Evaluation of GPROF V05 Precipitation Retrievals under Different Cloud Regimes

Precipitation retrievals from passive microwave satellite observations form the basis of many widely used precipitation products, but the performance of the retrievals depends on numerous factors such as surface type and precipitation variability. Previous evaluation efforts have identified bias dependence on precipitation regime, which may reflect the influence on retrievals of recurring factors. In this study, the concept of a regime-based evaluation of precipitation from the Goddard Profiling (GPROF) algorithm is extended to cloud regimes. Specifically, GPROF V05 precipitation retrievals under four different cloud regimes are evaluated against ground radars over the United States. GPROF is generally able to accurately retrieve the precipitation associated with both organized convection and less organized storms, which collectively produce a substantial fraction of global precipitation. However, precipitation from stratocumulus systems is underestimated over land and overestimated over water. Similarly, precipitation associated with trade cumulus environments is underestimated over land, while biases over water depend on the sensor’s channel configuration. By extending the evaluation to more sensors and suppressed environments, these results complement insights previously obtained from precipitation regimes, thus demonstrating the potential of cloud regimes in categorizing the global atmosphere into discrete systems.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OF FORMING OPTION FOR LOGISTICS DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL CONFIGURATION RESISTANT TO EMERGENCIES

The problem and the main stages of choosing a rational configuration of a four-level logistics network that is resistant to the impact of emergencies forstrategic planning are considered. The problem under consideration belongs to the class of multicriteria optimization problems. Criteria related to thefinancial costs of building and operating a logistics distribution channel, as well as criteria related to the level of quality of customer service, arecontradictory. To solve the problem of stability of the logistics system configuration to emergencies, such as failure of intermediate warehouses,failure of transport arteries, etc., a strategic management information system was developed by integrating existing software components at the level ofenterprise software applications. The integration of the system was based on a service-oriented architecture, as all its components are heterogeneous innature. This approach allows you to reuse existing program code. To determine a sustainable configuration option, two criteria are used, which areconsidered equivalent: the level of costs for the maintenance of the logistics channel and the level of service quality in the event of differentemergencies. Since the probability of emergencies is unknown, the minimax criterion is used to minimize the risk when choosing a rationalconfiguration of the logistics network. For this purpose, losses from emergencies are calculated according to all criteria, and there is a variant of thelogistics network configuration that will be the least risky. That is, we will not be able to get a worse result than the one we rely on. The results of thestudy are presented in the form of a configuration variant of the logistics distribution system, which can be used in the future to determine businessoptions.

The Influence of Electrolyte Flow Hydrodynamics on the Performance of a Microfluidic Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell

The dye-sensitized solar cells microfluidically integrated with a redox flow battery (µDSSC-RFB) belong to a new emerging class of green energy sources with an inherent opportunity for energy storage. The successful engineering of microfluidically linked systems is, however, a challenging subject, as the hydrodynamics of electrolyte flow influences the electron and species transport in the system in several ways. In the article, we have analyzed the microflows hydrodynamics by means of the lattice-Boltzmann method, using the algebraic solution of the Navier-Stokes equation for a duct flow and experimentally by the micro particle image velocimetry method. Several prototypes of µDSSC were prepared and tested under different flow conditions. The efficiency of serpentine µDSSC raised from 2.8% for stationary conditions to 3.1% for electrolyte flow above 20 mL/h, while the fill factor increased about 13% and open-circuit voltage from an initial 0.715 V to 0.745 V. Although the hexagonal or circular configurations are the straightforward extensions of standard photo chambers of solar cells, those configurations are hydrodynamically less predictable and unfavorable due to large velocity gradients. The serpentine channel configuration with silver fingers would allow for the scaling of the µDSSC-RFB systems to the industrial scale without loss of performance. Furthermore, the deterioration of cell performance over time can be inhibited by the periodic sensitizer regeneration, which is the inherent advantage of µDSSC.

