scholarly journals Monitoring the brightness temperature of the Moon throughout the lunar cycle from radio observations in the Ku band

2021 ◽  
Vol 2090 (1) ◽  
pp. 012159
Author(s):  
David Galeano ◽  
A. Quintero Edwin
Keyword(s):  
Brightness Temperature ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Radio Telescopes ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
Receiver System ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ku Band

Abstract Within the spectrum of radio waves, the Ku band (12 - 18 GHz ) stands out for the wide range of instruments available and for its relative ease of acquisition, given that satellite television operates in this band. This situation offers a great opportunity for the development of radio astronomy in countries with unfavorable climatic conditions for optical astronomy, since this band is only affected by dense masses of water vapor. In this article we present a methodology for the calibration of the receiver system of compact Ku-band radio telescopes, and its application in the determination of the brightness temperature of the Moon. Our methodology involves modeling the influence of the atmosphere of the Earth on the response of the radioreceptor, which minimizes the error in the calculation of the brightness temperature of the observed object. We applied the proposed methodology in the monitoring of the Lunar cycle using the Ku-band radio telescope of the Observatorio Astronomico of Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Colombia (OAUTP). After observing during May, June, and July of 2021, we obtained an average temperature of 213.15 K, with maximum and minimum values of 275.55 K and 150.75 K, respectively. In addition, we evidenced a delay of 5.75 days between the phase in which the maximum temperature is presented and the phase of the full Moon, which is consistent with the frequency of observation. The results show that our methodology is useful to optimize the calibration of compact Ku-band radio telescopes, and expand the potential of this type of instrument for the scientific study of radio sources other than the Sun, in this case the Moon.

scholarly journals Disk-Integrated Lunar Brightness Temperatures between 89 and 190 GHz

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin J. Burgdorf ◽  
Stefan A. Buehler ◽  
Imke Hans ◽  
Marc Prange
Keyword(s):  
Brightness Temperature ◽  
Full Moon ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Brightness Temperatures ◽  
Microwave Humidity Sounder ◽  
Phase Lags ◽  
Phase Angles

Measurements of the disk-integrated brightness temperature of the Moon at 89, 157, 183, and 190 GHz are presented for phase angles between -80° and 50° relative to full Moon. They were obtained with the Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) on NOAA-18 from 39 instances when the Moon appeared in the deep space view of the instrument. Polynomials were fitted to the measured values and the maximum temperature and the phase angle of its occurrence were determined. A comparison of these results with the predictions from three different models or rather parametrical expressions by Keihm, Mo & Kigawa, and Yang et al. revealed significantly larger phase lags for the lower frequencies in the measurements with MHS. As the Moon has appeared thousands of times in the field of view of all microwave sounders combined, this investigation demonstrates the potential of weather satellites for fine tuning models and establishing the Moon as extremely accurate calibration reference.

scholarly journals Extraterrestrial Photosynthesis by Chang’E-5 Lunar Soil

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingfang Yao ◽  
Lu Wang ◽  
Xi Zhu ◽  
Wenguang Tu ◽  
Yong Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Lunar Soil ◽  
Product Distribution ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
Deep Space Exploration ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Photosynthesis Pathway ◽  
Lunar Soil Sample

Abstract In light of significant effort conducted to manned deep space exploration, it is of high technological importance and scientific interest to develop the lunar life supporting system for long-term exploration and exploitation. And lunar in situ resource utilization offers great opportunity to provide the material basis of life supporting for lunar habitation and traveling. Based on the analysis of the structure and composition, the Chang’E-5 lunar soil sample was used for lunar-surface solar energy conversion, i.e. the extraterrestrial photosynthesis catalysts. By evaluating the performance of the Chang’E-5 lunar sample as photovoltaic-driven electrocatalyst, photocatalyst and photothermal catalysts, the full water splitting and CO2 conversion are able to be achieved with solar energy, water and lunar soil, with a wide range of product distribution, including O2, H2, CO, CH4 and CH3OH. Thus, we propose a potentially available extraterrestrial photosynthesis pathway on the moon, which could help us to achieve a ‘zero-energy consumption’ environment and life support system on the moon.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Drought Events in Various Climatic Conditions using Data-Driven Models and A Reliability-Based Probabilistic Model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Barzkar ◽  
Mohammad Najafzadeh ◽  
Farshad Homaei
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression Programming ◽  
Limit State ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Meteorological Variables ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
State Function ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Definition Of

