Use of WorldView-2 Along-Track Stereo Imagery to Probe a Baltic Sea Algal Spiral

The general topic here is the application of very high-resolution satellite imagery to the study of ocean phenomena having horizontal spatial scales of the order of 1 kilometer, which is the realm of the ocean submesoscale. The focus of the present study is the use of WorldView-2 along-track stereo imagery to probe a submesoscale feature in the Baltic Sea that consists of an apparent inward spiraling of surface aggregations of algae. In this case, a single pair of images is analyzed using an optical-flow velocity algorithm. Because such image data generally have a much lower dynamic range than in land applications, the impact of residual instrument noise (e.g., data striping) is more severe and requires attention; we use a simple scheme to reduce the impact of such noise. The results show that the spiral feature has at its core a cyclonic vortex, about 1 km in radius and having a vertical vorticity of about three times the Coriolis frequency. Analysis also reveals that an individual algal aggregation corresponds to a velocity front having both horizontal shear and convergence, while wind-accelerated clumps of surface algae can introduce fine-scale signatures into the velocity field. Overall, the analysis supports the interpretation of algal spirals as evidence of a submesoscale eddy and of algal aggregations as indicating areas of surface convergence.

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Determining the Pixel-to-Pixel Uncertainty in Satellite-Derived SST Fields

10.20944/preprints201707.0066.v1 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Fan Wu ◽

Peter Cornillon ◽

Brahim Boussidi ◽

Lei Guan

Keyword(s):

Spatial Scales ◽

Quality Data ◽

Good Measure ◽

Small Scale ◽

Infrared Sensors ◽

Near Surface ◽

Spectral Estimates ◽

Instrument Noise ◽

Along Track ◽

The Impact

The primary measure of the quality of sea surface temperature (SST) fields obtained from satellite-borne infrared sensors has been the bias and variance of matchups with co-located in-situ values. Because such matchups tend to be widely separated, these bias and variance estimates are not necessarily a good measure of small scale (several pixels) gradients in these fields because one of the primary contributors to the uncertainty in satellite retrievals is atmospheric contamination, which tends to have large spatial scales compared with the pixel separation of infrared sensors. Hence, there is not a good measure to use in selecting SST fields appropriate for the study of submesoscale processes and, in particular, of processes associated with near-surface fronts, both of which have recently seen a rapid increase in interest. In this study, two methods are examined to address this problem, one based on spectra of the SST data and the other on their variograms. To evaluate the methods, instrument noise was estimated in Level-2 VIIRS and AVHRR SST fields of the Sargasso Sea. The two methods provided very nearly identical results for AVHRR: along-scan values of approximately 0.18 K for both day and night and along-track values of 0.21 K also for day and night. By contrast, the instrument noise estimated for VIIRS varied by method, scan geometry and day-night. Specifically, daytime, along-scan (along-track), spectral estimates were found to be approximately 0.05 K (0.08 K) and the corresponding nighttime values of 0.02 K (0.03 K). Daytime estimates based on the variogram were found to be 0.08 K (0.10 K) with the corresponding nighttime values of 0.04 K (0.06 K). Taken together: AVHRR instrument noise is significantly larger than VIIRS instrument noise, along-track noise is larger than along-scan noise and daytime levels are higher than nighttime levels. Given the similarity of results and the less stringent preprocessing requirements, the variogram is the preferred method although there is a suggestion that this approach overestimates the noise for high quality data in dynamically quiet regions. Finally, simulations of the impact of noise on the determination of SST gradients show that on average the gradient magnitude for typical ocean gradients will be accurately estimated with VIIRS but substantially overestimated with AVHRR.

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Contribution of future wide-swath altimetry missions to ocean analysis and forecasting

Ocean Science ◽

10.5194/os-14-1405-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 1405-1421 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Antonio Bonaduce ◽

Mounir Benkiran ◽

Elisabeth Remy ◽

Pierre Yves Le Traon ◽

Gilles Garric

Keyword(s):

