Fraunhofer Lines Research Articles

Seasonal stability of chlorophyll fluorescence quantified from airborne hyperspectral imagery as an indicator of net photosynthesis in the context of precision agriculture

Abstract The seasonal stability of solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) vs field-measured leaf CO2 assimilation (A) was assessed over a period of 2 years by means of airborne flights performed at midday and diurnally over a citrus (evergreen) crop canopy. The orchard was cultivated under a control treatment (ET) that received 100% of its water requirements and two regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) treatments with water supply reduced to 37% and 50% of the control level during the summer. Field measurements consisted of assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, stem water potential, leaf fluorescence and leaf reflectance. The airborne campaigns took place in 2012 and 2013, and were flown on the solar plane in order to acquire hyperspectral imagery at 40 cm resolution, 260 spectral bands and 1.85 nm/pixels in the 400–885 nm spectral region. A thermal camera was installed in tandem in all flights, acquiring imagery in the 7.5–13 μm spectral region at 640 × 480 pixel resolution, yielding a 50 cm pixel size. The robustness of the SIF quantification through the Fraunhofer Line Depth (FLD) principle based on three spectral bands (FLD3), as well as the performance of physiological and structural hyperspectral indices, was evaluated in order to understand their ability to track photosynthesis at different phenological and stress stages throughout the season. Solar induced fluorescence quantified as FLD3 was the most robust indicator of photosynthesis in all the airborne campaigns performed in the course of the two-year experiment, which comprised seven midday flights and two diurnals. The relationships between fluorescence (FLD3) and assimilation rates yielded correlation coefficients (R) between 0.64 and 0.82 across all dates, these being statistically significant with p-values between p

Development of a digital mobile solar tracker

Abstract. We have constructed and deployed a fast digital solar tracker aboard a moving ground-based platform. The tracker consists of two rotating mirrors, a lens, an imaging camera, and a motion compensation system that provides the Euler angles of the mobile platform in real time. The tracker can be simultaneously coupled to UV–Vis and Fourier transform infrared spectrometers, making it a versatile tool to measure the absorption of trace gases using solar incoming radiation. The integrated system allows the tracker to operate autonomously while the mobile laboratory is in motion. Mobile direct sun differential optical absorption spectroscopy (mobile DS-DOAS) observations using this tracker were conducted during summer 2014 as part of the Front Range Air Pollution and Photochemistry Experiment (FRAPPE) in Colorado, USA. We demonstrate an angular precision of 0.052° (about 1/10 of the solar disk diameter) during research drives and verify this tracking precision from measurements of the center to limb darkening (CLD, the changing appearance of Fraunhofer lines) in the mobile DS-DOAS spectra. The high photon flux from direct sun observation enables measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) slant columns with high temporal resolution and reveals spatial detail in the variations of NO2 vertical column densities (VCDs). The NO2 VCD from DS-DOAS is compared with a co-located MAX-DOAS instrument. Overall good agreement is observed amid a highly heterogeneous air mass.

Analysis of sunlight absorption spectra related to atmospheric trace gases in the tropics

ABSTRACTZenith sky-scattered light intensity spectra of wavelength ranges of 325–500 nm have been recorded with UV-visible spectrometer over tropical station Pune (18° 31′ N, 73° 55′ E). Zenith scattered light spectra in the spectral range of 346–358 nm are analysed to find out differential optical depth (DOD) for the period 15–18 November 2010. In DOD spectra, depths are noticed at relevant wavelength due to the absorption by atmospheric gases such as NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), O3 (ozone), BrO (bromine monoxide), and OClO (chlorine dioxide). These DOD spectra are analysed by a matrix inversion technique to calculate individual DOD spectrum of the gases. The observed and calculated DODs are found to be in a good agreement. The coefficient of determination (R2) between observed and calculated DODs of NO2, O3, BrO, OClO, O4 (oxygen dimer), and Ring effect are observed to be 0.55, 0.77, 0.73, 0.75, 0.82, and 0.91, respectively. Filling-in of solar Fraunhofer lines in the observed zenith scattered sunlight is known as ‘Ring effect’. The slant column densities of the above gases are found to be increased due to increasing absorption path length with solar zenith angles. The vertical column densities (VCDs) of O3 and NO2 derived using ground-based spectrometer are compared with the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on board Aura satellite during the period 1 March–31 December 2010. The day-to-day variations are found to be similar; however, the percentage differences in VCDs of O3 between ground-based spectrometer and satellite-based OMI are observed to be varying from 1% to 15%, while for NO2, they vary from 1% to 10%. Also, the seasonal mean values of VCDs of O3 and NO2 are discussed. The O3 mean values in the rainy season are found to be higher than that of in the summer and winter seasons from both ground- and satellite-based measurement. Whereas, the NO2 mean values in the winter season are found to be higher than that of in the summer and rainy seasons from both the measurement techniques. The VCDs of O3 are observed to be lowest in winter season due to the loss of ozone within NO2 and O3 reaction active during the winter season.

