Analysis of the joint detection capability of the SMILE satellite and EISCAT-3D radar

The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer(SMILE)satellite is a small magnetosphere–ionosphere link explorer developed cooperatively between China and Europe.It pioneers the use of X-ray imaging technology to perform large-scale imaging of the Earth’s magnetosheath and polar cusp regions.It uses a high-precision ultraviolet imager to image the overall configuration of the aurora and monitor changes in the source of solar wind in real time,using in situ detection instruments to improve human understanding of the relationship between solar activity and changes in the Earth’s magnetic field.The SMILE satellite is scheduled to launch in 2025.The European Incoherent Scatter Sciences Association(EISCAT)-3D radar is a new generation of European incoherent scatter radar constructed by EISCAT and is the most advanced ground-based ionospheric experimental device in the high-latitude polar region.It has multibeam and multidirectional quasi-real-time three-dimensional(3D)imaging capabilities,continuous monitoring and operation capabilities,and multiple-baseline interferometry capabilities.Joint detection by the SMILE satellite and the EISCAT-3D radar is of great significance for revealing the coupling process of the solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere.Therefore,we performed an analysis of the joint detection capability of the SMILE satellite and EISCAT-3D,analyzed the period during which the two can perform joint detection,and defined the key scientific problems that can be solved by joint detection.In addition,we developed Web-based software to search for and visualize the joint detection period of the SMILE satellite and EISCAT-3D radar,which lays the foundation for subsequent joint detection experiments and scientific research.

First assessment of Noise-Equivalent Sigma-Zero in GF3-02 TOPSAR mode with sea surface wind speed retrieval

Gaofen-3-02(GF3-02)is the first C-band synthetic aperture radar(SAR)satellite with terrain observation with progressive scans of SAR(TOPSAR)imaging mode in China,which plays an essential role in marine environment monitoring.Given the weak scattering characteristics of the ocean,the system thermal noise superimposed on SAR images has significant interference,especially in cross-polarization channels.Noise-Equivalent Sigma-Zero(NESZ)is a measure of the sensitivity of the radar to areas of low backscatter.The NESZ is defined to be the scattering cross-section coefficient of an area which contributes a mean level in the image equal to the signal-independent additive noise level.For TOPSAR,NESZ exhibits the shape of the SAR scanning gain curve in the azimuth and the shape of the antenna pattern in the range.Therefore,the accurate measurement of NESZ plays a vital role in the application of spaceborne SAR sea surface cross-polarization data.This paper proposes a theoretical calculation method for the NESZ curve in GF3-02 TOPSAR mode based on SAR noise inner calibration data and the imaging algorithm.A method for correcting the error existing in the theoretical curve of NESZ is also proposed according to the relationship between sea surface backscattering and wind speed and the same characteristics of target scattering in the overlapping area of adjacent sub-swaths.According to assessment with wide-swath TOPSAR cross-polarization data,the GF3-02 TOPSAR mode has a very low thermal noise level,which is better than−33 dB at the edge of each beam,and controlled below−38 dB at the center of the beam.The two-dimensional reference curves of the NESZ of each beam are provided to the GF3-02 TOPSAR users.After discussing the relationship between normalized radar cross section(NRCS)and wind speed,we provide a formula for NRCS related to wind speed and radar incidence angle.Compared with the NRCS derived from this formula and the NESZ-subtracted NRCS of SAR images,the bias is−0.0048 dB,the Root Mean Square Error is 1.671 dB and the correlation coefficient is 0.939.

OPTIMIZATION ON ANTENNA PATTERN OF SPACEBORNE SAR WITH IMPROVED NSGA-Ⅱ

Optimization of antenna array pattern used in a spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system is considered in this study. A robust evolutionary algorithm, Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithms (the improved NSGA-Ⅱ), is applied on a spaceborne SAR antenna pattern design. The system consists of two objective functions with two constraints. Pareto fronts are generated as a result of multi-objective optimization. After being validated by a test problem ZDT4, the algorithms are used to synthesize spaceborne SAR antenna radiation pattern. The good results with low Ambi- guity-to-Signal Ratio (ASR) and high directivity are obtained in the paper.

