Supplement to Lauri Lahti’s conference article “Guided generation of pedagogical concept maps from the Wikipedia”

A supplement to Lauri Lahti’s conference article in 2009 "Guided generation of pedagogicalconcept maps from the Wikipedia" so that this supplement was referenced to by the original publication.Not reviewe

Validation of spaceborne and modelled surface soil moisture products with cosmic-ray neutron probes

The scale difference between point in situ soil moisture measurements and low resolution satellite products limits the quality of any validation efforts in heterogeneous regions. Cosmic Ray Neutron Probes (CRNP) could be an option to fill the scale gap between both systems, as they provide area-average soil moisture within a 150–250 m radius footprint. In this study, we evaluate differences and similarities between CRNP observations, and surface soil moisture products from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2), the METOP-A/B Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT), the Soil Moisture Active and Passive (SMAP), the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS), as well as simulations from the Global Land Data Assimilation System Version 2 (GLDAS2). Six CRNPs located on five continents have been selected as test sites: the Rur catchment in Germany, the COSMOS sites in Arizona and California (USA), and Kenya, one CosmOz site in New South Wales (Australia), and a site in Karnataka (India). Standard validation scores as well as the Triple Collocation (TC) method identified SMAP to provide a high accuracy soil moisture product with low noise or uncertainties as compared to CRNPs. The potential of CRNPs for satellite soil moisture validation has been proven; however, biomass correction methods should be implemented to improve its application in regions with large vegetation dynamics

The greening of Arabia: multiple opportunities for human occupation of the Arabian peninsula during the Late Pleistocene inferred from an ensemble of climate model simulations

Climate models are potentially useful tools for addressing human dispersals and demographic change. The Arabian Peninsula is becoming increasingly significant in the story of human dispersals out of Africa during the Late Pleistocene. Although characterised largely by arid environments today, emerging climate records indicate that the peninsula was wetter many times in the past, suggesting that the region may have been inhabited considerably more than hitherto thought. Explaining the origins and spatial distribution of increased rainfall is challenging because palaeoenvironmental research in the region is in an early developmental stage. We address environmental oscillations by assembling and analysing an ensemble of five global climate models (CCSM3, COSMOS, HadCM3, KCM, and NorESM). We focus on precipitation, as the variable is key for the development of lakes, rivers and savannas. The climate models generated here were compared with published palaeoenvironmental data such as palaeolakes, speleothems and alluvial fan records as a means of validation. All five models showed, to varying degrees, that the Arabia Peninsula was significantly wetter than today during the Last Interglacial (130 ka and 126/125 ka timeslices), and that the main source of increased rainfall was from the North African summer monsoon rather than the Indian Ocean monsoon or from Mediterranean climate patterns. Where available, 104 ka (MIS 5c), 56 ka (early MIS 3) and 21 ka (LGM) timeslices showed rainfall was present but not as extensive as during the Last Interglacial. The results favour the hypothesis that humans potentially moved out of Africa and into Arabia on multiple occasions during pluvial phases of the Late Pleistocene

Near-IR imaging polarimetry toward a bright-rimmed cloud: Magnetic field in SFO 74

We have made near-infrared (JHKs) imaging polarimetry of a bright-rimmed cloud (SFO 74). The polarization vector maps clearly show that the magnetic field in the layer just behind the bright rim is running along the rim, quite different from its ambient magnetic field. The direction of the magnetic field just behind the tip rim is almost perpendicular to that of the incident UV radiation, and the magnetic field configuration appears to be symmetric as a whole with respect to the cloud symmetry axis. We estimated the column and number densities in the two regions (just inside and far inside the tip rim) and then derived the magnetic field strength, applying the Chandrasekhar-Fermi method. The estimated magnetic field strength just inside the tip rim, ~90 ?G, is stronger than that far inside, ~30 ?G. This suggests that the magnetic field strength just inside the tip rim is enhanced by the UV-radiation-induced shock. The shock increases the density within the top layer around the tip and thus increases the strength of the magnetic field. The magnetic pressure seems to be comparable to the turbulent one just inside the tip rim, implying a significant contribution of the magnetic field to the total internal pressure. The mass-to-flux ratio was estimated to be close to the critical value just inside the tip rim. We speculate that the flat-topped bright rim of SFO 74 could be formed by the magnetic field effect