Optical evaluation of the shading properties of climbing fern Lygodium japonicum used as thermal buffering green wall plant

Recently, thermal properties of the landscaped rooftops and walls have attracted the interest of researchers because of the potential to minimize energy consumption in urban areas and to aid summer-time thermal control. For this reason the creation of a plant-based shade for walls or above buildings is highly important. In this paper we evaluate using Lygodium japonicum, one of the many ferns and fern allies traditionally used in Japanese gardening, as a component of thermal-buffering green walls. Lygodium japonicum, the only climbing fern species in Japan, is fast-growing, adheres easily to walls and has a climbing nature. A simple thermal analysis of the sun-shading effect of Lygodium canopy suggested that local surface temperature above the ceramic tiles placed on the rooftop of a building can be buffered (lowered in daytime and maintained relatively warm at night) by the presence of leafy climbing ferns covering the tiles, possibly due to the reflection and absorbance of solar radiation. Furthermore, the presence of the plants may also slow the night-time release of heat from the building surface. Because plants installed on tall walls or on the tops of buildings are not easily accessed for manual care, we performed a real-time routine monitoring and control of plant growth status using various optical sensors that could be automated and monitored remotely for large-scale applications. For this purpose, the optical properties of a Lygodium canopy under solar incident light have been determined. In order to evaluate the natural shading and growing properties of a green canopy, the incident solar radiation spectrum (J), leaf canopy-filtered light spectrum (transmittance, T) and leaf-reflectivity spectrum ® were measured. By reading the reflectivity spectrum, concomitant chlorophyll fluorescence signals (F) from Lygodium leaves were also detected at 760 nm, which corresponds to the O2-A Fraunhofer line. Our data suggests that the daily change in photosynthetic status (P) can be traced by monitoring the change in relative F in relation to the estimated heat loss (H) and measured J, R, and T using a series of practical equations designed to roughly estimate the gross photosynthetic response within the plant canopy. Using our equations, the photosynthetic capacity in the plant canopy structure could be simply simulated and predictable by optical sensors.

Retrieval of Terrestrial Plant Fluorescence Based on the In-Filling of Far-Red Fraunhofer Lines Using SCIAMACHY Observations

Chlorophyll fluorescence is directly linked to the photosynthetic efficiency of plants. As satellite-based remote sensing has been shown to have the potential to derive global information about fluorescence it has become subject of various recently published studies stimulating an upsurge in this research field. This manuscript presents a simple and fast retrieval method for solar induced terrestrial plant fluorescence (SIF) which relies on only a few prerequisites. The spaced based remote sensing spectrometers used in this work typically exhibit an additive spectral feature, which is not fluorescence. This is often accompanying the actual SIF retrieval and can significantly deteriorate the results. To account for this effect a correction method has been developed and is combined with the retrieval. The method has been applied to ten years of SCIAMACHY data with promising results. The retrieved SIF values are lying between 0 and 4 mW [m-²,sr-¹,nm-¹]. However, most of the retrieved values are not exceeding 1.5 [m-²,sr-¹,nm-¹], agreeing with previous studies on the subject. Results have been retrieved for SCIAMACHY spatial resolution of 240 x 30 km² and gridded to 80 arc minutes. A clear seasonal variation could be shown utilizing 10 years of SCIAMACHY data (2002-2012). In absence of large area ground based validation data a final judgment of the results presented is not feasible. However, a direct comparison to data of others was showing similar results for most areas.

