Results of a statistical approach to rainfall estimation using Nimbus 5 6.7 micrometers and 11.5 micrometers THIR data

Nimbus 5 6.7 mm and 11.5 mm temperature humidity infrared radiometer (THIR) data were used in a simple multiple regression scheme to test the feasibility of using these data to estimate hourly rainfall. Throughout the test area (85 W to 105 W and 45 N to 30 N) subareas (8 deg x 6 deg) were chosen from which point to point and areal statistics were obtained. Four subsets of data were used. The first consisted of only those surface stations indicating precipitation whose latitude and longitude coincided with the THIR grid points. A second used surface stations 0.1 degree from the THIR grid points. The third was a combination of subsets one and two. A reciprocal distance weighting scheme was used to derive precipitation values in data sparse areas. A fourth subset was made using these data combined with the data from subsets one and two. Point estimates resulted in negative correlations between estimated and grid derived "surface" precipitation. One degree areal estimates showed a slight improvement with a correlation coefficient of approximately 0.11. Single regression areal estimates resulted in correlations of approximately 0.11 and 0.20 for the 6.7 mm and 11.5 mm data respectively. These poor results were attributed to problems which are inherent in the satellite data (location errors, short temporal span of data, wavelength of sensors, etc.) and the lack of sufficient surface data to better verify the satellite estimate

Mesoscale cloud phenomena observed by LANDSAT

Examples of certain mesoscale cloud features - jet cirrus, eddies/vortices, cloud banding, and wave clouds - were collected from LANDSAT imagery and placed into Mason's four groups of causes of cloud formation based on the mechanism of vertical motion which produces condensation. These groups are as follows: (1) layer clouds formed by widespread regular ascent; (2) layer clouds caused by irregular stirring motions; (3) convective clouds; and (4) clouds formed by orographic disturbances. These mechanisms explain general cloud formation. Once formed, other forces may play a role in the deformation of a cloud or cloud mass into unusual and unique meso- and microscale patterns. Each example presented is followed by a brief discussion describing the synoptic situation, and some inference into the formation and occurrence of the more salient features. No major attempt was made to discuss in detail the meteorological and topographic interplay producing these mesoscale features

A brief report on the assessment of the impacts from aircraft and other factors on visitor use and amenity at Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island

A brief report on the assessment of the impacts from aircraft anf other factors on visitor use and amenity at Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island

Spectroscopic techniques and the conservation of artists’ acrylic emulsion paints

Artists’ acrylic emulsion paints are used in many contexts such as paintings, murals, sculptures, works on paper and mixed media; and are forming increasing proportions of modern and contemporary art collections. Although acrylic emulsion paints have been the focus of museum-led research over the past decade, the impact of artists’ technique and conservation treatment on the upper-most surface of these paints remains essentially unexplored ; This paper summarises previous studies using vibrational (FTIR) spectroscopy and presents initial assessments of paint surfaces using X-ray spectroscopies (XPS and NEXAFS) aimed at characterising artists’ acrylic paint film surfaces after natural ageing and wet surface cleaning treatment. Both techniques were found to be well suited for surface-sensitive investigations of the organic materials associated with artists’ acrylic paints, including explorations into: (A) cleaning system residues, (B) surfactant extraction from paint surfaces, (C) the identification of migrated surfactant, and (D) monitoring pigment changes at the paint/air interface of paint films ; It has been shown is that these X-ray spectroscopic techniques can be used for the analysis of almost purely organic materials in a way that complements mass spectroscopic techniques, FTIR and XRF. This investigation forms part of broader, currently ongoing, multi-technique investigation into the properties of artists’ acrylic paints and development of conservation treatments for works-of-art made with these materials

LANDSAT digital analysis of the initial recovery of the Kokolik River tundra fire area, Alaska

The author has identified the following significant results. Considerable regrowth of vegetation was observed between August 1977 and August 1978, both in the field and through analysis of LANDSAT near infrared digital data. The spectral reflectances in the burned areas were found to increase with the age of the burn in a one year period due to vegetation regrowth. Regrowth was particularly evident in the lightly burned portions of the burned area. Image analysis techniques using the AOIPS system permitted delineation of burn severity categories. The conditions and type of ground cover prior to the fire influenced the severity of burning, as did the direction of the winds while the burning was in progress as determined from field and LANDSAT observations. More severe burning was induced by winds blowing in the northeastern and southeastern portions of the burned area

Visitor experiences, values and images of Whitehaven Bay - an assessment of perceived conditions

At present, recreation and tourism are major and growing uses of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Visitors are attracted to the Great Barrier Reef from all over the world to experience the beautiful islands, beaches and coral reefs. The management of this region is the responsibility of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, who are faced with the challenge of preventing unacceptable impacts of tourism while ensuring equitable resource allocations and sustained multiple use. The Authority's goals are achieved through the development of plans of management, the provision of zoning and allocation of individual permits

A social indicators monitoring system for tourist and recreational use of the Great Barrier Reef

The goals of this project were to: • Identify potential social indicators to monitor aspects of tourist and recreational use and impacts on human use of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) and World Heritage Area (WHA); and • Design a broad monitoring program for these social indicators

A review of research into tourist and recreational uses of protected natural areas

This report focuses on tourist and recreational use of protected natural areas in order to provide insights into social indicators and monitoring for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area

A motivic analogue of the K(1)-local sphere spectrum

We identify the motivic $KGL/2$-local sphere as the fiber of $\psi^3-1$ on $(2,\eta)$-completed Hermitian $K$-theory, over any base scheme containing $1/2$. This is a motivic analogue of the classical resolution of the $K(1)$-local sphere, and extends to a description of the $KGL/2$-localization of an arbitrary motivic spectrum. Our proof relies on a novel conservativity argument that should be of broad utility in stable motivic homotopy theory.Comment: v2: cellularity hypothesis removed, 9 pages, comments still welcome! v1: 9 pages, comments welcome

A review of the social, motivational and experiential characteristics of recreational anglers from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef Region

Recreational fishing is a popular leisure time activity for many Queenslanders. With an increase in fishing effort along the Queensland coastline, fisheries managers are continuously faced with the challenge of conserving fish stocks and the environment that sustains them, whilst ensuring equitable resource allocations between sector groups. The Queensland Fisheries Management Authority and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority recognise that recreational anglers are an important sector of Queensland’s fishing population. As part of the development of a Recreational Fishing Information System (RFISH), the Queensland Fisheries Management Authority and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority investigated the social, motivational and experiential aspects of recreational fishing by anglers from Queensland. Information gathered will provide a greater insight into the needs and preferences of recreational anglers whilst building a database from which effective decisions can be made