to ensure that the noise is not processed. The ADC resolution can be adjusted from 8 to 1 bit in 1-bit step based on the input dynamic range. The ADC consumes 8.8 mu W from 1 V supply at 1 MS/s speed. It achieves effective number of bits of 7.7 bits and FoM of 42.3 fJ/conversion-step.

Retrieval and Multi-scale Validation of Soil Moisture from Multi-temporal SAR Data in a Semi-Arid Tropical Region

The current study presents an algorithm to retrieve surface Soil Moisture (SM) from multi-temporal Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. The developed algorithm is based on the Cumulative Density Function (CDF) transformation of multi-temporal RADARSAT-2 backscatter coefficient (BC) to obtain relative SM values, and then converts relative SM values into absolute SM values using soil information. The algorithm is tested in a semi-arid tropical region in South India using 30 satellite images of RADARSAT-2, SMOS L2 SM products, and 1262 SM field measurements in 50 plots spanning over 4 years. The validation with the field data showed the ability of the developed algorithm to retrieve SM with RMSE ranging from 0.02 to 0.06 m(3)/m(3) for the majority of plots. Comparison with the SMOS SM showed a good temporal behaviour with RMSE of approximately 0.05 m(3)/m(3) and a correlation coefficient of approximately 0.9. The developed model is compared and found to be better than the change detection and delta index model. The approach does not require calibration of any parameter to obtain relative SM and hence can easily be extended to any region having time series of SAR data available.

Acoplamento de simulador de imagens SAR a interpretador MPI para estimação do espectro direcional de ondas.

O protótipo de uma interface gráfica para análise de imagens SAR (radar de abertura sintética - da sigla em inglês (Synthetic Aperture Radar) vem sendo desenvolvido e aperfeiçoado. Em seu estágio atual, a ferramenta é capaz de extrair o espectro direcional de ondas e o campo de ventos de imagens ERS 1&2. Dentre as diversas abordagens empregadas no desenvolvimento do protótipo, pode-se citar a avaliação da metodologia atualmente utilizada na interpretação das imagens. Neste sentido, é apresentada uma proposta de geração de imagens SAR sintéticas, de forma a viabilizar a avaliação do método de extração de parâmetros meteo-oceanográficos a partir do acoplamento do simulador de imagens com o interpretador utilizado no protótipo. Uma comparação detalhada entre os valores empregados para simulação e os resultados sacados da interface torna possível identificar possíveis deficiências e indicar aperfeiçoamentos ao método. Desta forma, o presente trabalho, além de discutir o protótipo para análise de imagens SAR, apresenta o desenvolvimento do acoplamento do simulador de imagens. Os resultados obtidos indicam que o acoplamento atingiu parcialmente seu objetivo apresentando bons resultados na interpretação das direções. Porém, ainda há algumas questões a serem avaliadas para a obtenção de resultados mais consistentes.

支持SAR系统高分辨率实时成像的实时系统解决方案

随着信息技术的发展 ,用于军事、地理、自然灾害扫描探测的合成孔径雷达系统 (SAR)对其成像能力的分辨率和实时显示要求越来越高 因此 ,研究具有自主知识产权的、可以实时处理高分辨率成像的实时系统迫在眉睫 针对实时数据接收、存储、显示和处理等核心问题 ,提出了一种实时系统解决方案 该方案通过对Linux内核的实时扩展 ,实现了可达到高处理机利用率的多任务实时调度方法 ,可支持混成调度 ;在应用层实现符合实时需求的功能模块 ;为DSP板开发实时驱动 ,形成了从硬件驱动层和操作系统层 ,直到应用软件层的完整实时计算体系

基于RTLinux构建机载SAR实时成像处理器嵌入式控制系统

面向地学处理的机载SAR实时成像处理器由一组连接在工业总线上的数据处理板和一个嵌入式主控子系统构成 ,成像处理器的总体设计对主控系统的实时性、稳定性及可扩展性提出了严格的要求 比较了传统的嵌入式工业控制系统的设计方法 ,设计并实现一个基于廉价的PC与RTLinux的主控系统 ,分析了主控系统的两个重点 :DSP宿主环境和RTLinux下的混合任务集 ,并通过给出一个RTLinux与Linux调度精度和误差的对比试验及其结果 ,证明了基于RTLinux的主控系统对支持细粒度调度方面的优越性

机载SAR实时成像系统中的数据可视化研究

SAR实时成像系统在国防等很多领域都有着重要的应用 ,系统对数据可视化方面的要求也越来越高 ,但目前国内对SAR实时成像系统的数据可视化方面的研究还不多 提出了一种针对SAR实时成像系统的新的数据可视化方案 ,并已在实际的飞行成像中得到了检验 新方案实时提供的信息更全面、更直观、可分析性更强 ,具有较强的信息表现能力和双向实时交互能力 ,能够较好地辅助对图像的在线分析 还对方案的重要组成部分———缩略图的原理和实现算法做了概括介绍