Merging regional and global AOD records from major available satellite products

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larisa Sogacheva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Vantage Point ◽  
Aerosol Loading ◽  
Satellite Platform ◽  
The World ◽  
Satellite Sensors ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Climate Studies

<p>Satellite instruments provide a vantage point for studying aerosol loading consistently over different regions of the world. However, the typical lifetime of a single satellite platform is on the order of 5-15 years; thus, for climate studies, the use of multiple satellite sensors should be considered.</p><p>We introduce a gridded monthly AOD merged product for the period 1995-2017 obtained by combining 12 major available monthly AOD products, which provides a long-term perspective on AOD changes over different regions of the world. Different approaches for merging the individual AOD products (median, weighted according to the evaluation results) are tested. We show that the quality of the merged product is as least as good as that of individual products.</p><p>We also introduce an approach to combine the merged AOD product with the AOD time series available over land (TOMS) and ocean (AVHRR) from early 1980th.</p><p>The evaluation of the modelled AOD products with the satellite AOD product shows that the agreement between modelled and merged AOD product is closer than one between modelled and individual satellite AOD products.</p>

scholarly journals Merging regional and global aerosol optical depth records from major available satellite products

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 2031-2056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larisa Sogacheva ◽  
Thomas Popp ◽  
Andrew M. Sayer ◽  
Oleg Dubovik ◽  
Michael J. Garay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Multiple Products ◽  
Temporal Sampling ◽  
Satellite Platform ◽  
The World ◽  
Satellite Sensors ◽  
Regional Analyses

Abstract. Satellite instruments provide a vantage point for studying aerosol loading consistently over different regions of the world. However, the typical lifetime of a single satellite platform is on the order of 5–15 years; thus, for climate studies, the use of multiple satellite sensors should be considered. Discrepancies exist between aerosol optical depth (AOD) products due to differences in their information content, spatial and temporal sampling, calibration, cloud masking, and algorithmic assumptions. Users of satellite-based AOD time-series are confronted with the challenge of choosing an appropriate dataset for the intended application. In this study, 16 monthly AOD products obtained from different satellite sensors and with different algorithms were inter-compared and evaluated against Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) monthly AOD. Global and regional analyses indicate that products tend to agree qualitatively on the annual, seasonal and monthly timescales but may be offset in magnitude. Several approaches were then investigated to merge the AOD records from different satellites and create an optimised AOD dataset. With few exceptions, all merging approaches lead to similar results, indicating the robustness and stability of the merged AOD products. We introduce a gridded monthly AOD merged product for the period 1995–2017. We show that the quality of the merged product is as least as good as that of individual products. Optimal agreement of the AOD merged product with AERONET further demonstrates the advantage of merging multiple products. This merged dataset provides a long-term perspective on AOD changes over different regions of the world, and users are encouraged to use this dataset.

scholarly journals Merging regional and global AOD records from 15 available satellite products

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larisa Sogacheva ◽  
Thomas Popp ◽  
Andrew M. Sayer ◽  
Oleg Dubovik ◽  
Michael J. Garay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Multiple Products ◽  
Temporal Sampling ◽  
Source Regions ◽  
Satellite Platform ◽  
Comparison Results ◽  
The World ◽  
Spatial Differences ◽  
Satellite Sensors

Abstract. Satellite instruments provide a vantage point to study aerosol loading consistently over different regions of the world. However, the typical lifetime of a single satellite platform is on the order of 5–15 years; thus, for climate studies the usage of multiple satellite sensors should be considered. This paper assesses some options for creating merged products from an ensemble of 15 individual aerosol optical depth (AOD) data records produced from a broad range of institutions, sensors, and algorithms. Discrepancies exist between AOD products due to differences in their information content, spatial and temporal sampling, calibration, retrieval algorithm approach, as well as cloud masking and other algorithmic assumptions. Users of satellite-based regional AOD time-series are often confronted with the challenge of choosing the appropriate dataset for the intended application. In this study AOD products from different sensors and algorithms are discussed with respect to temporal and spatial differences. Several approaches are investigated to merge AOD records from different satellites, based on evaluation and inter-comparison results. Global and regional comparison of AOD monthly aggregates with ground-based AOD from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) indicates that different products agree qualitatively for major aerosol source regions on annual, seasonal and monthly time scales, but have regional offsets. All merged regional AOD time series show highly consistent temporal patterns illustrating the evolution of regional AOD. With few exceptions, all merging approaches lead to similar results, reassuring the usefulness and stability of the merged products. Here, we introduce a monthly AOD merged product for the period 1995–2017, which provides a long-term perspective on AOD changes over different regions of the world. We show that the quality of the merged product is as good as that of individual products. Optimal agreement of the AOD merged product with the AERONET further demonstrates the advantage of the merging of multiple products.

scholarly journals System models for resilience in gerontology: application to the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Klasa ◽  
Stephanie Galaitsi ◽  
Andrew Wister ◽  
Igor Linkov
Keyword(s):  
The Elderly ◽  
System Level ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Chronic Stressors ◽  
The World ◽  
Aging Adults ◽  
The Individual

