Far-Field Radar Cross-Section Determination from Near-Field 3-D Synthetic Aperture Imaging with Arbitrary Antenna Scanning Surfaces

*This work has been submitted to the IEEE for possible publication. Copyright may be transferred without notice, after which this version may no longer be accessible.<div><br></div><div>In this study, we propose a generalized algorithm for far-field radar cross-section determination by using 3-D synthetic aperture imaging with arbitrary antenna scanning surfaces. This method belongs to a class of techniques called image-based near-field-to-far-field transformation. The previous image-based approaches have been formulated based on a specific antenna-scanning trajectory or surface, such as a line, plane, circle, cylinder, and sphere; majority of these approaches consider 2-D radar images to determine the azimuth radar cross-section. We generalize the conventional image-based technique to accommodate an arbitrary antenna-scanning surface and consider a 3-D radar image for radar cross-section prediction in both the azimuth and zenith directions. We validate the proposed algorithm by performing numerical simulations and anechoic chamber measurements.<br></div>

Far-Field Radar Cross-Section Determination From Near-Field 3-D Synthetic Aperture Imaging With Arbitrary Antenna Scanning Surfaces

In this study, we propose a generalized algorithm for far-field radar cross-section determination from 3-D synthetic aperture imaging with arbitrary antenna scanning surfaces. This method belongs to the class of techniques called image-based near-field to far-field transformation. The previous image-based approaches were formulated based on a specific antenna scanning surface or trajectory such as a line, a plane, a circle, a cylinder, and a sphere--and the majority of them considered 2-D radar images to determine the azimuth radar cross-section. We generalize the conventional image-based technique to accommodate an arbitrary antenna scanning surface, and consider a 3-D radar image for radar cross-section prediction in both the azimuth and zenith directions. We demonstrate the proposed algorithm via numerical simulations and anechoic chamber measurements.

Far-Field Radar Cross-Section Determination From Near-Field 3-D Synthetic Aperture Imaging With Arbitrary Antenna Scanning Surfaces

In this study, we propose a generalized algorithm for far-field radar cross-section determination from 3-D synthetic aperture imaging with arbitrary antenna scanning surfaces. This method belongs to the class of techniques called image-based near-field to far-field transformation. The previous image-based approaches were formulated based on a specific antenna scanning surface or trajectory such as a line, a plane, a circle, a cylinder, and a sphere--and the majority of them considered 2-D radar images to determine the azimuth radar cross-section. We generalize the conventional image-based technique to accommodate an arbitrary antenna scanning surface, and consider a 3-D radar image for radar cross-section prediction in both the azimuth and zenith directions. We demonstrate the proposed algorithm via numerical simulations and anechoic chamber measurements.

Clinical Experience Using the SRS MapCHECK for Patient Specific Plan Verification of Flattening Filter Free, Non-Coplanar Stereotactic Brain Plans Using HyperARC.

HyperArc (HA) treatment planning from Varian is a stereotactic specific planning tool enabling quick and efficient optimisation of treatment planning, and delivery. HA was commissioned and implemented at Waikato Regional Cancer Centre (WRCC) in 2019 to fulfil the demands of dose delivery for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), allowing for treatment of multiple targets with a single isocenter at non-coplanar angles. The extra levels of plan complexity involved in creating and verifying HA SRS plans required extensive checks and verifications using film and an ion chamber, along with a significant allocation of time and resources. The Sun Nuclear SRS MapCHECK (SRSMC) offered an alternative to the cumbersome film measurements. It is an all-encompassing tool meeting the requirements of TG 218 and ICRU 91 for complex treatment plan verification, claiming to save time and effort, without sacrificing accuracy, enabling for a smoother planning and verification process. SRSMC was initially commissioned on 6MV single target treatments using standard planning, then updated and commissioned for 6FFF multi-target non-coplanar treatments using HA. The SRSMC gamma pass rates were compared to film measurements in the same plane, and the central diode CAX reading compared to ionisation chamber measurements at the same position for a range of plans covering a range of PTV sizes and plan complexities. Pass rates on the SRSMC were comparable to measurements using film (Gamma 3%/1mm, 99.41%, 96.39% SRSMC and film respectively). The central diode is an adequate surrogate for a chamber measurement if the SRSMC is positioned in a similar position as that of the ionisation chamber would be – high dose homogenous region, avoiding steep gradients (mean dose difference Diode vs Chamber: -0.73%). Differences between exposing non-coplanar plans at couch 0 and at planned couch angles were negligible (Gamma 3%/1mm 99.28 coplanar, 99.41% non-coplanar on SRSMC). At WRCC the SRSMC has replaced film and chamber measurements for plan verifications of 6FFF HA multiple metastatic brain treatments at a single isocenter and we are currently investigating its use in other treatment sites.