Data Assimilation ◽

Sea Level ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

European Space Agency ◽

Ocean Currents ◽

Instrumental Error ◽

Altimetry Data ◽

Along Track ◽

The Impact ◽

Wide Swath

Abstract. The impact of forthcoming wide-swath altimetry missions on the ocean analysis and forecasting system was investigated by means of OSSEs (observing system simulation experiments). These experiments were performed with a regional data assimilation system, implemented in the Iberian–Biscay–Ireland (IBI) region, at 1∕12∘ resolution using simulated observations derived from a fully eddy-resolving free simulation at 1∕36∘ resolution over the same region. The objective of the experiments was to assess the ability of different satellite constellations to constrain the ocean analyses and forecasts, considering both along-track altimeters and future wide-swath missions; consequently, the capability of the data assimilation techniques used in the Mercator Ocean operational system to effectively combine the different kinds of measurements was also investigated. These assessments were carried out as part of a European Space Agency (ESA) study on the potential role of wide-swath altimetry in future versions of the European Union Copernicus programme. The impact of future wide-swath altimetry data is evident for investigating the reliability of sea level values in OSSEs. The most significant results were obtained when looking at the sensitivity of the system to wide-swath instrumental error: considering a constellation of three nadir and two “accurate” (small instrumental error) wide-swath altimeters, the error in ocean analysis was reduced by up to 50 % compared to conventional altimeters. Investigating the impact of the repetitivity of the future measurements, the results showed that two wide-swath missions had a major impact on sea-level forecasting – increasing the accuracy over the entire time window of the 5-day forecasts – compared with a single wide-swath instrument. A spectral analysis underlined that the contributions of wide-swath altimetry data observed in ocean analyses and forecast statistics were mainly due to the more accurate resolution, compared with along-track data, of ocean variability at spatial scales smaller than 100 km. Considering the ocean currents, the results confirmed that the information provided by wide-swath measurements at the surface is propagated down the water column and has a considerable impact (30 %) on ocean currents (up to a depth of 300 m), compared with the present constellation of altimeters. The ocean analysis and forecasting systems used here are those currently used by the Copernicus Marine Environment and Monitoring Service (CMEMS) to provide operational services and ocean reanalysis. The results obtained in the OSSEs considering along-track altimeters were consistent with those derived from real data (observing system experiments, OSEs). OSSEs can also be used to assess the potential of new observing systems, and in this study the results showed that future constellations of altimeters will have a major impact on constraining the CMEMS ocean analysis and forecasting systems and their applications.

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Contribution of future wide swath altimetry missions to ocean analysis and forecasting

10.5194/os-2018-58 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Antonio Bonaduce ◽

Mounir Benkiran ◽

Elisabeth Remy ◽

Pierre Yves Le Traon ◽

Gilles Garric

Keyword(s):

Data Assimilation ◽

Sea Level ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

European Space Agency ◽

Ocean Currents ◽

Instrumental Error ◽

Altimetry Data ◽

Along Track ◽

The Impact ◽

Wide Swath

Abstract. The impact of forthcoming wide-swath altimetry missions on the ocean analysis and forecasting system was investigated by means of OSSEs (Observing System Simulation Experiments) performed with a regional data assimilation system, implemented in the Iberian-Biscay-Ireland (IBI) region, at 1/12° resolution using simulated observations derived from a fully eddy-resolving free simulations at 1/36° resolution over the same region. The objective was to asses the contribution of different satellite constellations to constrain the ocean analyses and forecasts, considering both along-track altimeters and future wide-swath missions, and as consequence the capability of the data assimilation techniques used in Mercator Ocean operational system to effectively combine the different kind of measurements. This was carried out as part of a European Space Agency (ESA) study on the potential role of wide-swath altimetry for the evolution of the European Union Copernicus programme. The impact of future wide-swath altimetry data is clearly evident investigating the reliability of sea-level in the OSSEs. The most significant results were obtained looking at the sensitivity of the system to wide-swath instrumental error: considering a constellation of three nadir and two accurate (small instrumental error) wide-swath altimeters, the error in the ocean analysis was reduced up to the 50 %, with respect to conventional altimeters. Investigating the impact of the repetitivity of the future measurements, the results showed that two wide-swath missions had a major impact on the the sea-level forecasting increasing the accuracy over the entire time-window of the 5-day forecasts, with respect to a single wide-swath instrument. A spectral analysis underlined that the contributions of wide-swath altimetry data observed in the ocean analyses and forecasts statistics were mainly due to resolve more accurately (up to > 25 %), with respect to along-track data, the ocean variability at spatial scales smaller than 100 km. Considering the ocean currents, the results confirmed that the information provided by wide-swath measurements at the surface is propagated also in the vertical and has a considerable impact (30 %) on the ocean currents (up to 300 metres), with respect to the present constellation of altimeters. The ocean analysis and forecasting systems used here are currently adopted by Copernicus Marine Environment and Monitoring Service (CMEMS) to provide operational services and ocean re-analysis. The results obtained in the OSSEs considering along-track altimeters were consistent with those derived with real data (observing system experiments, OSEs). OSSEs also allow to evaluate the potential of new observing systems and in this study the results showed that future constellations of altimeters will have a major impact to constrain the CMEMS ocean analysis and forecasting systems and their applications.