AbstractThe care needs for aging adults are increasing burdens on health systems around the world. Efforts minimizing risk to improve quality of life and aging have proven moderately successful, but acute shocks and chronic stressors to an individual’s systemic physical and cognitive functions may accelerate their inevitable degradations. A framework for resilience to the challenges associated with aging is required to complement on-going risk reduction policies, programs and interventions. Studies measuring resilience among the elderly at the individual level have not produced a standard methodology. Moreover, resilience measurements need to incorporate external structural and system-level factors that determine the resources that adults can access while recovering from aging-related adversities. We use the National Academies of Science conceptualization of resilience for natural disasters to frame resilience for aging adults. This enables development of a generalized theory of resilience for different individual and structural contexts and populations, including a specific application to the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Psychometric validation of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales among elderly residents in long-term care facilities with joint contractures

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-chang Chen ◽  
Keh-chung Lin ◽  
Chen-Jung Chen ◽  
Shu-Hui Yeh ◽  
Ay-Woan Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Chinese Version ◽  
World Health ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Joint Contractures ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background Joint contractures, which affect activity, participation, and quality of life, are common complications of neurological conditions among elderly residents in long-term care facilities. This study examined the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales in a population with joint contractures. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used. The sample included elderly residents older than 64 years with joint contractures in an important joint who had lived at one of 12 long-term care facilities in Taiwan for more than 6 months (N = 243). The Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales for joint contractures was generated from the English version through five stages: translation, review, back-translation, review by a panel of specialists, and a pretest. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity were evaluated, and the results were compared with those for the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Results The Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales had excellent reliability, with a Cronbach α coefficient of 0.975 (mean score, 28.98; standard deviation, 17.34). An exploratory factor analysis showed three factors and one factor with an eigenvalue > 1 that explained 75.176 and 62.83 % of the total variance in the Activity subscale and Participation subscale, respectively. The subscale-to-total scale correlation analysis showed Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.881 for the Activity subscale and 0.843 for the Participation subscale. Pearson’s product-moment correlation revealed that the correlation coefficient (r) between the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule was 0.770, whereas that for the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale was − 0.553; these values were interpreted as large coefficients. Conclusions The underlying theoretical model of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales functions well in Taiwan and has acceptable levels of reliability and validity. However, the Chinese version must be further tested for applicability and generalizability in future studies, preferably with a larger sample and in different clinical domains.

scholarly journals Artikel Manajemen Mutu Terpadu

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Afni Syaputri ◽  
Rusdinal ◽  
Hade Afriansyah
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Corporate Culture ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Educational Services ◽  
Customer Education ◽  
The World

The aim of quality management is to ensure that all parts of the organization work together to improve the processes, products, services and corporate culture to achieve long-term success that comes from customer satisfaction. This article was prepared by the author using the system referring to the literature review. The implementation of integrated quality management in education goes through several processes from the preparation, planning, and implementation of the quality of educational services that are expected by education customers. Meeting the expectations of customer education is a quality management paradigm that must be fulfilled, so that those who drop out of school and unemployment can be minimized in the world of our education.

scholarly journals Using Artificial Neural Networks for Equalizing Time Series Considering Seasonal Fluctuations

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 01003
Author(s):  
J. Vrbka ◽  
J. Horák ◽  
V. Machová
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Artificial Neural Networks ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuations ◽  
Republic Of China ◽  
The People ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Artificial Neural ◽  
The Individual

The objective of this contribution is to prepare a methodology of using artificial neural networks for equalizing time series when considering seasonal fluctuations on the example of the Czech Republic import from the People´s Republic of China. If we focus on the relation of neural networks and time series, it is possible to state that both the purpose of time series themselves and the nature of all the data are what matters. The purpose of neural networks is to record the process of time series and to forecast individual data points in the best possible way. From the discussion part it follows that adding other variables significantly improves the quality of the equalized time series. Not only the performance of the networks is very high, but the individual MLP networks are also able to capture the seasonal fluctuations in the development of the monitored variable, which is the CR import from the PRC.

scholarly journals Internal consistency of the Regional Brewer Calibration Centre for Europe triad during the period 2005–2016

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 4059-4072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Fabián León-Luis ◽  
Alberto Redondas ◽  
Virgilio Carreño ◽  
Javier López-Solano ◽  
Alberto Berjón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Relative Standard Deviation ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Individual Values ◽  
Relative Standard ◽  
The World ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Ozone Column