Abstract Due to a wide range of socio-economic losses caused by drought over the past decades, having a reliable insight of drought properties plays a key role in monitoring and forecasting the drought situations, and finally generating robust methodologies for adapting to various vulnerability of drought situations. The most important factor in causing drought is rainfall, but increasing or decreasing the temperature and consequently evapotranspiration can intensify or moderate the severity of drought events. Standardized Precipitation Evaporation Index (SPEI), as one of the most well-known indices in definition of drought situation, is applied based on potential precipitation, evapotranspiration, and the water balance. In this study, values of SPEI are formulated for various climates by three robust Artificial Intelligence (AI) models: Gene-Expression Programming (GEP), Model Tree (MT), and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Spline (MARS). Meteorological variables including maximum temperature (Tmax), minimum temperature (Tmin), average temperature (Tmean), relative humidity (RH), 24-hour rainfall (P24) and wind speed (U2) were used to perform the AI models. Dataset reported from four synoptic stations through Iran, dating back to a 58-year period beginning in 1957. Each AI technique was run for all the climatic situations: Temperate-Warm (T-W), Wet-Warm (W-W), Arid-Cold (A-C) and Arid-Warm (A-W). Results of AI models development indicated that M5 version of MT provided the most accurate SPEI prediction for all the climatic situations in comparison with GEP and MARS techniques. SPEI values for four climatic conditions were evaluated in the reliability-based probabilistic framework to take into account the influence of any uncertainty and randomness associated with meteorological variables. In this way, the Monte-Carlo scenario sampling approach has been used to assess the limit state function from the AI models-based-SPEI. Based on the reliability analysis for all the synoptic stations, as the probability of exceedance values declined to below 75%, drought situations varied from “Normal” to “Very Extreme Humidity”.

Annual Medicago species in Morocco. II. Distribution in relation to soil and climate

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 751 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bounejmate ◽  
AD Robson ◽  
PE Beale
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Soil Factors ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Annual Medicago ◽  
Future Evaluation ◽  
Medicago Species ◽  
The Relationship

An ecogeographic survey was conducted in six key agricultural zones in Morocco to study the relationship between the natural distribution of medic species and soil and climatic measurements. At each of the 161 sites visited, the presence of medic species was recorded, and soil samples collected. Climatic data were obtained from published records. The influence of soil factors on the presence of medic species was more important than that of climate. With the exception of M. truncatula and M. minima, there were significant soil differences between sites where a species was present and sites where it was absent. Only 5 of the 11 medic species recorded were affected by one or more of the three climatic factors considered. Medics were found most frequently on sites where minimum temperature range was 3-7�C, pH 6.6-7.5, and with the exception of M. littoralis and M. laciniata, maximum temperature 30-35�C and rainfall 300-600 mm. M. truncatula was widespread and tolerant of a wide range of edapho-climatic conditions. It was concluded that this well studied species should be given higher priority in future evaluation programs.

scholarly journals Evaporative Cooling Options for Building Air-Conditioning: A Comprehensive Study for Climatic Conditions of Multan (Pakistan)

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shazia Noor ◽  
Hadeed Ashraf ◽  
Muhammad Sultan ◽  
Zahid Mahmood Khan
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Evaporative Cooling ◽  
Cooling Capacity ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Human Thermal Comfort ◽  
Work Input ◽  
System Configurations

This study provides comprehensive details of evaporative cooling options for building air-conditioning (AC) in Multan (Pakistan). Standalone evaporative cooling and standalone vapor compression AC (VCAC) systems are commonly used in Pakistan. Therefore, seven AC system configurations comprising of direct evaporative cooling (DEC), indirect evaporative cooling (IEC), VCAC, and their possible combinations, are explored for the climatic conditions of Multan. The study aims to explore the optimum AC system configuration for the building AC from the viewpoints of cooling capacity, system performance, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. A simulation model was designed in DesignBuilder and simulated using EnergyPlus in order to optimize the applicability of the proposed systems. The standalone VCAC and hybrid IEC-VCAC & IEC-DEC-VCAC system configurations could achieve the desired human thermal comfort. The standalone DEC resulted in a maximum COP of 4.5, whereas, it was 2.1 in case of the hybrid IEC-DEC-VCAC system. The hybrid IEC-DEC-VCAC system achieved maximum temperature gradient (21 °C) and relatively less CO2 emissions as compared to standalone VCAC. In addition, it provided maximum cooling capacity (184 kW for work input of 100 kW), which is 85% higher than the standalone DEC system. Furthermore, it achieved neutral to slightly cool human thermal comfort i.e., 0 to −1 predicted mean vote and 30% of predicted percentage dissatisfied. Thus, the study concludes the hybrid IEC-DEC-VCAC as an optimum configuration for building AC in Multan.