Optimized EEG–fNIRS Based Mental Workload Detection Method for Practical Applications

Background: Mental workload is a critical consideration in complex man–machine systems design. Among various mental workload detection techniques, multimodal detection techniques integrating EEG and fNIRS signals have attracted considerable attention. However, existing EEG–fNIRS-based mental workload detection methods have certain defects, such as complex signal acquisition channels and low detection accuracy, which restrict their practical application.Method: The signal acquisition configuration was optimized and a more accurate and convenient EEG–fNIRS-based mental workload detection method was constructed. A classical MATB task was conducted with 20 participating volunteers. Subjective scale data, 64-channel EEG data, and two-channel fNIRS data were collected.Results: A higher number of EEG channels correspond to higher detection accuracy. However, there is no obvious improvement in accuracy once the number of EEG channels reaches 26, with a four-level mental workload detection accuracy of 78.25±4.71%. Partial results of physiological analysis verify the results of previous studies, such as that the θ power of EEG and concentration of O2Hb in the prefrontal region increase while the concentration of HHb decreases with task difficulty. It was further observed, for the first time, that the energy of each band of EEG signals was significantly different in the occipital lobe region, and the power of 𝛽1 and 𝛽2 bands in the occipital region increased significantly with task difficulty. The changing range and the mean amplitude of O2Hb in high-difficulty tasks were significantly higher compared with those in low-difficulty tasks.Conclusions: The channel configuration of EEG–fNIRS-based mental workload detection was optimized to 26 EEG channels and two frontal fNIRS channels. A four-level mental workload detection accuracy of 78.25±4.71% was obtained, which is higher than previously reported results. The proposed configuration can promote the application of mental workload detection technology in military, driving, and other complex human–computer interaction systems.

Calibration of κ-ε turbulence model for thermal–hydraulic analyses in rib-roughened narrow rectangular channels using genetic algorithm

Nowadays, applications of turbulent fluid flow in removing high heat flux in rib-roughened narrow channels are drawing much interest. In this work, an improved version of the κ-ε turbulence model is proposed for better prediction of thermal–hydraulic characteristics of flow inside rib-roughened (pitch-to-rib height (p/k) ratio = 10 and 20) narrow channels (channel height, H = 1.2 mm and 3.2 mm). For this, the four turbulence model parameters, Cμ, Cε1, Cε2, and σk, are calibrated. These parameters are adjustable empirical constants provided for controlling the accuracy of the turbulence model results when needed. The simulated data are used to develop correlations between the relative errors in predicting the friction factor (f), Nusselt number (Nu), and the model parameters using a multivariate nonlinear regression method. These correlations are used to optimize the errors using genetic algorithm. Results reveal that the calibrated parameters are not the same for all the narrow channel configurations. After calibration, the overall predictive improvements are up to 35.83% and 27.30% for p/k = 10 and p/k = 20 respectively when H = 1.2 mm. Also, up to 15.48% and 18.05% improvements are obtained for p/k = 10 and p/k = 20 respectively when H = 3.2 mm. The role of the two parameters Cε1 and Cε2 are found to be of primary importance. Furthermore, three types of nanofluids i.e. Al2O3-water, CuO-water, and TiO2-water are studied using the calibrated model to check the potentiality of heat transfer enhancement. Among them, CuO-water nanofluid is predicted to have around 1.32 times higher value of Nu than pure water for the same narrow channel configuration. Article Highlights κ-ε turbulence model is calibrated for rib-roughened narrow rectangular channels using genetic algorithm. Cε1 and Cε2 are the most influential parameters on the performance of the model inside rib-roughened narrow channel. Suggested calibration process is more effective for channel height of 1.2 mm than 3.2 mm.

The Sensitivity of Persistent Geopotential Anomalies to the Climate of a Moist Channel Model

High-impact events such as heat waves and droughts are often associated with persistent positive geopotential height anomalies (PAs). Understanding how PA activity will change in a future warmer climate is therefore fundamental to projecting associated changes in weather and climate extremes. This is a complex problem because the dynamics of PAs and their associated blocking activity are still poorly understood. Furthermore, climate-change influences on PA activity may be geographically dependent and encompass competing influences. To expose the salient impacts of climate change, we use an oceanic channel configuration of the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) in a bivariate experiment focused on changes in environmental temperature, moisture, and baroclinicity. The 500-hPa wind speed and flow variability are found to increase with increasing temperature and baroclinicity, driven by increases in latent heat release and a stronger virtual temperature gradient. Changes to 500-hPa sinuosity are negligible. PAs are objectively identified at the 500-hPa level using an anomaly threshold method. When using a fixed threshold, PA trends indicate increased activity and strength with warming, but decreased activity and strength with Arctic amplification. Use of a climate-relative threshold hides these trends and highlights the importance of accurate characterization of the mean flow. Changes in PA activity mirror corresponding changes in 500-hPa flow variability and are found to be attributable to changes in three distinct dynamical mechanisms: baroclinic wave activity, virtual temperature effects, and latent heat release.