POLARIZED SCATTERING OF LIGHT FOR ARBITRARY MAGNETIC FIELDS WITH LEVEL-CROSSINGS FROM THE COMBINATION OF HYPERFINE AND FINE STRUCTURE SPLITTINGS

Interference between magnetic substates of the hyperfine structure states belonging to different fine structure states of the same term influences the polarization for some of the diagnostically important lines of the Sun's spectrum, like the sodium and lithium doublets. The polarization signatures of this combined interference contain information on the properties of the solar magnetic fields. Motivated by this, in the present paper, we study the problem of polarized scattering on a two-term atom with hyperfine structure by accounting for the partial redistribution in the photon frequencies arising due to the Doppler motions of the atoms. We consider the scattering atoms to be under the influence of a magnetic field of arbitrary strength and develop a formalism based on the Kramers--Heisenberg approach to calculate the scattering cross section for this process. We explore the rich polarization effects that arise from various level-crossings in the Paschen--Back regime in a single scattering case using the lithium atomic system as a concrete example that is relevant to the Sun.

Instantaneous Dispersion: A Window into Property Relationships for Optical Glass

Optical applications in the 21st century are rapidly evolving, and materials with new capabilities are needed. Applications covering wide wavelength ranges are a particular challenge as materials can behave very differently in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectral regions. A generalized model for selecting optical materials based on descriptions of dispersion and partial dispersion is presented. The relative behavior of various optical glasses is discussed based on glass composition. This is useful for both the optical designer and the glass maker as it illustrates the chemical origin of the dispersion curve and a possible path toward compositional tailoring of the optical properties to fit specific applications. This method can be extended from traditional optical glasses into the UV and infrared spectral ranges as it does not rely on predefined wavelengths at Fraunhofer lines.

The center-to-limb variation across the Fraunhofer lines of HD 189733

The center-to-limb variation (CLV) describes the brightness of the stellar disk as a function of the limb angle. Across strong absorption lines, the CLV can vary quite significantly. We obtained a densely sampled time series of high-resolution transit spectra of the active planet host star HD 189733 with UVES. Using the passing planetary disk of the hot Jupiter HD 189733 b as a probe, we study the CLV in the wings of the Ca ii H and K and Na i D1 and D2 Fraunhofer lines, which are not strongly affected by activity-induced variability. In agreement with model predictions, our analysis shows that the wings of the studied Fraunhofer lines are limb brightened with respect to the (quasi-)continuum. The strength of the CLV-induced effect can be on the same order as signals found for hot Jupiter atmospheres. Therefore, a careful treatment of the wavelength dependence of the stellar CLV in strong absorption lines is highly relevant in the interpretation of planetary transit spectroscopy.

Sun-induced fluorescence - a new probe of photosynthesis: First maps from the imaging spectrometerHyPlant.

Variations in photosynthesis still cause substantial uncertainties in predicting photosynthetic CO2 uptake rates and monitoring plant stress. Changes in actual photosynthesis that are not related to greenness of vegetation are difficult to measure by reflectance based optical remote sensing techniques. Several activities are underway to evaluate the sun-induced fluorescence signal on the ground and on a coarse spatial scale using space-borne imaging spectrometers. Intermediate-scale observations using airborne-based imaging spectroscopy, which are critical to bridge the existing gap between small-scale field studies and global observations, are still insufficient. Here we present the first validated maps of sun-induced fluorescence in that critical, intermediate spatial resolution, employing the novel airborne imaging spectrometer HyPlant. HyPlant has an unprecedented spectral resolution, which allows for the first time quantifying sun-induced fluorescence fluxes in physical units according to the Fraunhofer Line Depth Principle that exploits solar and atmospheric absorption bands. Maps of sun-induced fluorescence show a large spatial variability between different vegetation types, which complement classical remote sensing approaches. Different crop types largely differ in emitting fluorescence that additionally changes within the seasonal cycle and thus may be related to the seasonal activation and deactivation of the photosynthetic machinery. We argue that sun-induced fluorescence emission is related to two processes: (i) the total absorbed radiation by photosynthetically active chlorophyll; and (ii) the functional status of actual photosynthesis and vegetation stress.