Abstract. Total ozone column measurements can be made using Brewer spectrophotometers, which are calibrated periodically in intercomparison campaigns with respect to a reference instrument. In 2003, the Regional Brewer Calibration Centre for Europe (RBCC-E) was established at the Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (Canary Islands, Spain), and since 2011 the RBCC-E has transferred its calibration based on the Langley method using travelling standard(s) that are wholly and independently calibrated at Izaña. This work is focused on reporting the consistency of the measurements of the RBCC-E triad (Brewer instruments #157, #183 and #185) made at the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory during the period 2005–2016. In order to study the long-term precision of the RBCC-E triad, it must be taken into account that each Brewer takes a large number of measurements every day and, hence, it becomes necessary to calculate a representative value of all of them. This value was calculated from two different methods previously used to study the long-term behaviour of the world reference triad (Toronto triad) and Arosa triad. Applying their procedures to the data from the RBCC-E triad allows the comparison of the three instruments. In daily averages, applying the procedure used for the world reference triad, the RBCC-E triad presents a relative standard deviation equal to σ = 0.41 %, which is calculated as the mean of the individual values for each Brewer (σ157 = 0.362 %, σ183 = 0.453 % and σ185 = 0.428 %). Alternatively, using the procedure used to analyse the Arosa triad, the RBCC-E presents a relative standard deviation of about σ = 0.5 %. In monthly averages, the method used for the data from the world reference triad gives a relative standard deviation mean equal to σ = 0.3 % (σ157 = 0.33 %, σ183 = 0.34 % and σ185 = 0.23 %). However, the procedure of the Arosa triad gives monthly values of σ = 0.5 %. In this work, two ozone data sets are analysed: the first includes all the ozone measurements available, while the second only includes the simultaneous measurements of all three instruments. Furthermore, this paper also describes the Langley method used to determine the extraterrestrial constant (ETC) for the RBCC-E triad, the necessary first step toward accurate ozone calculation. Finally, the short-term or intraday consistency is also studied to identify the effect of the solar zenith angle on the precision of the RBCC-E triad.

Older people and medication management: from compliance to concordance

2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline McGraw ◽  
Vari Drennan
Keyword(s):  
Medical Profession ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Health Care Expenditure ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
World Health ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Individual

The issue of not taking medicines as prescribed by medical practitioners has a history as long as the medical profession itself. The World Health Organization recently described the problem of patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses not taking their medication as prescribed as ‘a worldwide problem of striking magnitude’. Not taking medicines as prescribed has consequences not only for the individual in terms of therapeutic failure, but also for the wider society. For the individual, failure to take medication as prescribed may result in ill health, poorer quality of life, and reduced life expectancy. For the wider society, consequences include avoidable health care expenditure and the development of drug resistance.

scholarly journals MAKING THE AGING EXPERIENCE WORTHWHILE: HOW SOCIAL INTERACTION CONTRIBUTES TO ACTIVE AGING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S533-S533
Author(s):  
Daniel Doh ◽  
Kwadwo Adusei-Asante ◽  
Vicki Banham
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Older People ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
World Health ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Country Level ◽  
The World ◽  
The Individual

Abstract In most parts of the world, people are now living longer lives, which presents both opportunities and concerns over how to make the ageing process a worthwhile experience. The World Health Organisation’s Active Ageing model became a prominent global policy response since 2002 and has evolved into different country-level ageing policies. While a considerable volume of literature exists on active ageing – testing the validity of its various components, there is limited empirical evidence of how social interaction contributes to active ageing for older people and how it can be promoted through policy. In this paper, we examine social interaction and how it contributes to lived experiences of active ageing among a sample of 30 older Ghanaians living in Australia and Ghana. Our findings confirm the significance of social interaction for active ageing, and shows that social interaction creates a sense of purpose for living, which leads to the ability of the individual to build resilience, which mitigates anxieties and pains associated with ill health (especially for frail older people); enhances self-motivation for play and fun; empowers the individual to explore opportunities for continuous activity including leisure, and improves the general feeling of happiness resulting in active ageing – quality of life. The paper’s main argument is that social interaction presents potentials for improving the quality of life (active ageing) for older people and needs to be carefully considered in policy, research and practice.

scholarly journals Automatic Curve Extraction for Digitizing Rainfall Strip Charts

2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 891-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. E. van Piggelen ◽  
T. Brandsma ◽  
H. Manders ◽  
J. F. Lichtenauer
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Batch Process ◽  
Rainfall Time Series ◽  
Graphical Interface ◽  
The Core ◽  
Cumulative Rainfall ◽  
Color Detection ◽  
Meta Information

Abstract A method has been developed that largely automates the labor-intensive extraction work for large amounts of rainfall strip charts and paper rolls. The method consists of the following five basic steps: 1) scanning the charts and rolls to high-resolution digital images, 2) manually and visually registering relevant meta information from charts and rolls and preprocessing rolls to locate day transitions, 3) applying automatic curve extraction software in a batch process to determine the coordinates of cumulative rainfall lines on the images, 4) postprocessing the curves that were not correctly determined in step 3, and 5) aggregating the cumulative rainfall in pixel coordinates to the desired time resolution. The core of the method is in step 3. Here a color detection procedure is introduced that automatically separates the background of the charts and rolls from the grid and subsequently the rainfall curve. The rainfall curve is detected by minimization of a cost function. In total, 321 station years of locations in the Netherlands have successfully been digitized and transformed to long-term rainfall time series with 5-min resolution. In about 30% of the cases, semiautomatic postprocessing of the results was needed using a purpose-built graphical interface application. This percentage, however, strongly depends on the quality of the recorded curves and the charts and rolls. Although developed for rainfall, the method can be applied to other elements as well.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document