Sparse Coding for Event Tracking and Image Retrieval

Comparing regions of images is a fundamental task in both similarity based object tracking as well as retrieval of images from image datasets, where an exemplar image is used as the query. In this thesis, we focus on the task of creating a method of comparison for images produced by NASA’s Solar Dynamic Observatory mission. This mission has been in operation for several years and produces almost 700 Gigabytes of data per day from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly instrument alone. This has created a massive repository of high-quality solar images to analyze and categorize. To this end, we are concerned with the creation of image region descriptors that are selective enough to differentiate between highly similar images yet compact enough to be compared in an efficient manner, while also being indexable with current indexing technology. We produce such descriptors by pooling sparse coding vectors produced by spanning learned basis dictionaries. Various pooled vectors are used to describe regions of images in event tracking, entire image descriptors for image comparison in content based image retrieval, and as region descriptors to be used in a content based image retrieval system on the SDO AIA image pipeline

Review of solar energetic particle models

Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events are interesting from a scientific perspective as they are the product of a broad set of physical processes from the corona out through the extent of the heliosphere, and provide insight into processes of particle acceleration and transport that are widely applicable in astrophysics. From the operations perspective, SEP events pose a radiation hazard for aviation, electronics in space, and human space exploration, in particular for missions outside of the Earth’s protective magnetosphere including to the Moon and Mars. Thus, it is critical to improve the scientific understanding of SEP events and use this understanding to develop and improve SEP forecasting capabilities to support operations. Many SEP models exist or are in development using a wide variety of approaches and with differing goals. These include computationally intensive physics-based models, fast and light empirical models, machine learning-based models, and mixed-model approaches. The aim of this paper is to summarize all of the SEP models currently developed in the scientific community, including a description of model approach, inputs and outputs, free parameters, and any published validations or comparisons with data.</p

Review of Solar Energetic Particle Models

Solar Energetic Particles (SEP) events are interesting from a scientific perspective as they are the product of a broad set of physical processes from the corona out through the extent of the heliosphere, and provide insight into processes of particle acceleration and transport that are widely applicable in astrophysics. From the operations perspective, SEP events pose a radiation hazard for aviation, electronics in space, and human space exploration, in particular for missions outside of the Earth’s protective magnetosphere including to the Moon and Mars. Thus, it is critical to imific understanding of SEP events and use this understanding to develop and improve SEP forecasting capabilities to support operations. Many SEP models exist or are in development using a wide variety of approaches and with differing goals. These include computationally intensive physics-based models, fast and light empirical models, machine learning-based models, and mixed-model approaches. The aim of this paper is to summarize all of the SEP models currently developed in the scientific community, including a description of model approach, inputs and outputs, free parameters, and any published validations or comparisons with data