The impact of vibrational Raman scattering of air on DOAS measurements of atmospheric trace gases

Abstract. In remote sensing applications, such as differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS), atmospheric scattering processes need to be considered. After inelastic scattering on N2 and O2 molecules, the scattered photons occur as additional intensity at a different wavelength, effectively leading to "filling-in" of both solar Fraunhofer lines and absorptions of atmospheric constituents, if the inelastic scattering happens after the absorption. Measured spectra in passive DOAS applications are typically corrected for rotational Raman scattering (RRS), also called Ring effect, which represents the main contribution to inelastic scattering. Inelastic scattering can also occur in liquid water, and its influence on DOAS measurements has been observed over clear ocean water. In contrast to that, vibrational Raman scattering (VRS) of N2 and O2 has often been thought to be negligible, but it also contributes. Consequences of VRS are red-shifted Fraunhofer structures in scattered light spectra and filling-in of Fraunhofer lines, additional to RRS. At 393 nm, the spectral shift is 25 and 40 nm for VRS of O2 and N2, respectively. We describe how to calculate VRS correction spectra according to the Ring spectrum. We use the VRS correction spectra in the spectral range of 420–440 nm to determine the relative magnitude of the cross-sections of VRS of O2 and N2 and RRS of air. The effect of VRS is shown for the first time in spectral evaluations of Multi-Axis DOAS data from the SOPRAN M91 campaign and the MAD-CAT MAX-DOAS intercomparison campaign. The measurements yield in agreement with calculated scattering cross-sections that the observed VRS(N2) cross-section at 393 nm amounts to 2.3 ± 0.4 % of the cross-section of RRS at 433 nm under tropospheric conditions. The contribution of VRS(O2) is also found to be in agreement with calculated scattering cross-sections. It is concluded, that this phenomenon has to be included in the spectral evaluation of weak absorbers as it reduces the measurement error significantly and can cause apparent differential optical depth of up to 3 ×10−4. Its influence on the spectral retrieval of IO, glyoxal, water vapour and NO2 in the blue wavelength range is evaluated for M91. For measurements with a large Ring signal a significant and systematic bias of NO2 dSCDs (differential slant column densities) up to (−3.8 ± 0.4) × 1014 molec cm−2 is observed if this effect is not considered. The effect is typically negligible for DOAS fits with an RMS (root mean square) larger than 4 × 10−4.

The role of the Fraunhofer lines in solar brightness variability

The solar brightness varies on timescales from minutes to decades. A clear identification of the physical processes behind such variations is needed for developing and improving physics-based models of solar brightness variability and reconstructing solar brightness in the past. This is, in turn, important for better understanding the solar-terrestrial and solar-stellar connections. We estimate the relative contributions of the continuum, molecular, and atomic lines to the solar brightness variations on different timescales. Our approach is based on the assumption that variability of the solar brightness on timescales greater than a day is driven by the evolution of the solar surface magnetic field. We calculated the solar brightness variations employing the solar disc area coverage of magnetic features deduced from the MDI/SOHO observations. The brightness contrasts of magnetic features relative to the quiet Sun were calculated with a non-LTE radiative transfer code as functions of disc position and wavelength. By consecutive elimination of molecular and atomic lines from the radiative transfer calculations, we assessed the role of these lines in producing solar brightness variability. We show that the variations in Fraunhofer lines define the amplitude of the solar brightness variability on timescales greater than a day and even the phase of the total solar irradiance variability over the 11-year cycle. We also demonstrate that molecular lines make substantial contribution to solar brightness variability on the 11-year activity cycle and centennial timescales. In particular, our model indicates that roughly a quarter of the total solar irradiance variability over the 11-year cycle originates in molecular lines. The maximum of the absolute spectral brightness variability on timescales greater than a day is associated with the CN violet system between 380 and 390 nm.