Quantifying bubbling emission (ebullition) of methane from a rice paddy using high-time-resolution concentration data obtained during a closed-chamber measurement

Methane (CH4) produced in rice-paddy soil is transported to the atmosphere either via the rice plants or by bubbling events (ebullition); however, little is known about the frequency and intensity of bubbling CH4 emissions and the factors that affect them. We developed a method to quantify ebullition using high-time-resolution (~1 Hz) CH4 concentration data obtained by closed-chamber measurements. Field measurements were conducted in a Japanese rice paddy at different rice growth stages: panicle formation (PF), booting (BT), and heading (HD). A dataset of 132 chamber measurements was used to develop and evaluate the method. A scripting file written in R programing language was used to automatically determine CH4 emissions via the two pathways. Plant-mediated CH4 emission intensity was constant during chamber deployment and was reflected as a steady linear increase in chamber [CH4] with time or as a constant baseline in a flux time series. We found that the plant-mediated emission could be determined as the peak with the lowest flux intensity in the flux frequency distribution even if bubbling events occurred during the chamber deployment. The field measurement results in combination with established data processing protocols showed that at PF, ebullition contributed only 4% of the total emission, whereas it accounted for 32% and 60% of the total emission at BT and HD, respectively. In contrast, the plant-mediated flux variation among growth stages was smaller. Both ebullition and plant-mediated emissions correlated significantly with air temperature at HD, but the magnitude of the dependency was much higher for ebullition than for rice-mediated emission. These results demonstrate that ebullition occurs more frequently than has previously been thought, and the different transport pathways show varying degrees of dependency on plant phenological and environmental factors, thus underscoring the need to separately determine CH4 emissions via each transport pathway.

Analysis of bioaerosol emission patterns of tropical fungi in the Amazon region

&lt;p&gt;Primary biological aerosol particles (PBAP), better known as bioaerosols, are considered to play a role in atmospheric and climate influencing processes. Fungal spores, as a part of PBAP, account for a large fraction of coarse particulate matter in some ecosystems, as for example the Amazon rainforest. In such highly diverse ecosystems, fungi play key roles as mycorrhizal fungi for nutrient uptake of plants and as decomposers in nutrient and water cycling, and thus their community structure strongly influences local ecosystem conditions. Despite this relevance, fungal spore emission patterns under natural conditions and the corresponding triggering factors are not well characterized, yet. In this study, we present a laboratory and field measurement techniques to quantify and analyze bioaerosol emission patterns and the effect of precipitation on fungal spore emission.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For investigations under field conditions, the particle emissions of fungi (Agaricomycetes) were characterized at their site of growth in the field using an optical particle sizer and a data logger. Particle concentrations and their size distribution (0.3 to 10 &amp;#181;m), as well as the microclimatic temperature and humidity were measured in close vicinity to the fungal fruiting body. Generally, field measurements were performed over a time span of 24 h with some exceptions ranging up to 6 days. For laboratory measurements, a newly developed glass chamber system was used to measure particle emissions of fungi under controlled conditions. During the chamber measurements, the humidity and temperature conditions were varied and recorded with a datalogger. To simulate precipitation events, the fruiting bodies were sprayed with water between measurement sections and particle emissions were monitored before and after moistening.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;First measurements of fungi under field and lab conditions showed that high humidity values were necessary to trigger fungal spore emissions. In many cases, precipitation events and the moisture status of the fungus and substrate had an influence on spore release. Based on the results of 47 field measurements, it was possible to establish a function simulating the spore emission patterns of fungi during their diurnal emission cycle. During field measurements, an emission of up to 55,000 spores per second was recorded directly at the fungus, which, according to the function, may correspond to emissions of up to 2.8 x 10&lt;sup&gt;9&lt;/sup&gt; spores per day. Chamber measurements showed that spore emissions generally started 2-3 hours after artificial moistening.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Increasing deforestation is expected to cause drier conditions and to increase the possibility of droughts, which will have an impact on the species composition and quantity of fungi in the Amazon. A combination of our field and lab emission data is expected to allow a new interpretation of bioaerosol emissions and composition in the Amazon, which can be used as a baseline to analyze the potential relevance of bioaerosols in regional atmosphere and climate processes.&lt;/p&gt;

