Une première mesure lidar combinée d'ozone et de vent, à partir d'une instrumentation et d'une méthodologie coup par coup

During these last decades, air pollution has drawn the attention of scientists because of the deterioration of the human environment that it has caused. Unfortunately, the study of this dynamic phenomenon is very complex and requires the use of models that compute the evolution of the physico-chemical parameters of the atmosphere. Moreover, the predictions of the numerical simulations have to be validated by range- and time-resolved measurements, carried out continuously up to the top of the planetary boundary layer. Only the optical radar or lidar satisfies these specifications: for this reason the Laboratory for Air and Soil Pollution (LPAS) of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) has developed such a system in order to provide the modellers with information complementary to that given by the ground measurements. This instrument, after mounting on a mobile platform, has determined the concentration of the key molecule ozone during several field campaigns, demonstrating its reliability and precision. Moreover, the EPFL system is a shot per shot lidar, able to record each detected signal and not only its average in a time interval. This feature is innovative to lidar determinations of tropospheric ozone and allows one to measure accurately the statistical error, to correct for the effect of systematic biases and to observe the dynamic behaviour of the atmosphere: the measurement of the statistical error has been used to build a model of the signal and of its noise, useful in the design of future lidar systems and for the comparison of the various data processing algorithms. the correction of the bias caused by the artificial deformation of the statistical distribution of the signal at long distance has led to a considerable increase of the range of the retrieved ozone profiles, the observation of the dynamic behaviour of the atmosphere has resulted in the first simultaneous measurement of a pollutant concentration and of the wind velocity with the same data set recorded by a lidar

Differential absorption lidar for volcanic CO(2) sensing tested in an unstable atmosphere.

Motivated by the need for an extremely durable and portable instrument to quantify volcanic CO2 we have produced a corresponding differential absorption lidar (DIAL). It was tested on a volcano (Vulcano, Italy), sensing a non-uniform volcanic CO2 signal under turbulent atmospheric conditions. The measured CO2 mixing ratio trend agrees qualitatively well but quantitatively poorly with a reference CO2 measurement. The disagreement is not in line with the precision of the DIAL determined under conditions that largely exclude atmospheric effects. We show evidence that the disagreement is mainly due to atmospheric turbulence. We conclude that excluding noise associated with atmospheric turbulence, as commonly done in precision analysis of DIAL instruments, may largely underestimate the error of measured CO2 concentrations in turbulent atmospheric conditions. Implications for volcanic CO2 sensing with DIAL are outlined. © 2015 Optical Society of America

Fast tracking of wind speed with a differential absorption LiDAR system: First results of an experimental campaign at Stromboli volcano

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is considered a precursor gas of volcanic eruptions by volcanologists. Monitoring the anomalous release of this parameter, we can retrieve useful information for the mitigation of volcanic hazards, such as for air traffic security. From a dataset collected during the Stromboli volcano field campaign, an assessment of the wind speed, in both horizontal and vertical paths, performing a fast tracking of this parameter was retrieved. This was determined with a newly designed shot-per-shot differential absorption LiDAR system operated in the near-infrared spectral region due to the simultaneous reconstruction of CO2 concentrations and wind speeds, using the same sample of LiDAR returns. A correlation method was used for the wind speed retrieval in which the transport of the spatial inhomogeneities of the aerosol backscattering coefficient, along the optical path of the system, was analyzed

Real-time diagnosis of Historical Artworks by Laser-Induced Fluorescence

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is a powerful remote analysis tool that has been successfully applied to the real-time diagnosis of historical artworks, allowing the observation of features invisible to the naked eye, as pigment composition, biological attack and restoration technique. This paper presents a LIF-based optical radar and reports on the results of its deployment during a field campaign conducted in February 2010 in Seville, Spain

Laser remote sensing calibration of ocean color satellite data

world ocean: in fact, those processes dramatically affect the climatic equilibrium of our planet. For this reason, many advanced active and passive remote sensors have been used to study phytoplankton dynamics, since such phenomena are thought to be responsible for the sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, one of the most important greenhouse gases. In this paper, one laser system and three satellite radiometers routinely used for the study of the phytoplankton dynamics will be briefly reviewed. Satellite sensors have been preferred to airborne sensors because, to our knowledge, ocean color airborne radiometers have not been operated in Antarctica, at least not throughout the whole lapse of time examined in this study. Particular focus was on the laser system (ELF) and on a specific satellite radiometer (SeaWiFS). ELF is based on the laser-induced fluorescence of phytoplankton pigments and was conceived for the Italian expeditions to Antarctica. The goal of SeaWiFS is to provide the Earth science community with quantitative data on the global ocean bio-optical properties. Such satellite radiometer has been calibrated with in situ data mainly acquired in non polar regions. This is why a comparison between ELF and SeaWiFS measurements of chlorophyll-a surface concentrations in the Southern Ocean during the austral summer 1997-1998 was believed to be significant. Our results indicate that SeaWiFS overestimates high concentrations and underestimates low concentrations. In order to correct this behavior, the chlorophyll- a bio-optical algorithm of SeaWiFS has been recalibrated according to the measurements of ELF, thus providing a new estimation of the primary production in the Southern Ocean

