303 research outputs found
Calibration and Validation of the Sentinels Geophysical Observation Models
We present a method to calibrate and validate observational models that interrelate remotely sensed energy fluxes to geophysical variables of land and water surfaces. Coincident sets of remote sensing observation of visible and microwave radiations and geophysical data are assembled and subdivided into calibration (Cal) and validation (Val) data sets. Each Cal/Val pair is used to derive the coefficients (from the Cal set) and the accuracy (from the Val set) of the observation model. Combining the results from all Cal/Val pairs provides probability distributions of the model coefficients and model errors. The method is generic and demonstrated using comprehensive matchup sets from two very different disciplines: soil moisture and water quality. The results demonstrate that the method provides robust model coefficients and quantitative measure of the model uncertainty. This approach can be adopted for the calibration/validation of satellite products of land and water surfaces, and the resulting uncertainty can be used as input to data assimilation schemes
Strengthening Europe's Capability in Biological Ocean Observations
This publication is primarily aimed at stakeholders involved in ocean observing, spanning diverse roles from commissioning,
managing, funding and coordinating, to developing, implementing, or advising on, ocean observation programmes.
Such programmes will have strategic and policy drivers but their main purpose may vary from predominantly researchdriven
scientific purposes to environmental monitoring for providing data and reporting to legally-binding regulations or
directives. The main focus is on European capabilities but set in a global context with the various actors spanning a variety
of geographical scales from national to regional and European. Key stakeholder organizations include environmental or
other agencies; marine research institutions, their researchers and operators; international and regional ocean observing
initiatives and programmes; national, regional and European policy makers and their advisors; national stations for
observations; etc.). It will also be of interest to the wider marine and maritime research and policy community.
The main aim of the publication is to increase the relevance of current (and future) European biological ocean observation
capacity to strengthen global efforts towards our understanding of the ocean and enhance marine biodiversity
conservation, for maintaining a healthy ocean for healthy societies.
This document explains why biological ocean observations are needed to assess progress against national and international
conservation targets, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Blue Growth agenda and to contribute to key EU
directives including the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). To achieve this, the publication highlights the need
of biological ocean observations to reflect clearly defined hypotheses about potential causes of change, including the
combined impacts of local and global drivers, and to support the management of our impacts on the ocean. Additionally,
it calls for flexible biological ocean observing programmes to capture the relevant drivers operating at multiple spatial
scales, by networking and integration of ongoing monitoring programmes, methodological standardization and
appropriate policies of data integration and dissemination. It then presents key variables, elements and information
products to inform on the status and trends of marine biodiversity
The role of seasonality in reproduction of multiannual delayed gametophytes of <i>Saccharina latissima</i>
Delayed gametophytes are able to grow vegetatively for prolonged periods of time. As such, they are potentially very valuable for kelp aquaculture given their great promise in opening up novel opportunities for kelp breeding and farming. However, large-scale application would require more in-depth understanding of how to control reproduction in delayed gametophytes. For newly formed gametophytes, many environmental factors for reproduction have been identified, with key drivers being light intensity, temperature, and the initial gametophyte density. However, the question of whether delayed gametophytes react similarly to these life cycle controls remains open for exploration. In this study, we performed a full factorial experiment on the influences of light intensity, temperature, and density on the reproduction of multiannual delayed gametophytes of Saccharina latissima, during which the number of sporophytes formed was counted. We demonstrate that delayed gametophytes of S. latissima can reliably reproduce sexually after more than a year of vegetative growth, depending on the effects between light intensity and temperature. Under higher light intensities (≥29 µmol photons · m-2 · s-1 ), optimal reproduction was observed at lower temperatures (10.2°C), while at lower light intensities (≤15 µmol photons · m-2 · s-1 ), optimal reproduction was observed at higher temperatures (≥12.6°C). Given the seasonal lag between solar radiation and sea surface temperature in natural systems, these conditions resemble those found during spring (i.e., increasing light intensity with low temperatures) and autumn (i.e., decreasing light intensity with higher temperatures). Seasonality can be used as an aquaculture tool to better control the reproduction of delayed gametophytes
A direct numerical simulation method for complex modulus of particle dispersions
We report an extension of the smoothed profile method (SPM)[Y. Nakayama, K.
Kim, and R. Yamamoto, Eur. Phys. J. E {\bf 26}, 361(2008)], a direct numerical
simulation method for calculating the complex modulus of the dispersion of
particles, in which we introduce a temporally oscillatory external force into
the system. The validity of the method was examined by evaluating the storage
and loss moduli of a system composed of identical
spherical particles dispersed in an incompressible Newtonian host fluid at
volume fractions of , 0.41, and 0.51. The moduli were evaluated at
several frequencies of shear flow; the shear flow used here has a zigzag
profile, as is consistent with the usual periodic boundary conditions
An integrated approach to coastal and biological observations
Maritime economy, ecosystem-based management and climate change adaptation and mitigation raise emerging needs on coastal ocean and biological observations. Integrated ocean observing aims at optimizing sampling strategies and cost-efficiency, sharing data and best practices, and maximizing the value of the observations for multiple purposes. Recently developed cost-effective, near real time technology such as gliders, radars, ferrybox, and shallow water Argo floats, should be used operationally to generate operational coastal sea observations and analysis. Furthermore, value of disparate coastal ocean observations can be unlocked with multi-dimensional integration on fitness-for-the-purpose, parameter and instrumental. Integration of operational monitoring with offline monitoring programs, such as those for research, ecosystem-based management and commercial purposes, is necessary to fill the gaps. Such integration should lead to a system of networks which can deliver data for all kinds of purposes. Detailed integration activities are identified which should enhance the coastal ocean and biological observing capacity. Ultimately a program is required which integrates physical, biogeochemical and biological observation of the ocean, from coastal to deep-sea environments, bringing together global, regional, and local observation efforts
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