Earth resources: A continuing bibliography with indexes (issue 51)

This bibliography lists 382 reports, articles and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system between July 1 and September 30, 1986. Emphasis is placed on the use of remote sensing and geophysical instrumentation in spacecraft and aircraft to survey and inventory natural resources and urban areas. Subject matter is grouped according to agriculture and forestry, environmental changes and cultural resources, geodesy and cartography, geology and mineral resources, hydrology and water management, data processing and distribution systems, instrumentation and sensors, and economic analysis

Remote Sensing Applications in Coastal Environment

Coastal regions are susceptible to rapid changes, as they constitute the boundary between the land and the sea. The resilience of a particular segment of coast depends on many factors, including climate change, sea-level changes, natural and technological hazards, extraction of natural resources, population growth, and tourism. Recent research highlights the strong capabilities for remote sensing applications to monitor, inventory, and analyze the coastal environment. This book contains 12 high-quality and innovative scientific papers that explore, evaluate, and implement the use of remote sensing sensors within both natural and built coastal environments

Earth Resources: A continuing bibliography with indexes, issue 1

This bibliography lists 616 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system between January 1974 and March 1974. Emphasis is placed on the use of remote sensing and geophysical instrumentation in spacecraft and aircraft to survey and inventory, natural resources and urban areas. Subject matter is grouped according to agriculture and forestry, environmental changes and cultural resources, geodesy and cartography, geology and mineral resources, oceanography and marine resources, hydrology and water management, data processing and distribution systems, instrumentation and sensors, and economic analysis

Identification and simulation of extreme precipitation using a computationally inexpensive methodology

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-187).An examination of characteristics extreme precipitation in the greater Cape Town region is undertaken. Thereafter, an investigation into the characteristics of these changes is made using two approaches. The first is an empirical methodology to explore the historical attributes of extreme events and the second a numerical method. These are used to demonstrate an approach to produce high resolution forecasts of extreme precipitation if computational resources are scarce. Initially, changes in the characteristics of extreme precipitation in the greater Cape Town region is documented. Then self organizing maps are used to identify archetypal synoptic circulations that are associated with extreme precipitation over the region. Thereafter, days whose synoptic state matched those of the synoptic archetypes are simulated at a resolution of one kilometer to capture regional topographic modification of extreme precipitation. Following this, the simulated precipitation is validated against observed data and the model performance is assessed. These approaches were tested over Cape Town, South Africa which has complex topography where extreme rainfall is not well predicted. As this methodology is computationally relatively inexpensive, it has applicability to regions of the world where these resources are limited, more especially Africa where the state of climate science is poor. An analysis of historical station data from three locations in the greater Cape Town region showed mixed trends in extreme rainfall where extreme rainfall was taken as that in the 90th percentile. One station, located in the lee of topography, showed a statistically significant increase in the intensity of extreme rainfall and another, at a relatively topography-free location, a significant decrease. The third station showed no significant trend. Decadal changes in monthly precipitation show a shift in the start and end of the extreme rainfall season to starting later in winter and continuing into the early spring. The station with the significant increase in extreme rainfall intensity also showed an increase in 99th percentile rainfall intensity. Synoptic states associated with extreme rainfall in the greater Cape Town region were then examined. These were identified as mid-latitude cyclones with centers at relatively low latitudes. They were characterized by strong pressure gradients at the surface and in the upper air high as well as high regional humidities. Precipitation characteristics of the frontal systems ranged from precipitation that fell over a number of days in relatively low daily amounts to very heavy precipitation that fell in one day. Over the twenty-three year test period examined, there are change

The Influence of Regional-Scale Circulation on Precipitation Variability in the Southern United States.