Chapter “Flex 2018” Cruise: an opportunity to assess phytoplankton chlorophyll fluorescence retrieval at different observative scales

The “FLEX 2018” cruise, organized by the CNR-ISMAR in frame of the ESA “FLEXSense Campaign 2018” and CMEMS project, provided a ground station for several bio-optical instruments that investigated the coastal waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea in June 2018. The field measurements were performed in time synergy with Sentinel 3A and Sentinel 3B satellites and HyPlant airborne imaging spectrometer. Active and passive fluorescence were investigated at different scales in coastal waters to support preparatory activities of the FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX) satellite mission

DEFeND architecture: a privacy by design platform for GDPR compliance.

The advent of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) imposes organizations to cope with radical changes concerning user data protection paradigms. GDPR, by promoting a Privacy by Design approach, obliges organizations to drastically change their methods regarding user data acquisition, management, processing, as well as data breaches monitoring, notification and preparation of prevention plans. This enforces data subjects (e.g., citizens, customers) rights by enabling them to have more information regarding usage of their data, and to take decisions (e.g., revoking usage permissions). Moreover, organizations are required to trace precisely their activities on user data, enabling authorities to monitor and sanction more easily. Indeed, since GDPR has been introduced, authorities have heavily sanctioned companies found as not GDPR compliant. GDPR is difficult to apply also for its length, complexity, covering many aspects, and not providing details concerning technical and organizational security measures to apply. This calls for tools and methods able to support organizations in achieving GDPR compliance. From the industry and the literature, there are many tools and prototypes fulfilling specific/isolated GDPR aspects, however there is not a comprehensive platform able to support organizations in being compliant regarding all GDPR requirements. In this paper, we propose the design of an architecture for such a platform, able to reuse and integrate peculiarities of those heterogeneous tools, and to support organizations in achieving GDPR compliance. We describe the architecture, designed within the DEFeND EU project, and discuss challenges and preliminary benefits in applying it to the healthcare and energy domains

Report on LIF measurements in Seville. Part 2: Santa Ana church

A scientific cooperation between ENEA UTAPRAD (Frascati) and the Natural Sciences Department of the “Pablo de Olavide” University in Seville, has started aimed at developing and testing innovative diagnostic instrumentation for Cultural Heritage preservation. Here we report the results obtained in a joint campaign carried on in Seville during February 2010 in the Santa Ana church in Seville (SP). Several wood paintings have been thoroughly investigated by means of Laser Induced Fluorescence scan system along the lines of the Research Pro ject “Non Destructive Techniques” managed by IAPH (Consejería de Cultura de la Junta de Andalucía).The field activities, developed as part of a conservation project carried out by IPAH, were devoted to the determination of retouches, traces of former restorations and detection of chemicals (wax, consolidants, etc.) on the surface under analysis not otherwise documented

Report on LIF measurements in Seville. Part 1: Virgen del Buen Aire chapel

Within the frame of a scientific cooperation between ENEA UTAPRAD (Frascati) and UPO Natural Sciences Dep. (Seville), aimed at developing and testing innovative diagnostic instrumentation for Cultural Heritage preservation, this report deals with results obtained in a joint campaign carried on in Seville during February 2010. Namely the data acquired by the ENEA LIF scanning system operated on fresco’s in Virgen del Buen Aire Chapel are presented here. The Virgen del Buen Aire Chapel has been studied according to the Research Project of “Non Destructive Techniques” managed by IAPH (Consejería de Cultura de la Junta de Andalucía). The results have been also implemented as part of a conservation project carried out by IAPH. LIF images are discussed in term of evaluating former restoration actions, in particular retouches on pigments and consolidant additions on a painted wall and two vaults. Statistical approaches and projection operators have been utilized for elaborating the images in order to handle the large number of spectra collected in each scanned point by our hyper-spectral system

Caratterizzazione ambientale delle acque del Golfo dell’Asinara (Sardegna) attraverso l’uso di spettrofluorimetria laser e immagini telerilevate

The general objective of this research (financed by L.R. 7 of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia for the period May 2010 –May 2012) is to calibrate bio-optical algorithm for more accurate estimates of phytoplanktonic Chl-a in the Asinara Gulf (Northern Sardinia, Italy) using remote sensing data and in situ measurements. The “sea truth” values of Chl-a were obtained with the new laser spectrofluorometric apparatus CASPER (Compact and Advanced laser SPEctrometeR – Patent ENEA). CASPER permitted not only to quantify values of Chl-a but also to detect other algal pigments (phycoerythrin, phycocyanin), chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), proteins-like components (tyrosine, tryptophan), and qualitative data on the presence of hydrocarbons and oil pollution. At the moment “sea truth” data of Chl-a were just compared to standard chlorophyll products of MODIS OC3 algorithm. In order to reach better results, the bio-optical algorithm is going to be recalibrated according to the measurements of CASPER during the next year, thus providing new estimates of phytoplanktonic Chl-a in the Asinara Gulf