Lunar Cycle Influences Reproductive Performance of Crossbred Brahman Cows Under Tropical Conditions

2021 ◽  
pp. 074873042098363
Author(s):  
Alejandro A. Aguirre ◽  
Roberto A. Palomares ◽  
Aitor D. De Ondiz ◽  
Eleazar R. Soto ◽  
Mariana S. Perea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Full Moon ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Crossbred Cows ◽  
Lunar Phases ◽  
Tropical Conditions ◽  
Service Conception ◽  
New Moon ◽  
Postpartum Estrus

Evidence has accumulated over the years indicating that the moon influences some aspects of the reproductive activity in animals and humans. However, little is known about the influence of the lunar cycle on the reproductive performance of cows under tropical conditions, where the environment strongly affects reproduction. This retrospective study was conducted with the aim of assessing the influence of the lunar cycle on some reproductive traits of tropical crossbred cows managed in a pasture-based system. Data from 5869 reproductive records from two commercial farms localized in the Maracaibo Lake Basin of Zulia State, Venezuela, were analyzed. Variables studied were first service conception rate, calving frequency, first postpartum estrous frequency, and pregnancy frequency. In addition to the lunar cycle, the effects of farm, season, and predominant breed were also considered. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and general linear model from SAS. First service conception was affected by lunar phases and predominant breed, but not by farm or season. For frequencies of calving, first postpartum estrus, and pregnancy, there was no main effect of farm, season, and predominant breed, whereas the effect of lunar phases was highly significant. First service conception was significantly greater in waning than in crescent phase of the lunar cycle. Frequencies of calving, first estrus, and pregnancy were highly correlated and showed greater figures around full moon and new moon. In conclusion, lunar cycle influenced first service conception, attaining greater values in the waning phase of the moon cycle. Frequencies of calving, first postpartum estrus, and pregnancy in crossbred cows showed a clear bimodal rhythm, whose greatest values coincided with new moon and full moon.

scholarly journals Environmental Drivers and Age Trends in Site Productivity for Oak in Southern Poland

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 209
Author(s):  
Luiza Tymińska-Czabańska ◽  
Jarosław Socha ◽  
Marek Maj ◽  
Dominika Cywicka ◽  
Xo Viet Hoang Duong
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Deposition ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Additive Model ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Site Productivity ◽  
Site Factors ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Si Model

Site productivity provides critical information for forest management practices and is a fundamental measure in forestry. It is determined using site index (SI) models, which are developed using two primary groups of methods, namely, phytocentric (plant-based) or geocentric (earth-based). Geocentric methods allow for direct site growth modelling, in which the SI is predicted using multiple environmental indicators. However, changes in non-static site factors—particularly nitrogen deposition and rising CO2 concentration—lead to an increase in site productivity, which may be visible as an age trend in the SI. In this study, we developed a geocentric SI model for oak. For the development of the SI model, we used data from 150 sample plots, representing a wide range of local topographic and site conditions. A generalized additive model was used to model site productivity. We found that the oak SI depended predominantly on physicochemical soil properties—mainly nitrogen, carbon, sand, and clay content. Additionally, the oak SI value was found to be slightly shaped by the topography, especially by altitude above sea level, and topographic position. We also detected a significant relationship between the SI and the age of oak stands, indicating the long-term increasing site productivity for oak, most likely caused by nitrogen deposition and changes in climatic conditions. The developed geocentric site productivity model for oak explained 77.2% of the SI variation.

scholarly journals Soil Nitrogen Dynamics in a Managed Temperate Grassland Under Changed Climatic Conditions

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 931
Author(s):  
Mona Giraud ◽  
Jannis Groh ◽  
Horst H. Gerke ◽  
Nicolas Brüggemann ◽  
Harry Vereecken ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Uptake ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Nitrogen Dynamics ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Undisturbed Soil ◽  
Nitrogen Emissions ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Grassland Type ◽  
Wide Range