Preface: The Chang'e-3 lander and rover mission to the Moon

The Chang＇e-3 （CE-3） lander and rover mission to the Moon was an in- termediate step in China＇s lunar exploration program, which will be followed by a sample return mission. The lander was equipped with a number of remote-sensing instruments including a pair of cameras （Landing Camera and Terrain Camera） for recording the landing process and surveying terrain, an extreme ultraviolet camera for monitoring activities in the Earth＇s plasmasphere, and a first-ever Moon-based ultravi- olet telescope for astronomical observations. The Yutu rover successfully carried out close-up observations with the Panoramic Camera, mineralogical investigations with the VIS-NIR Imaging Spectrometer, study of elemental abundances with the Active Particle-induced X-ray Spectrometer, and pioneering measurements of the lunar sub- surface with Lunar Penetrating Radar. This special issue provides a collection of key information on the instrumental designs, calibration methods and data processing pro- cedures used by these experiments with a perspective of facilitating further analyses of scientific data from CE-3 in preparation for future missions.

Kravchenko probabilityweight functions in problems of radar signals correlation processing

In this report the combined method of correlation radar signal(RS)processing based on the theory of atomic functions(AF)is examined.Examples of using of new Kravchenko probability weight functions(WF)designs are presented.Quality functional to estimate accuracy and efficiency of RS processing for concrete physical models is constructed.It is shown that the proposed approach significantly improves the quality of the coherent analysis of RS.

山东半岛北部海洋动力环境的高频地波雷达观测

利用两台高频地波雷达(ground wave radar,WERA)站对山东半岛北部雷达覆盖海区的浪、流场进行了观测,并且利用海洋-大气-波浪耦合沉积输运模型(coupled-ocean-atmosphere-wave-sediment transport modeling system,COAWST)对该区域的一个强风暴过程进行了数值模拟,对雷达观测数据、现场声学多普勒流速剖面仪(acoustic Doppler current profilers,ADCP)调查数据和数值模拟结果进行比对分析发现,模型模拟的水位变化与ADCP测量结果一致,WERA所观测到的有效波高和ADCP结果比较吻合,模型模拟的ADCP站位的流速相位、大小与雷达观测结果比较接近,与ADCP的结果有一定偏差。雷达观测的海区流场结果与模型反映趋势基本一致,但是在近岸方向上变化较大,其原因可能与ADCP的投放位置、模型的分辨率设置等因素有关。高频地波雷达系统是海岸带动力环境观测的一个有效工具,在实际应用中有着广泛的前景。

Particle swarm optimization based space debris surveillance network scheduling

The increasing number of space debris has created an orbital debris environment that poses increasing impact risks to existing space systems and human space flights. For the safety of in-orbit spacecrafts, we should optimally schedule surveillance tasks for the existing facilities to allocate re- sources in a manner that most significantly improves the ability to predict and detect events involving affected spacecrafts. This paper analyzes two criteria that mainly affect the performance of a scheduling scheme and introduces an artificial intelligence algorithm into the scheduling of tasks of the space debris surveillance network. A new scheduling algorithm based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed, which can be implemented in two different ways： individual optimization and joint optimiza- tion. Numerical experiments with multiple facilities and objects are conducted based on the proposed algorithm, and simulation results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

STUDY OF PULSED DOPPLER SIGNAL PROCESSING AND VELOCITY TRACKING TECHNIQUE

This paper describes a signal processing system in a Pulsed Doppler (PD) radar. It mainly consists of a velocity tracking loop and a digital signal processing auxiliary channel. With many signal processing techniques, the system successfully solves the signal detection and tracking at low SNR and the interference identification and rejection. The idea of system design is introduced in detail. Finally, some simulation and experimental results are presented.

Temperate ice layer found in the upper area of Jima Yangzong Glacier,the headstream of Yarlung Zangbo River

For the first time we investigate the basal thermal condition in the upper area of Jima Yangzong Glacier, the headstream of Yarlung Zangbo River, using ground-penetrating radar techniques. With common offset and common mid-point surveys we analyze the radar velocities in ice with respect to cold-temperate ice transi- tion surface （0.1751 0.0028 m ns-~） and ice-bedrock interface （0.1657 ＋ 0.0033 m ns-a）, indicating a radar velocity of 0.1410 4- 0.0154 m ns-1 for the temperate ice layer （16.6 ~ 1.8 m）. We estimate that the temperate ice layer has a water content of around 6 % 4- 4 %, suggesting that the Jima Yangzong Glacier, previously known as continental-type, now possibly becomes polythermal.