Interannual vegetation phenology estimates from global AVHRR measurements: Comparison with in situ data and applications

In a previous paper, we described a procedure to correct the directional effects in AVHRR reflectance time series. The corrected measurements show much less high frequency variability than their original counterparts, which makes them suitable to study vegetation dynamics. The time series are used here to estimate the start and ending dates of the growing season for 18 years from 1982 to 1999. We focus on the interannual variations of these phenological parameters.A database of in situ phenology observations is used to quantify the accuracy of the satellite-based estimates. Although based on a limited sampling of the Northern mid and high latitudes, the comparison indicates that i) the satellite phenological product contains meaningful information on interannual onset anomalies; ii) there is a higher degree of consistency over regions covered by Broadleaf Forests, Grasses and cereal Crops than over those covered by Needleleaf Forests or Savannas; and iii) the satellite phenological product is of lower quality in regions with mountainous terrain. In favorable conditions, interannual variations of the onset are captured with an accuracy of a few days.As this satellite-derived product captures the interannual onset variability at ground-truth sites, we confidently use it to larger scales studies. Mapped at a continental scale, the onset anomalies show coherent patterns at the regional (≈ 1000 km) scale for the mid and high latitudes of the Northern hemisphere, which is consistent with a meteorological forcing. In the tropics, there is larger spatial heterogeneity, which suggests more complex controls of the phenology. The relation between vegetation phenology and climate is further investigated over Europe by comparing the variability of the satellite-derived vegetation onset and that of the winter North Atlantic Oscillation index, at a fine spatial scale. The strong correlations observed confirm that this climate forcing parameter explains most of the onset variability over a large fraction of Northern Europe (earlier onsets for positive winter NAO), with lower impact towards the south and opposite effects around the Mediterranean basin. The NAO has a predictive character as the January-February NAO index is strongly correlated with the vegetation onset that occurs around April in Northern Europe.     

Modelling droplet motion and interfacial tension in filters collecting liquid aerosols

Extensive experimental investigations have shown some of the differences between the behaviours of the barrel and the clamshell shapes of droplets on filter fibres in flow fields. Realistic flow velocities (such as those used in many industrial filter systems) were utilised. The forces acting are air drag, interfacial tension and gravity. The properties of the interfacial restoring force are modelled, and show agreement with the experimental results, at least in the linear extension region before the onset of oscillatory behaviour of the droplets (induced by instability of the flow field). The model for the oscillatory behaviour is explored, and the natural frequencies of oscillation in the radial and transverse directions are shown to be the same, for the barrel shape. The clamshell shape also has the same natural frequencies, but they are different to those of the barrel shape. The coupling of the radial and transverse oscillation modes is explored for both the barrel and clamshell shape. Some contact angle results are given, both without airflow acting on the droplet and with increasing airflow.     

On the qualitative behaviors of solutions of third order nonlinear differential equations

We present some new results about oscillation and asymptotic behavior of solutions of third order nonlinear differential equations of the form

(r₂(t)(r₁(t)y^′)^′)^′+p(t)y^′+q(t)f(y(g(t)))=0.     

Oscillation theorems for second-order half-linear delay dynamic equations with damping on time scales

By using the generalized Riccati transformation and the inequality technique, we establish a few new oscillation criteria for certain second-order half-linear delay dynamic equations with damping on a time scale. Our results extend and improve some known results, but also unify the oscillation of the second-order half-linear delay differential equation with damping and the second-order half-linear delay difference equation with damping.     

New oscillation criteria for second order linear difference equations with positive and negative coefficients

The oscillation of second order neutral difference equations with positive and negative coefficients of the form

is investigated. We obtain many new results using the comparison between both first order and second order difference equations. An example is given to show the strength of the obtained results.     

Oscillation in nonlinear difference equations

In this paper, we shall discuss oscillatory behavior of the solutions of difference equations, including the self-adjoint second-order linear equation and the discrete version of the nonlinear wave equation. Our work is to give sufficient conditions such that every nontrivial solution of the equations oscillates.     

Further oscillation criteria for delay partial difference equations

This paper is concerned with the partial difference equation A_m+1,n+A_m,n+1−A_m,n+p_m,nA_m−k,n−l=0,m,n=0,1,2,…,, where k and l are two positive integers, {p_m,n} is a real double sequence. Some new oscillation criteria for this equation are obtained.     

OPERATING POINT AND STRIPPING EXTRACTION CALCULATIONS FOR CYCLONE 10/5

By using the magnetic field map, equilibrium orbit, operating point of v r and v z and beam trajectories after stripper for Cyclone 10/5 have been calculated. The positions of two strippers and two targets have been determined. The numerical simulation is consistent with experimental tests.