Spatial aggregation of low resolution satellite data for the monitoring of vegetation response to climatic stresses : analysis of the spatial heterogeneity of aggregated entities.

peer reviewedOur PhD research consists in analysing and modelling the vegetation response or sensitivity to climatic stresses with low satellite imagery. In that framework, the selection of optimal calibration sites is very important. These sites should be characterised by a stable and homogenous land cover over large area. Here we analyse the spatial heterogeneity of the aggregation entities (EU-NUTS 2) used by the MARSFOOD programme for the extraction of regional NDVI-means

Sustained data access and tools as key ingredients to strengthening EO capacities : examples from land application perspective + powerpoint

Sustainably managing agriculture and forests is key for development, in particular in Africa, and for facing global challenges such as climate change or food security, but requires reliable information. As Earth Observation (EO) satellite data can contribute to these information needs, more and more institutes integrate this technology into their daily work. Facing ever-growing and evolving EO data sources (e.g. new satellites and sensors) and access technology (both online and via EUMETCast satellite broadcast), their applications require software tools to particularly facilitate (i) the exchange of data between the analysis tools, so users can take advantage of each tool’s strengths, and (ii) the processing and analysis of time series. A first example is the Land Surface Analysis Satellite Application Facility (LSA-SAF), that entered the second part of the Continuous Development and Operations Phase (CDOP-2), under the lead of the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), in 2011. VITO, joining the LSA-SAF network for the first time and building on previous experiences (e.g. http://www.metops10.vito.be), aims to contribute by producing and delivering operational, 10-daily vegetation indicators based on MetOp-AVHRR. Furthermore, a software tool is developed to aid exploitation of LSA-SAF products, provisionally called “MSG Toolbox”. A second example is the AGRICAB project, that receives funding from the European Union’s 7th Framework Programme for Research (FP7) and aims to build a comprehensive framework for strengthening capacities in the use of EO for agriculture and forestry management in Africa. This framework starts from sustained access to relevant satellite data (e.g. CBERS-3, DEIMOS) and derived products, such as those from the European Copernicus Global Land service, the 15 year time series of SPOT-VEGETATION (and its transition to PROBA-V) and Meteosat Second Generation (e.g. rainfall estimates). It combines local and EO data with tools and training into applications on crop monitoring, area statistics and yield forecasting, livestock insurance and modelling, forest and fire management, all fitted to the needs of stakeholders in the African focus countries

Evaluation of MSG-derived global radiation estimates for application in a regional crop model

Crop monitoring systems that rely on agrometeorologic models require estimates of global radiation. These estimates are difficult to obtain due to the limited number of weather stations that measure this variable. In the present study, we validated the global radiation estimates derived from MeteoSat Second Generation (MSG) and evaluated their use in the European Crop Growth Monitoring System (CGMS). A validation with measurements from four CarboEurope flux towers showed that the MSG estimates are accurate and unbiased (standard deviation between 30 and 51 W/m2). Moreover, a comparison with global radiation estimates from about 300 operational weather stations throughout Europe confirmed that the quality of the MSG product is high and spatially uniform. We also made an intercomparison between the MSG product and the ECMWF (ERA-INTERIM) and CGMS products at 25 km resolution, thus demonstrating that the CGMS and ECMWF products generally underestimate radiation. Nevertheless, the CGMS product showed irregular spatial patterns of local over- and underestimation, while the ECMWF product consistently underestimated. A trend analysis using a seasonal Mann-Kendall test between 2005 and 2009 did not reveal any significant monotonic trends in the MSG radiation estimates, except for 1 location out of 15. Finally, when we applied the WOFOST crop model for maize throughout Europe, the simulated potential total biomass increased due to higher estimates of global radiation made by MSG. In contrast, the water-limited simulated total-biomass generally decreased due to a higher reference evapotranspiration, causing faster depletion of soil moisture and increased water stress

The accuracy of MRI in the detection of Lumbar Disc Containment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>MRI has proven to be an extremely valuable tool in the assessment of normal and pathological spinal anatomy. Accordingly, it is commonly used to assess containment of discal material by the outer fibers of the anulus fibrosus and posterior longitudinal ligaments. Determination of such containment is important to determine candidacy for intradiscal techniques and has prognostic significance. The accuracy of MRI in detecting containment has been insufficiently documented.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The MRI's of fifty consecutive patients undergoing open lumbar microdiscectomy were prospectively evaluated for disc containment by a neuroradiologist and senior spinal surgeon using criteria available in the literature and the classification of Macnab/McCulloch. An independent surgeon then performed the surgery and documented the actual containment status using the same methods. Statistical evaluation of accuracy was undertaken.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MRI was found to be 72% sensitive, 68% specific, and 70% accurate in detecting containment status of lumbar herniated discs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>MRI may be inaccurate in assessing containment status of lumbar disc herniations in 30% of cases. Given the importance of containment for patient selection for indirect discectomy techniques and intradiscal therapies, coupled with prognostic significance; other methods to assess containment should be employed to assess containment when such alternative interventions are being considered.</p

Epidemiologic evidence for asthma and exposure to air toxics: linkages between occupational, indoor, and community air pollution research.

Outdoor ambient air pollutant exposures in communities are relevant to the acute exacerbation and possibly the onset of asthma. However, the complexity of pollutant mixtures and etiologic heterogeneity of asthma has made it difficult to identify causal components in those mixtures. Occupational exposures associated with asthma may yield clues to causal components in ambient air pollution because such exposures are often identifiable as single-chemical agents (e.g., metal compounds). However, translating occupational to community exposure-response relationships is limited. Of the air toxics found to cause occupational asthma, only formaldehyde has been frequently investigated in epidemiologic studies of allergic respiratory responses to indoor air, where general consistency can be shown despite lower ambient exposures. The specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) identified in association with occupational asthma are generally not the same as those in studies showing respiratory effects of VOC mixtures on nonoccupational adult and pediatric asthma. In addition, experimental evidence indicates that airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposures linked to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) have proinflammatory effects on airways, but there is insufficient supporting evidence from the occupational literature of effects of DEPs on asthma or lung function. In contrast, nonoccupational epidemiologic studies have frequently shown associations between allergic responses or asthma with exposures to ambient air pollutant mixtures with PAH components, including black smoke, high home or school traffic density (particularly truck traffic), and environmental tobacco smoke. Other particle-phase and gaseous co-pollutants are likely causal in these associations as well. Epidemiologic research on the relationship of both asthma onset and exacerbation to air pollution is needed to disentangle effects of air toxics from monitored criteria air pollutants such as particle mass. Community studies should focus on air toxics expected to have adverse respiratory effects based on biological mechanisms, particularly irritant and immunological pathways to asthma onset and exacerbation

Bulletin agrométéorologique

Le mois de mai a été caractérisé par des conditions climatiques normales tant pour les précipitations que pour les températures. En revanche, le rayonnement a été largement déficitaire. La situation des cultures est globalement favorable, avec des rendements qui s’annoncent supérieurs à ceux de 2001 à la possible exception du colza et du maïs fourrager

Bulletin agrométéorologique - Septembre 2003

Le mois de septembre a été caractérisé par des précipitations et des vitesses moyennes du vent faibles. Par contre, les températures et le rayonnement furent relativement élevés sur l’ensemble du pays. Cette année, les rendements prévus pour les cultures de maï s fourrager et de betterave sucrière, sont respectivement équivalents et inférieurs à ceux observés en 2002