Earth resources: A continuing bibliography with indexes (issue 58)

This bibliography lists 500 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system between April 1 and June 30, 1988. 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 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

STUDIES RELATING TO THE THEORY OF PANSPERMIA

Abstract Panspermia is the theory that life on Earth originated came from space, for example from comets, or other planets. The Theory focuses on microorganisms because large organisms could not achieve the required space travel and impact events. Microorganisms could be protected from lethal factors (such as ultraviolet light, high pressure, low and high temperatures) by being entrapped in cosmic dust and bolides such as meteorites. In order to extend this theory, the following studies were undertaken: 1- Samples of an established meteorite were analysed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDAX). Results under scanning electron microscopy showed a presumptive bacterial biofilm consisting of a number of apparent microbial forms. Fulgurite was also analysed using SEM, EDAX and molecular biology techniques; such samples are, of course, formed on Earth are not directly relevant to investigate to panspermia, but remain of interest, nevertheless. SEM studies of fulgurite showed an unusual distribution of numerous spherules, which could be viewed as being bacterial fossils, although it is concluded that this is unlikely. Bacteria isolated from fulgurite include Bacillus cereus. 2- An attempt was made to verify the theory of neopanspermia that life is continually arriving to Earth from space. If this is the case then it should be possible to find life forms, which are incoming to the high stratosphere, a region which should not be contaminated with biology in excess of 6microns in size. A novel sampling device, carried by a hydrogen–filled weather balloon was used and a variety of so-called “biological entities” (BEs) were obtained from heights of around 30km. The BEs contain only carbon and oxygen, have biological form and were clearly not inorganic, cosmic dust. Confirmation that these BEs were incoming to Earth and not part of the planet’s biota was provided by the fact that a) they exceed the theoretical size-limit for a particle to be carried from Earth to the stratosphere and b) the presence of BEs on the sampling disks was not associated with Earth materials such as grass, pollen and fungal spores. Demonstration of the existence of bacteria in the stratosphere was also made using a sampling Drone. It is concluded that BEs are continually arriving to Earth from space. 3- Bacteria isolated from geological samples (K/Boundary clay, Boulder clay, amber, and an ancient salt crystal and a stromatolite sample from Sharks Bay, Australia). The relevance of finding bacteria within these samples relates to negative panspermia (i.e. the possibility that material leaving the Earth, following and impact event, could have transmitted bacteria and other microbes from Earth into space). 4- Locally sampled iron-rich micrometeorites were analysed using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy. Bacteria isolated from micrometeorites were found to be predominantly species of Bacillus. It is concluded that the spore forming genera such as Bacillus, would be ideal organisms in relation to panspermia because they are able to survive environmental extremes similar to those found in space. 5-An attempt was made to verify the work of Barber relating to the presence of proteolytic, silver resistant bacteria in rainwater, which Barber concluded related to the panspermia delivery of bacteria from Venus. No evidence of this was obtained in this study, although it is concluded that Barber’s work remains intriguing

Ground, Proximal, and Satellite Remote Sensing of Soil Moisture

Soil moisture (SM) is a key hydrologic state variable that is of significant importance for numerous Earth and environmental science applications that directly impact the global environment and human society. Potential applications include, but are not limited to, forecasting of weather and climate variability; prediction and monitoring of drought conditions; management and allocation of water resources; agricultural plant production and alleviation of famine; prevention of natural disasters such as wild fires, landslides, floods, and dust storms; or monitoring of ecosystem response to climate change. Because of the importance and wide‐ranging applicability of highly variable spatial and temporal SM information that links the water, energy, and carbon cycles, significant efforts and resources have been devoted in recent years to advance SM measurement and monitoring capabilities from the point to the global scales. This review encompasses recent advances and the state‐of‐the‐art of ground, proximal, and novel SM remote sensing techniques at various spatial and temporal scales and identifies critical future research needs and directions to further advance and optimize technology, analysis and retrieval methods, and the application of SM information to improve the understanding of critical zone moisture dynamics. Despite the impressive progress over the last decade, there are still many opportunities and needs to, for example, improve SM retrieval from remotely sensed optical, thermal, and microwave data and opportunities for novel applications of SM information for water resources management, sustainable environmental development, and food security