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Scale dependence of galaxy biasing investigated by weak gravitational lensing: An assessment using semi-analytic galaxies and simulated lensing data

Astronomy and Astrophysics ◽

10.1051/0004-6361/201732248 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 613 ◽

pp. A15 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Patrick Simon ◽

Stefan Hilbert

Keyword(s):

Gravitational Lensing ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Scale Dependence ◽

Reconstruction Technique ◽

Weak Gravitational Lensing ◽

Physical Scale ◽

The Galaxy ◽

Galaxy Bias ◽

The Impact ◽

Lens Galaxies

Galaxies are biased tracers of the matter density on cosmological scales. For future tests of galaxy models, we refine and assess a method to measure galaxy biasing as a function of physical scalekwith weak gravitational lensing. This method enables us to reconstruct the galaxy bias factorb(k) as well as the galaxy-matter correlationr(k) on spatial scales between 0.01hMpc−1≲k≲ 10hMpc−1for redshift-binned lens galaxies below redshiftz≲ 0.6. In the refinement, we account for an intrinsic alignment of source ellipticities, and we correct for the magnification bias of the lens galaxies, relevant for the galaxy-galaxy lensing signal, to improve the accuracy of the reconstructedr(k). For simulated data, the reconstructions achieve an accuracy of 3–7% (68% confidence level) over the abovek-range for a survey area and a typical depth of contemporary ground-based surveys. Realistically the accuracy is, however, probably reduced to about 10–15%, mainly by systematic uncertainties in the assumed intrinsic source alignment, the fiducial cosmology, and the redshift distributions of lens and source galaxies (in that order). Furthermore, our reconstruction technique employs physical templates forb(k) andr(k) that elucidate the impact of central galaxies and the halo-occupation statistics of satellite galaxies on the scale-dependence of galaxy bias, which we discuss in the paper. In a first demonstration, we apply this method to previous measurements in the Garching-Bonn Deep Survey and give a physical interpretation of the lens population.

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Multi-Use of the Sea as a Sustainable Development Instrument in Five EU Sea Basins

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13158159 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 8159

Author(s):

Joanna Przedrzymirska ◽

Jacek Zaucha ◽

Helena Calado ◽

Ivana Lukic ◽

Martina Bocci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Baltic Sea ◽

Spatial Planning ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

The Black Sea ◽

The North ◽

The North Sea ◽

Maritime Spatial Planning ◽

Definition Of ◽

The Impact

This paper examines the concept of maritime multi-use as a territorial/SPATIAL governance instrument for the enhancement of sustainable development in five EU sea basins. Multi-use (MU) is expected to enhance the productivity of blue economy sectors, as well as deliver additional socio-economic benefits related to the environmental and social dimensions of sustainable development. The paper provides a definition of maritime multi-use and identifies the multi-uses with the highest potential in EU sea basins. In each sea basin, multi-use plays a different role as concerns sustainable development. For the Eastern Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, the MU focus should remain on the environmental pillar of sustainable development. In the North Sea, North Atlantic and Western Baltic Sea, addressing social sustainability seems a key precondition for success of MU in enhancement of sustainable spatial development at sea. Moreover, it has been suggested to introduce MU key global strategies such as SDGs or Macroregional strategies and action plans and to supplement maritime spatial planning with sectoral incentives and educational efforts as key vehicles supporting MU. The paper concludes by identifying aspects which, in order to inform maritime spatial planning and maritime governance regarding a more conscious application of the aforementioned concept, require further investigation. Key tasks are related to: more profound evaluation of performance of policies supporting MUs, researching the impact of MU on societal goals and on the MU costs and benefits, including external ones, and finally identifying the impact of MU on the development of various sectors and regions on land.