The proximity of the southern United States to large water bodies, mountain systems, and the arid climate of the desert southwest makes extended precipitation forecasts exceedingly difficult. In order to better understand the complex precipitation mechanisms, this analysis addresses the relationships between the regional-scale circulation and long-term precipitation variability and change in the southern US for each season through a 42 year study period. Five unique precipitation regions were created for each season, and seasonal anomalies were calculated and examined by region for changes in variability and slope through time. Long-term climate change was detected in the precipitation regions only during the autumn season. During autumn, the western regions showed a significant increase in precipitation through the study period while the eastern region recorded a significant decrease. To explain the significant variations and trends, relationships with the mean hemispheric flow regimes were analyzed. Atmospheric teleconnection indices and a formulated regional-scale flow index were correlated to the regional precipitation anomalies. Results indicated that the regional-scale flow index was the best estimator of regional precipitation variability during every season. To investigate the influence of the regional-scale circulation further, isolation of the primary circulation anomalies associated with the Atlantic Subtropical High (STH) was necessary. Results indicated the importance of five dominant circulation regimes which transcend the seasonal analysis. Three of the patterns related to variations in the STH while two related to variations in the generalized hemispheric longwave flow. Of these, the most important patterns with respect to changes in precipitation related to variations in the STH, especially during the autumn season. It was found that strengthening of the STH over the eastern US causes persistent drought while advecting moisture into the continental interior. Position of the STH anomaly is critical to the corresponding precipitation regime as an eastward displaced STH causes negative precipitation anomalies in the western regions and positive precipitation anomalies in the east. This analysis proves the importance of regional-scale circulation variation on the precipitation variability of the US south. Given current global warming predictions, studies which fully integrate regional-scale atmospheric circulation variability are crucial to future impact scenarios

Emerging Hydro-Climatic Patterns, Teleconnections and Extreme Events in Changing World at Different Timescales

This Special Issue is expected to advance our understanding of these emerging patterns, teleconnections, and extreme events in a changing world for more accurate prediction or projection of their changes especially on different spatial–time scales

Molecular Tools for Species Identification and Population Assessment of Marine Organisms

Sessile or site attached marine species rely on the dispersal of their pelagic larvae to ensure the exchange of reproductive individuals within and among subpopulations. The resultant and continued mixing of genetic identities constitutes their population connectivity and can ensure resilience against disturbance, disease or local extinctions. Studies focusing on population connectivity in centers of high biodiversity are particularly needed to protect and sustain these ecosystems in light of global climate change and increasing anthropogenic impacts from growing coastal populations and fisheries. Coral reef organisms, like anemonefishes and their host sea anemones, are ideal candidates to study the dynamics of larval dispersal, as adults are site attached and adult migration therefore does not factor in genetic mixing. The overarching aim of this thesis is to develop, test and apply molecular markers in the study of different aspects of genetic and biological diversity in anemonefishes and their obligate symbiont sea anemone partners in the Indo-Malay Archipelago, adding to the body of scientific evidence needed to support biodiversity conservation in this â biodiversity hotspotâ . Specifically, the study furthers our understanding of connectivity in anemonefishes by presenting single species population genetic studies for, Amphiprion perideraion (Chapter I) and A. sandaracinos (Chapter II), where species specific structures are discussed in detail to highlight differences despite the highly similar life history and ecology of these fishes. This data is used as a basis for a multispecies approach to connectivity in anemonefishes by identifying and scaling regional barriers to geneflow among congeners (Amphiprion perideraion, A. sandaracinos, A. clarkii and A. ocellaris), making these results more accessible for application and implementation driven fields of research. By applying a comparative intergenomic (mitochondrial and nuclear markers) and an intrageneric (four species) approach, the mechanisms shaping genetic diversity in natural populations of anemonefishes are addressed and the variability in the system is explored.The impact of host specialization (generalist vs. specialist) and the length of the pelagic larval phase are tentatively discussed in light of the overall genetic structure that could be detected for each species. To heed the close association between anemonefishes and their sea anemone host, two mitochondrial and one nuclear marker are investigated as to their potential to delineate and identify species within the Actiniaria (Chapter III). Following a fourth research aim to study connectivity and diversity in host sea anemones, the attempted development of a set of polymorphic microsatellite loci is shown (Chapter IV)

Remote Sensing of Earth Resources (1970 - 1973 supplement): A literature survey with indexes. Section 2: Indexes

Documents related to the identification and evaluation by means of sensors in spacecraft and aircraft of vegetation, minerals, and other natural resources, and the techniques and potentialities of surveying and keeping up-to-date inventories of such riches are cited. These documents were announced in the NASA scientific and technical information system between March 1970 and December 1973