Quantifying soil denitrification in situ from depth profiles of 15N labelled denitrification products by diffusion-reaction modelling

&lt;p&gt;Common field methods for measuring soil denitrification in situ include monitoring the accumulation of &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N labelled N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O evolved from &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N labelled soil nitrate pool in soil surface chambers. Bias of denitrification rates derived from chamber measurements results from subsoil diffusion of &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N labelled denitrification products, but this can be corrected by diffusion modeling (Well et al., 2019). Moreover, precision of the conventional &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N gas flux method is low due to the high N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; background of the atmosphere. An alternative to the closed chamber method is to use concentration gradients of soil gas to quantify their fluxes (Maier &amp;&amp;#160; Schack-Kirchner, 2014). Advantages compared to the closed &amp;#160;chamber method include the facts that (i) time consuming work with closed chambers is replaced by easier sampling of soil gas probes, (ii) depth profiles yield not only the surface flux but also information on the depth distribution of gas production and (iii) soil gas concentrations are higher than chamber gas concentration, resulting in better detectability of &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N-labelled denitrification products. Here we use this approach for the first time to evaluate denitrification rates derived from depth profiles of &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N labelled N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O in the field by closed chamber measurements published previously (Lewicka-Szczebak et al., 2020).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We compared surface fluxes of N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O from &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N labelled microplots using the closed chamber method. Diffusion&amp;#8211;based soil gas probes (Schack-Kirchner et al., 1993) were used to sample soil air at the end of each closed chamber measurement. A diffusion-reaction model (Maier et al., 2017) will be &amp;#160;used to fit measured and modelled concentrations of &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N labelled N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O. Depth-specific values of denitrification rates and the denitrification product ratio will be obtained from best fits of depth profiles and chamber accumulation, taking into account diffusion of labelled denitrification products to the subsoil (Well et al., 2019).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Depending on the outcome of this evaluation, the gradient method could be used for continuous monitoring of denitrification in the field based on soil gas probe sampling. This could replace or enhance current approaches by improving the detection limit, facilitating sampling and delivering information on depth-specific denitrification. &amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;References:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lewicka-Szczebak D, Lewicki MP, Well R (2020) N2O isotope approaches for source partitioning of N2O production and estimation of N2O reduction &amp;#8211; validation with the 15N gas-flux method in laboratory and field studies. Biogeosciences, &lt;strong&gt;17&lt;/strong&gt;, 5513-5537.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Maier M, Longdoz B, Laemmel T, Schack-Kirchner H, Lang F (2017) 2D profiles of CO2, CH4, N2O and gas diffusivity in a well aerated soil: measurement and Finite Element Modeling. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, &lt;strong&gt;247&lt;/strong&gt;, 21-33.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Maier M, Schack-Kirchner H (2014) Using the gradient method to determine soil gas flux: A review. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, &lt;strong&gt;192&lt;/strong&gt;, 78-95.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Schack-Kirchner H, Hildebrand EE, Wilpert KV (1993) Ein konvektionsfreies Sammelsystem f&amp;#252;r Bodenluft. Zeitschrift Fur Pflanzenernahrung Und Bodenkunde, &lt;strong&gt;156&lt;/strong&gt;, 307-310.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Well R, Maier M, Lewicka-Szczebak D, Koster JR, Ruoss N (2019) Underestimation of denitrification rates from field application of the N-15 gas flux method and its correction by gas diffusion modelling. Biogeosciences, &lt;strong&gt;16&lt;/strong&gt;, 2233-2246.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;