Astronautics and aeronautics, 1970. Chronology on science, technology, and policy

An immediate reference to aerospace-related events of 1970 is provided to help historians in preserving historical accuracy and precision. Chronologies of major NASA launches, and manned space flights for 1970 are included

Ecology of Savanna Ecosystems in Indonesia

Tropical savannas in South East Asia are important yet understudied ecosystems. In fact, the description of savanna is limited in the Indonesian Archipelago, a region which, based on climate alone, would be expected to have mostly forest. In this thesis, I compared and contrasted the vegetation characteristics of four savannas in the wetter part of the Indonesian archipelago (Java – Bali – Lombok) to understand how fire and grazing influence their dynamics, and searched for evidence of savanna origins, maintenance, invasion by exotic/woody species and possible ecosystem transitions. Vegetation surveys, remote sensing techniques and statistical models were used to spatially and temporally analyse the savanna community composition and the environmental variables and disturbances that influence their structure. there are distinct elevation gradients (along with related climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation), as well as fire regime gradients, linked to tropical savanna community composition across Java, Bali and Lombok Islands. These compositions are characterized by different sets of species, and where invasive alien species are becoming significant components of the ecosystems. Lack of prescribed fire and a range of invasive species threaten to convert savanna at Bali Barat and Alas Purwo into secondary forests or shrubland, whereas the presence of forest pioneer/edge species within the savanna at Rinjani suggests successional change from grassland to forest may occur in the absence of future fires (although the role of soil, topography and microclimate in maintaining grass dominance needs also to be further explored). Compared to the others studied, the savanna in Baluran National Park has characteristics of being relatively old and persistent rather than one being created and maintained via recent human conversion of forests. Overall in Indonesia, there is much less savanna compared to forests, hence it is expected that a greater percentage of savanna is burned. Using remote sensing analysis, I confirmed that approximately 2% of savanna/open vegetation had burned over a 14 year period, whereas only 0.8% of forest has burned across Indonesia. The extent and frequency of burning is mostly associated with annual Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). Most burning occurred in years when the SOI sustained negative SOI values, which generally means drier conditions across South East Asia. I also developed species distribution models for the main invasive alien species of the savanna ecosystems studied, Acacia nilotica, to establish its invasion potential, both locally in Baluran National Park and regionally in other parts of Indonesia. Acacia nilotica was different from the other invasive species studied, in that it is promoted by herbivory, and possibly also by fire. It appears that spatially, A. nilotica is rapidly advancing into the savanna of Baluran National Parks where it was observed that over fourteen years the savanna size has decreased (-1,361 ha), whilst the A. nilotica stand has increased in area (+ 1,886 ha). It was demonstrated that fire and grazing play an important role in this invasion. Results also show that global climate change is likely to increase the potential distribution of A. nilotica in Indonesia and the area at risk of invasion. By year 2045, A. nilotica has potential to spread across much of the eastern parts of Indonesia. As fire and grazing are common to savannas of eastern Indonesia, they are likely to facilitate its invasion into these areas. In summary, I have shown that savanna plant community in Indonesia is formed and maintained by interactions between climatic factors, fire regime and grazing. Invasive species were also present in the studied savannas such as Chromolaena odorata, and Lantana camara. These invasive species together with forest pioneer/edge specialist species (Ficus septica, Laportea stimulans, Melastoma polyanthum, Nauclea orientalis, Rubus rosifolius), may also be increasing in absence of fire and also may be leading to change of state from savanna to dense woody vegetation. Absence of fire seems to be changing structure and floristic of savanna vegetation which has implications for savanna species including rare fauna such as Jalak Bali/Bali Starling (Leucopsar rotschildi) and Javan Banteng/Wild Java cattle (Bos javanicus subsp. javanicus). Results from this thesis showed that Bali Starling range in Bali Island has shrunk to remaining small patches of fire-induced open shrub and savanna woodland found below an elevation of 150–175 m in the north-east part of peninsular Prapat Agung of Bali Barat National Park. The description of the savanna dynamics presented here provides further evidence of the complexity of the savanna ecosystem and its susceptibility to change as a result of changing fire regimes and invasion by invasive species. A greater understanding of the possible ecosystem processes driving the dynamics of the savannas will assist in the formulation of successful savanna management strategies at local and regional scales