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Improving Near Miss Detection in Maritime Traffic in the Northern Baltic Sea from AIS Data

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse9020180 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 180

Author(s):

Lei Du ◽

Osiris A. Valdez Banda ◽

Floris Goerlandt ◽

Pentti Kujala ◽

Weibin Zhang

Keyword(s):

Baltic Sea ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Maritime Transportation ◽

Near Miss ◽

Automatic Identification ◽

Identification System ◽

Collision Risk ◽

Ship Collision ◽

The Impact ◽

Ship Behavior

Ship collision is the most common type of accident in the Northern Baltic Sea, posing a risk to the safety of maritime transportation. Near miss detection from automatic identification system (AIS) data provides insight into maritime transportation safety. Collision risk always triggers a ship to maneuver for safe passing. Some frenetic rudder actions occur at the last moment before ship collision. However, the relationship between ship behavior and collision risk is not fully clarified. Therefore, this work proposes a novel method to improve near miss detection by analyzing ship behavior characteristic during the encounter process. The impact from the ship attributes (including ship size, type, and maneuverability), perceived risk of a navigator, traffic complexity, and traffic rule are considered to obtain insights into the ship behavior. The risk severity of the detected near miss is further quantified into four levels. This proposed method is then applied to traffic data from the Northern Baltic Sea. The promising results of near miss detection and the model validity test suggest that this work contributes to the development of preventive measures in maritime management to enhance to navigational safety, such as setting a precautionary area in the hotspot areas. Several advantages and limitations of the presented method for near miss detection are discussed.

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The Impact of RDP Measures on the Diversification of Agriculture and Rural Development—Seeking Additional Livelihoods: The Case of Poland

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11030253 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 253

Author(s):

Mirosław Biczkowski ◽

Aleksandra Jezierska-Thöle ◽

Roman Rudnicki

Keyword(s):

Rural Development ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Development Program ◽

Spatial Diversity ◽

Agricultural Activities ◽

Synthetic Index ◽

Two Measures ◽

The Impact ◽

The Eu

The paper’s main aim is to assess the measures implemented within the Rural Development Program (RDP) 2007–2013 in Poland. This programme is dedicated to the diversification of business activities in rural areas and rural livelihood and, thus, the improvement of the multifunctionality of rural areas. The analysis covered two measures from Axis 3, Improvement of the quality of life in rural areas and diversification of rural economy: M311, diversification into non-agricultural activities; and M312, Establishment and development of micro-enterprise. The study and the discussion are presented from a geographical perspective and, in a broader context, take into account several conditions (natural, urban, agricultural and historical) and the spatial diversity of the allocation of European Union (EU) funds. Models of a policy of multifunctional rural development, implemented after accession to the EU, are presented. The research’s spatial scope covers Poland’s territory on two spatial scales: the system of regions (16 NUTS2 units) and poviats (314 LAU level 1 units). The analysis covers all the projects implemented in Poland under the two measures of Axis 3 of the RDP 2007–2013. A set of conditions was prepared for all LAU1 units, forming the background for assessing the impact of the EU funds on the development of non-agricultural activities. To determine the relationship between the RDP measures and the selected groups of conditions, a synthetic index and a correlation index are used. They are also used to determine the mutual relations between the two analyzed activities in terms of the spatial scales used. Access to the EU funds (RDP) has considerably enlarged the opportunities for accelerating agricultural modernisation and restructuration towards multifunctional development, as well as the opportunities for implementing new development and work methods in the countryside in Poland. The attractiveness of the two studied RDP measures varied across regions. The beneficiaries’ activity depended on the local potential (resources), culture and tradition of the region, and size and potential of the farm. In the areas where agriculture is deeply rooted, beneficiaries were more willing to engage in ventures tapping into the resources available in their farms. Thus, they create additional livelihood of income and workplaces for household members. In turn, the beneficiaries from the areas where farms are smaller and economically weaker often undertake activities related to setting up a new business (outside farming).

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EM Algorithm Based on Fuzzification and its Application

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.532-533.1445 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 532-533 ◽

pp. 1445-1449

Author(s):

Ting Ting Tong ◽

Zhen Hua Wu

Keyword(s):

Em Algorithm ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Image Data ◽

Training Sample ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Parameter Learning ◽

Weighted Degree ◽

The Em Algorithm ◽

The Impact

EM algorithm is a common method to solve mixed model parameters in statistical classification of remote sensing image. The EM algorithm based on fuzzification is presented in this paper to use a fuzzy set to represent each training sample. Via the weighted degree of membership, different samples will be of different effect during iteration to decrease the impact of noise on parameter learning and to increase the convergence rate of algorithm. The function and accuracy of classification of image data can be completed preferably.