Grasslands are one of the most common biomes in the world with a wide range of ecosystem services. Nevertheless, quantitative data on the change in nitrogen dynamics in extensively managed temperate grasslands caused by a shift from energy- to water-limited climatic conditions have not yet been reported. In this study, we experimentally studied this shift by translocating undisturbed soil monoliths from an energy-limited site (Rollesbroich) to a water-limited site (Selhausen). The soil monoliths were contained in weighable lysimeters and monitored for their water and nitrogen balance in the period between 2012 and 2018. At the water-limited site (Selhausen), annual plant nitrogen uptake decreased due to water stress compared to the energy-limited site (Rollesbroich), while nitrogen uptake was higher at the beginning of the growing period. Possibly because of this lower plant uptake, the lysimeters at the water-limited site showed an increased inorganic nitrogen concentration in the soil solution, indicating a higher net mineralization rate. The N2O gas emissions and nitrogen leaching remained low at both sites. Our findings suggest that in the short term, fertilizer should consequently be applied early in the growing period to increase nitrogen uptake and decrease nitrogen losses. Moreover, a shift from energy-limited to water-limited conditions will have a limited effect on gaseous nitrogen emissions and nitrate concentrations in the groundwater in the grassland type of this study because higher nitrogen concentrations are (over-) compensated by lower leaching rates.

Fire regime shift linked to increased forest density in a piñon–juniper savanna landscape

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellis Q. Margolis
Keyword(s):  
Regime Shift ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Fire Frequency ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Tree Density ◽  
High Severity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
In Fire

Piñon–juniper (PJ) fire regimes are generally characterised as infrequent high-severity. However, PJ ecosystems vary across a large geographic and bio-climatic range and little is known about one of the principal PJ functional types, PJ savannas. It is logical that (1) grass in PJ savannas could support frequent, low-severity fire and (2) exclusion of frequent fire could explain increased tree density in PJ savannas. To assess these hypotheses I used dendroecological methods to reconstruct fire history and forest structure in a PJ-dominated savanna. Evidence of high-severity fire was not observed. From 112 fire-scarred trees I reconstructed 87 fire years (1547–1899). Mean fire interval was 7.8 years for fires recorded at ≥2 sites. Tree establishment was negatively correlated with fire frequency (r=–0.74) and peak PJ establishment was synchronous with dry (unfavourable) conditions and a regime shift (decline) in fire frequency in the late 1800s. The collapse of the grass-fuelled, frequent, surface fire regime in this PJ savanna was likely the primary driver of current high tree density (mean=881treesha–1) that is >600% of the historical estimate. Variability in bio-climatic conditions likely drive variability in fire regimes across the wide range of PJ ecosystems.

scholarly journals A reliable rainfall–runoff model for flood forecasting: review and application to a semi-urbanized watershed at high flood risk in Italy

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 726-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Masseroni ◽  
Alessio Cislaghi ◽  
Stefania Camici ◽  
Christian Massari ◽  
Luca Brocca
Keyword(s):  
Flood Risk ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Median Volume ◽  
Flood Estimation ◽  
High Flood ◽  
Rainfall Runoff Model ◽  
Flooding Events

Many rainfall–runoff (RR) models are available in the scientific literature. Selecting the best structure and parameterization for a model is not straightforward and depends on a broad number of factors, including climatic conditions, catchment characteristics, temporal/spatial resolution and model objectives. In this study, the RR model ‘Modello Idrologico Semi-Distribuito in continuo’ (MISDc), mainly developed for flood simulation in Mediterranean basins, was tested on the Seveso basin, which is stressed several times a year by flooding events mainly caused by excessive urbanization. The work summarizes a compendium of the MISDc applications over a wide range of catchments in European countries and then it analyses the performances over the Seveso basin. The results show a good fit behaviour during both the calibration and the validation periods with a Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient index larger than 0.9. Moreover, the median volume and peak discharge errors calculated on several flood events were less than 25%. In conclusion, we can be assured that the reliability and computational speed could make the MISDc model suitable for flood estimation in many catchments of different geographical contexts and land use characteristics. Moreover, MISDc will also be useful for future support of real-time decision-making for flood risk management in the Seveso basin.

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