Night sky brightness at sites from DMSP-OLS satellite measurements

We apply the sky brightness modelling technique introduced and developed by Roy Garstang to high-resolution DMSP-OLS satellite measurements of upward artificial light flux and to GTOPO30 digital elevation data in order to predict the brightness distribution of the night sky at a given site in the primary astronomical photometric bands for a range of atmospheric aerosol contents. This method, based on global data and accounting for elevation, Earth curvature and mountain screening, allows the evaluation of sky glow conditions over the entire sky for any site in the World, to evaluate its evolution, to disentangle the contribution of individual sources in the surrounding territory, and to identify main contributing sources. Sky brightness, naked eye stellar visibility and telescope limiting magnitude are produced as 3-dimensional arrays whose axes are the position on the sky and the atmospheric clarity. We compared our results to available measurements.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS, 17 june 200

Design of the primary and secondary Pre-TRMM and TRMM ground truth sites

Results generated over six months are covered in five manuscripts: (1) estimates of rain volume over the Peninsula of Florida during the summer season based upon the Manually Digitized Radar data; (2) the diurnal characteristics of rainfall over Florida and over the near shore waters; (3) convective rainfall as measured over the east coast of central Florida; (4) the spatial and temporal variability of rainfall over Florida; and (5) comparisons between the land based radar and an optical raingage onboard an anchored buoy 50 km offshore

Tropical island rainfall : a study of the rainfall distribution of Trinidad, West Indies

Originally issued as Reference No. 60-33, series later renamed WHOI-The study is based upon the concept that climatology cannot be divorced from the dynamics of weather. An attempt is made to outline the meteorological framework of this region of the tropics. The rainfall of Trinidad is then discussed within this framework. The mean annual distribution of rainfall over the island forms a basis for the discussion of monthly distributions. Seasonal variation is pointed out and related to broad scale migrations of the subtropical anticyclones and the equatorial trough. The dual rainfall maximum occurring during the wet season is, in turn, related to the synoptic scale patterns of this season. Distribution is then examined with reference to the moist layer, wind direction and speed. Diurnal distribution is treated in detail and the mechanisms giving rise to the well-defined distribution patterns are discussed. Finally some attention is paid to shower amounts and distribution. In conclusion the rainfall of the island is summarized by relating the seasonal variations to the broadscale meteorological background and the actual distribution to the local scale influences

The first world atlas of the artificial night sky brightness

We present the first World Atlas of the zenith artificial night sky brightness at sea level. Based on radiance calibrated high resolution DMSP satellite data and on accurate modelling of light propagation in the atmosphere, it provides a nearly global picture of how mankind is proceeding to envelope itself in a luminous fog. Comparing the Atlas with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) population density database we determined the fraction of population who are living under a sky of given brightness. About two thirds of the World population and 99% of the population in US (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) and EU live in areas where the night sky is above the threshold set for polluted status. Assuming average eye functionality, about one fifth of the World population, more than two thirds of the US population and more than one half of the EU population have already lost naked eye visibility of the Milky Way. Finally, about one tenth of the World population, more than 40% of the US population and one sixth of the EU population no longer view the heavens with the eye adapted to night vision because the sky brightness.Comment: 24 pages, 11 size-reduced PostScript figures, 3 statistical tables, accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, high-resolution original maps will be available soon from http://www.lightpollution.it/dmsp/ as zipped TIFF file

Trace gas and aerosol transports into and out of the Amazon Basin

Research under Agreement NCC1-106 during the interim period Oct. 1, 1991 to May 31, 1992 has continued to use the data collected during all three ABLE missions. The work reported on in this interim period includes published papers that cover the topic of global interactions between the rain forest of the Amazon Basin and local regional processes interior to the Basin itself

A study of a non-deepening tropical disturbance

Data from research vessel, instrumented research aircraft, and Tiros VI and Tiros VII SATELLITES to study nondeepening tropical disturbanc

Atmospheric surface and boundary layers of the Amazon Basin

Three phases of work were performed: design of and preparation for the Amazon Boundary Layer Experiment (ABLE 2-A); execution of the ABLE 2-A field program; and analysis of the ABLE 2-A data. Three areas of experiment design were dealt with: surface based meteorological measurements; aircraft missions; and project meteorological support. The primary goal was to obtain a good description of the structure of the atmosphere immediately above the rain forest canopy (top of canopy to a few thousand meters), to describe this region during the growing daytime phase of the boundary layer; and to examine the nighttime stratified state. A secondary objective was to examine the role that deep convective storms play in the vertical transport of heat, water vapor, and other trace gases. While significant progress was made, much of the analysis remains to be done

Design of the primary pre-TRMM and TRMM ground truth site

The primary objective of the Tropical Rain Measuring Mission (TRMM) were to: integrate the rain gage measurements with radar measurements of rainfall using the KSFC/Patrick digitized radar and associated rainfall network; delineate the major rain bearing systems over Florida using the Weather Service reported radar/rainfall distributions; combine the integrated measurements with the delineated rain bearing systems; use the results of the combined measurements and delineated rain bearing systems to represent patterns of rainfall which actually exist and contribute significantly to the rainfall to test sampling strategies and based on the results of these analyses decide upon the ground truth network; and complete the design begun in Phase 1 of a multi-scale (space and time) surface observing precipitation network centered upon KSFC. Work accomplished and in progress is discussed

Infant death from accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed in England and Wales:rare or unrecognised events?

Background: Mandatory joint police and healthcare investigations of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) have been in place since 2008 in England. These include death scene examination with cause of death determined at multiprofessional case conference. Detailed evidence on sleep arrangements is available for most cases potentially leading to more being identified as due to accidental suffocation. SUDI remaining unexplained following investigation are classified as SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) or unspecified deaths. Our objective was to determine whether detailed SUDI investigation has led to an increase in deaths classified as accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed (ASSB)? Methods: We obtained official mortality data for England and Wales for infants dying aged 0–364 days for International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision codes R95 (SIDS), R96, R98, R99 (unspecified causes of mortality) and W75 (ASSB) for the years 2000–2019. We calculated the mortality rate for ASSB, SIDS and unspecified causes based on total live births each year. Results: Unexplained SUDI decreased from 353 in 2000 to 175 in 2019, with the mortality rate falling from 0.58 to 0.29 per 1000 live births. The total postneonatal mortality rate fell during this time from 1.9 to 0.9 per 1000 live births suggesting this is a genuine fall. SIDS accounted for 70% of unexplained SUDI in 2000 falling to 49% in 2020 with a corresponding increase in R99 unspecified deaths. Few deaths were recorded as ASSB (W75), ranging between 4 in 2010 and 24 in 2001. The rate for ASSB ranged from 0.6 to 4.0 per 100000 live births. Conclusions: There is a shift away from SIDS (R95) towards unspecified causes of death (R96, R98, R99). Improved investigation of deaths has not led to increased numbers of death identified as due to ASSB. There needs to be clear guidelines on accurate classification of deaths from ASSB to facilitate learning from deaths and inform prevention efforts