The Contribution Of Radio Sciences to Disaster Management

Available: http://www.isprs.org/proceedings/2011/Gi4DM/CDDATA/sessions.htmlInternational audienceWhen a natural disaster occurs, the fast and effective organization of emergency assistance assumes the rapid provision of reliable information concerning the state of the infrastructure; the creation, in almost real-time, of a response chain and the reconfiguration of telecommunications systems. This article proposes a chain which incorporates algorithms from recent research, with particular focus on communication systems and reconfiguration techniques. The problems of image reliability and the effects created by ionospheric propagation and turbulent surfaces are discussed

Midlatitude propagation of VLF to MF waves through nighttime ionosphere above powerful VLF transmitters

International audience[1] Midlatitude nighttime observations made by the DEMETER satellite in the very low frequency (VLF) to medium frequency (MF) bands (3 kHz to 3 MHz) have demonstrated the propagation of radio waves from the bottom of ionosphere up to the satellite altitude (~700 km). Propagation characteristics derived from the magneto-ionic theory [Budden, 1985] are used to explain the absence of wave observations between ~1 and 2 MHz. Under hypotheses made for the Appleton and Hartree (or Appleton and Lassen) formula, studies of the vertical variations of the real and imaginary parts of the refractive index are performed to point out modifications in the propagation characteristics of the waves: (i) at the crossing of the plasma cutoffs regions, (ii) at the crossing of the ordinary and extraordinary mode resonance regions, and (iii) in the region where the product of the collision frequency (n) and the electronic density (Ne) is maximum. It is shown that enhancements in the collision frequencies, produced by powerful VLF transmitters in the region where the product of n and Ne is maximum, open the half angle of the MF wave transmission cones and increase the power densities of those waves at the DEMETER altitude. Citation: Lefeuvre F., J. L. Pinc¸n , and M. Parrot (2013), Midlatitude propagation of VLF to MF waves through nighttime ionosphere above powerful VLF transmitters

A first approach to model the low-frequency wave activity in the plasmasphere

International audienceA comprehensive empirical model of waves is developed in the objective to simulate wave-particle interactions involved in the loss and acceleration of radiation belt electrons. Three years of measured magnetic wave field components from the Plasma Wave Instrument on board the DE-1 satellite are used to model the amplitude spectral density of the magnetic wave field of each type of emission observed in the equatorial regions of the plasmasphere: VLF transmitter emissions, chorus emissions, plasmaspheric hiss emissions and equatorial emissions below ~ 200 Hz. Each model is a function of the wave frequency f , the MLT, L and Mlat parameters, and the Kp values. The performances of the plasmaspheric hiss and chorus models are tested on amplitude spectra recorded on board the OGO-5 and GEOS-1 satellites

An unusual VLF signature structure recorded by the DEMETER satellite

A type of electromagnetic phenomenon has been found in the electric VLF data measured by the low Earth orbit DEMETER satellite, which was nonidentified earlier as a different class of electromagnetic VLF events. The phenomenon, termed as “swallow-tailed whistler” (STW) after its shape, seems to be similar to a whistler, but following the main trace, an additional trace appears with monotonously increasing frequency. The secondary trace, lasting less than 80 ms within the recorded 20 kHz bandwidth joins at a given Starting Furcation Frequency. In a 7 month long time interval three series of strong STWs were found in a geographically confined search zone. Further, 10 weak STW periods have been identified by a thorough review of a 2 month long recording. Several STWs were found by the investigation of randomly selected DEMETER burst VLF recording acquired globally. On the basis of comparisons with previous studies, we can exclude that this phenomenon is generated by plasma processes in the vicinity of the satellite though the formation mechanism of this (ionospheric) signal is so far unclear. It is possible that this event type appeared in earlier records too, however, without identification

Grey and harbour seals in France : distribution at sea, connectivity and trends in abundance at haulout sites

Grey (Halichoerus grypus) and harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) are sympatric seal species, but they display distinct strategies of habitat use and connectivity between haulout sites. The distribution patterns and variations in relative abundance of both species were investigated along the French coast of the English Channel, at the southern limit of their range where seal numbers are increasing. Regular censuses conducted at all main haulout sites in mainland France showed significant seasonal variations at most sites, with more harbour seals counted during summer (breeding and moulting seasons), and more grey seals during summer only in the eastern English Channel. Trends in maximum haulout numbers at haulout sites showed a significant increase over the last five years, ranging from 9.7 to 30.9% per year for harbour seals, and from 5.8% (in the western English Channel) to 49.2% (in the eastern English Channel) per year for grey seals. These rates of increase in grey seal numbers are not linked to local pup production and most probably result from seal movements from the southwest British Isles and the North Sea, respectively. Aerial surveys conducted across the English Channel showed that most seal observations at sea were concentrated in the north-eastern English Channel. Telemetry showed that the 28 harbour seals tracked remained highly coastal, within a radius of 100 km from their haulout sites, and did not move to other known colonies. Grey seals moved much greater distances, reaching up to 1200 km from their capture site. More than half of the 45 grey seals tracked crossed the English Channel, especially during the breeding season, moving to known colonies in the southwest British Isles and the North Sea. Combining individual tracks and long-term surveys of the seal populations allowed a better understanding of the dynamics of these populations and their connectivity at a larger regional scale. The findings provide direct information for the management of grey and harbour seals within the frame of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and highlight focus areas where potential interactions between the two species should be monitored.PostprintPeer reviewe

Logiciel de résolution d'un problème inverse à 1 variable. I : Exposé des méthodes

Cette note est la première d'une série de 3 décrivant un logiciel permettant de restituer une fonction réelle non négative d'une variable réelle, lorsqu'on en connaît un certain nombre de fonctionnelles linéaires

About Radio Science Contribution to Emergency Management

International audienceWhen a natural disaster occurs in a populated zone, a fast and effective organization of the disaster management is necessary to assist the affected population, reduce the number of victims and limit the economic impact. Radio science plays an important role in the first two weeks after a disaster strikes (the response phase). The paper deals with: (1) general aspects of disaster management, (2) radio communication and observation services in a nominal situation and during the response phase of a disaster at the time of space weather events, (3) Emergency management