月球勘探者发现水冰

月球勘探者发现水冰袁越伽利略探测器拍摄的一张木卫二照片美国航宇局最近公布了不久前发射的月球勘探者探测器获取的新数据，并称这些数据为月球上水的存在提供了确凿的证据。科学家们称，这些数据表明在月球的北极和南极阴冷的地区有水冰存在。这一发现增大了人们最终向...

Assessment of total suspended sediment concentrations in Poyang Lake using HJ-1A/1B CCD imagery

We explored the potential of the environment and disaster monitoring and forecasting small satellite constellations (HJ-1A/1B satellites) charge-coupled device (CCD) imagery (spatial resolution of 30 m, revisit time of 2 days) in the monitoring of total suspended sediment (TSS) concentrations in dynamic water bodies using Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, as an example. Field surveys conducted during October 17-26, 2009 showed a wide range of TSS concentration (3-524 mg/L). Atmospheric correction was implemented using the Fast Line-of-sight Atmospheric Analysis of Spectral Hypercubes (FLAASH) module in ENVI with the aid of aerosol information retrieved from concurrent Terra/Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) surveys, which worked well at the CCD bands with relatively high reflectance. A practical exponential retrieval algorithm was created between satellite remote sensing reflectance and in-situ measured TSS concentration. The retrieved results for the whole water area matched the in-situ data well at most stations. The retrieval errors may be related to the problem of scale matching and mixed pixel. In three selected subregions of Poyang Lake, the distribution trend of retrieved TSS was consistent with that of the field investigation. It was shown that HJ-1A/1B CCD imagery can be used to estimate TSS concentrations in Poyang Lake over synoptic scales after applying an appropriate atmospheric correction method and retrieval algorithm.

Design of Lead Spectrometer for Spent Fuel Fissile Assay

The design of a lead slowing down spectrometer is being developed at KAERI （Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute） for an analysis of isotopic fissile content in spent and recycled fuel. The lead spectrometer has an advantage to assay fissile content directly from spent fuel. Accurate fissile material data must be fed back to the spent fuel design and management. For reutilization of PWR spent fuel, an isotopic fissile content analysis is required to obtain safety and economics in the fuel cycle. The LSDS （lead slowing down spectrometer） uses the different fission signatures of each fissile with respect to the interrogation neutron energy. Several simulations were done and parameter was obtained for the system working. Energy between 1 keV to 0.1 eV is very sensitive to isotopic fissile material fission with good energy resolution. An external source neutron is necessary to induce enough fissile fission. A neutron production methodology is being developed for cost effectiveness, easy maintenance and high neutron yield rate. The threshold fission detector screens the prompt fast fission neutrons from an intense radiation background. The detection of a fission signature has a direct relationship with the isotopic fissile content.

Vegetation dynamics in Qinling-Daba Mountains in relation to climate factors between 2000 and 2014

Using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer-normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI) dataset,we investigated the patterns of spatiotemporal variation in vegetation coverage and its associated driving forces in the Qinling-Daba(Qinba) Mountains in 2000–2014.The Sen and Mann–Kendall models and partial correlation analysis were used to analyze the data,followed by calculation of the Hurst index to analyze future trends in vegetation coverage.The results of the study showed that(1) NDVI of the study area exhibited a significant increase in 2000–2014(linear tendency,2.8%/10a).During this period,a stable increase was detected before 2010(linear tendency,4.32%/10a),followed by a sharp decline after 2010(linear tendency,–6.59%/10a).(2) Spatially,vegetation cover showed a "high in the middle and a low in the surroundings" pattern.High values of vegetation coverage were mainly found in the Qinba Mountains of Shaanxi Province.(3) The area with improved vegetation coverage was larger than the degraded area,being 81.32% and 18.68%,respectively,during the study period.Piecewise analysis revealed that 71.61% of the total study area showed a decreasing trend in vegetation coverage in 2010–2014.(4) Reverse characteristics of vegetation coverage change were stronger than the same characteristics on the Qinba Mountains.About 46.89% of the entire study area is predicted to decrease in the future,while 34.44% of the total area will follow a continuously increasing trend.(5) The change of vegetation coverage was mainly attributed to the deficit in precipitation.Moreover,vegetation coverage during La Nina years was higher than that during El Nino years.(6) Human activities can induce ambiguous effects on vegetation coverage: both positive effects(through implementation of ecological restoration projects) and negative effects(through urbanization) were observed.