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Behavioural responses of voles to simulated risk of predation by a native and an alien mustelid: an odour manipulation experiment

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr08031 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 273 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Karen Fey ◽

Peter B. Banks ◽

Hannu Ylönen ◽

Erkki Korpimäki

Keyword(s):

Baltic Sea ◽

Predation Risk ◽

Myodes Glareolus ◽

The Baltic Sea ◽

Short Term ◽

Behavioural Responses ◽

Alien Predator ◽

Risk Of Predation ◽

The Baltic ◽

The Impact

Context. Potential mammalian prey commonly use the odours of their co-evolved predators to manage their risks of predation. But when the risk comes from an unknown source of predation, odours might not be perceived as dangerous, and anti-predator responses may fail, except possibly if the alien predator is of the same archetype as a native predator. Aims. In the present study we examined anti-predator behavioural responses of voles from the outer archipelagos of the Baltic Sea, south-western Finland, where they have had no resident mammalian predators in recent history. Methods. We investigated responses of field voles (Microtus agrestis) to odours of native least weasels (Mustela nivalis) and a recently invading alien predator, the American mink (Mustela vison), in laboratory. We also studied the short-term responses of free-ranging field voles and bank voles (Myodes glareolus) to simulated predation risk by alien mink on small islands in the outer archipelago of the Baltic Sea. Key results. In the laboratory, voles avoided odour cues of native weasel but not of alien mink. It is possible that the response to mink is a context dependent learned response which could not be induced in the laboratory, whereas the response to weasel is innate. In the field, however, voles reduced activity during their normal peak-activity times at night as a response to simulated alien-mink predation risk. No other shifts in space use or activity in safer microhabitats or denser vegetation were apparent. Conclusions. Voles appeared to recognise alien minks as predators from their odours in the wild. However, reduction in activity is likely to be only a short-term immediate response to mink presence, which is augmented by longer-term strategies of habitat shift. Because alien mink still strongly suppresses vole dynamics despite these anti-predator responses, we suggest that behavioural naiveté may be the primary factor in the impact of an alien predator on native prey. Implications. Prey naiveté has long been considered as the root cause of the devastating impacts of alien predators, whereby native prey simply fail to recognise and respond to the novel predation risk. Our results reveal a more complex form of naiveté whereby native prey appeared to recognise alien predators as a threat but their response is ultimately inadequate. Thus, recognition alone is unlikely to afford protection for native prey from alien-predator impacts. Thus, management strategies that, for example, train prey in recognition of novel threats must induce effective responses if they are expected to succeed.

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A multi-decade assessment of the impact of large fire events on sediment redistribution using LAPSUS - the Águeda catchment, north-central Portugal

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-4615 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dante Föllmi ◽

Jantiene Baartman ◽

João Pedro Nunes ◽

Akli Benali

Keyword(s):

Soil Depth ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Fire Severity ◽

Sediment Dynamics ◽

Land Uses ◽

Erosion Rates ◽

Erosion Processes ◽

Sediment Redistribution ◽

Central Portugal ◽

The Impact

AbstractWildfires have become an increasing threat for Mediterranean ecosystems, due to increasing climate change induced wildfire activity and changing land management practices. Apart from the initial risk, fire can alter the soil in various ways depending on different fire severities and thus post-fire erosion processes are an important component in assessing wildfires&#8217; negative effects. Recent post-fire erosion (modelling) studies often focus on a short time window and lack the attention for sediment dynamics at larger spatial scales. Yet, these large spatial and temporal scales are fundamental for a better understanding of catchment sediment dynamics and long-term destructive effects of multiple fires on post-fire erosion processes. In this study the landscape evolution model LAPSUS was used to simulate erosion and deposition in the 404 km2 &#193;gueda catchment in northern-central Portugal over a 41 year (1979-2020) timespan. To include variation in fire severity and its impact on the soil four burnt severity classes, represented by the difference Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR), were parameterized. Although model calibration was difficult due to lack of spatial and temporal measured data, the results show that average post-fire net erosion rates were significantly higher in the wildfire scenarios (5.95 ton ha-1 yr-1) compared to those of a non-wildfire scenario (0.58 ton ha-1 yr-1). Furthermore, erosion values increased with a higher level of burnt severity and multiple fires increased the overall sediment build-up in the catchment, fostering an increase in background sediment yield. Simulated erosion patterns showed great spatial variability with large deposition and erosion rates inside streams. Due to this variability, it was difficult to identify land uses that were most sensitive for post-fire erosion, because some land-uses were located in more erosion-sensitive areas (e.g. streams, gullies) or were more affected by high burnt severity levels than others. Despite these limitations, LAPSUS performed well on addressing spatial sediment processes and has the ability to contribute to pre-fire management strategies. For instance, the percentage soil loss map (i.e. comparison of erosion and soil depth maps) could identify locations at risk.

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