The nature of multiple solutions for surface wind speed over the oceans from scatterometer measurements

The satellite SEASAT-A will carry a radar scatterometer in order to measure microwave backscatter from the sea surface. From pairs of radar measurements at angles separated by 90 deg in azimuth the surface wind speed and direction may be inferred, though not uniquely. The character of the solutions for wind speed and direction is displayed, as well as the nature of the ambiguities of these solutions. An economical procedure for handling such data is described, plus a criterion for the need for conventional (surface) data in order to resolve the ambiguities of solutions

Analysis of some methods for obtaining sea surface temperature from satellite observations

Satellite measurements of sea surface temperature must be corrected for atmospheric moisture, cloud contamination, reflected solar radiation and other sources of error. Procedures for reducing errors are discussed. It appears that routine accuracies of 1 C are possible, given low noise spectral measurements in the infrared

Conditions for asymptotic stability of the discrete, minimum variance, linear estimator

Conditions for asymptotic stability of discrete minimum variance estimation formula

A method for obtaining desired sensitivity characteristics with optimal controls

Sensitivity design characteristics for feedback optimal control

Communications satellite systems operations with the space station. Volume 1: Executive summary

The benefits of new space-based activities are quantified and the impacts on the satellite design and the space station are assessed

ANALYSIS OF THE U.S. COMMODITY LOAN PROGRAM WITH MARKETING LOAN PROVISIONS

Over the next several years, crop prices are projected to be below to slightly above commodity loan rates. As a result, marketing loan benefits to farmers, in the form of loan deficiency payments and marketing loan gains from the commodity loan program, are likely to continue to be sizeable. The level of realized per-unit revenues facilitated by marketing loans exceeds commodity loan rates, thereby raising expected net returns to farmers. Model simulations show that the loan program can raise total acreage planted to major field crops, generally increasing levels of domestic use and exports while lowering crop prices. Cross-commodity effects of supply response to relative returns (including marketing loan benefits), however, result in acreage shifts among competing crops, which can lead to reductions in plantings of some crops in some years. Most impacts occur in the years when there are marketing loan benefits, with little effect in subsequent years when prices rise high enough to eliminate marketing loan benefits. The livestock sector benefits from these outcomes because of generally lower feed costs.Commodity loans, marketing loans, nonrecourse loans, loan deficiency payments, price support, commodity programs, Agricultural Finance,

Surface roughness detector Patent

Roughness detector for recording surface pattern of irregularitie