New Spectral Fitting Method for Full-Spectrum Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence Retrieval Based on Principal Components Analysis

The full-spectrum Solar-Induced chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) within the 650-800 nm spectral region can provide important information regarding physiological and biochemical activities in vegetation. This paper proposes a new Full-spectrum Spectral Fitting Method (F-SFM) for the retrieval of SIF spectra based on Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Using F-SFM, both the full-spectrum reflectance and SIF within the 650-800 nm region were modeled by PCA based on a training dataset simulated by the Soil Canopy Observation, Photochemistry and Energy fluxes (SCOPE) model, and the weighting coefficients of the principal components were estimated by the least-squares fitting method. An iterative process was employed to improve the accuracy of the estimation of the reflectance. In each iteration, the SIF spectra retrieved from the last run were removed from the total upwelling radiance to minimize the small contribution of the SIF to the apparent reflectance outside the absorption bands. Then, the F-SFM algorithm was tested using both simulated and field-measured data with different Spectral Resolutions (SRs) and Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNRs). For data with an SR of 0.3 nm and without noise, the Relative Root Mean Square Error (RRMSE) was less than 14% within the spectral region that was studied, and the peak-value ratio (SIF735/SIF685) was accurately estimated with an RRMSE of 3.56%. In addition, the F-SFM algorithm proved less sensitive to the SR than the three-band Fraunhofer Line Discrimination (3 FLD) and improved FLD (iFLD) methods. In the case of the field spectral data with SRs of 3 nm and 0.3 nm, the double-peak shape and the diurnal variation trend of the SIF spectra could be reasonably reconstructed by F-SFM, and the retrieved SIF values at the O2-A and O2-B bands were consistent with those retrieved by 3FLD from data with a high SR (0.3 nm) and SNR (1000). Therefore, the F-SFM method can provide full-spectrum SIF information with high accuracy even at relatively low SRs and SNRs, and shows promise for use in applications involving the SIF shape information.

Improving Chlorophyll Fluorescence Retrieval Using Reflectance Reconstruction Based on Principal Components Analysis

Methods based on Fraunhofer line discrimination (FLD) for solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence retrieval require making assumptions or estimations about true reflectance, which is a large source of error, particularly at the O <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> -B band. This letter presents an alternative solution, which is named the pFLD method, based on principal components analysis to reconstruct the reflectance spectra. The principal components were generated with simulated reflectance spectra covering the most common conditions of vegetation. The pFLD method has been tested with both simulated and field experiment data sets. Compared with the widely used three-band FLD and improved FLD methods, pFLD showed better performance at the O <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> -B band, particularly when the spectral resolution (SR) or the signal-to-noise ratio was relatively low. The pFLD method can be also successfully applied to field measurements with credible accuracy even at low SR.

Magnetic propeller effect in the spectra of young stars

The origin of the blueshifted narrow absorption components in the resonance sodium doublet lines observed in the spectra of some young stars is discussed. Such components are assumed to be formed by the interaction of the circumstellar gas with the stellar magnetosphere in the magnetic propeller regime. The results of observations for the post UX Ori star RZ Psc are discussed in detail. This star shows distinctive signatures of mass outflow in the absence of any clear accretion signatures. Such a picture is quite possible in the magnetic propeller regime. Estimates show that for this regime to be realized, the star must have a surface magnetic field of ~1 kG at an accretion rate that does not exceed 10-10M. yr-1.

Intrinsic Optical Activity and Large-Amplitude Displacement: Conformational Flexibility in (R)-Glycidyl Methyl Ether.

The dispersive optical activity of (R)-(-)-glycidyl methyl ether (R-GME) has been interrogated under ambient vapor-phase and solution-phase conditions, with quantum-chemical analyses built on density functional (B3LYP and CAM-B3LYP) and coupled-cluster (CCSD) implementations of linear-response theory exploited to interpret experimental findings. Inherent flexibility of the heavy atom skeleton leads to nine low-lying structural isomers that possess distinct chiroptical and physicochemical properties, as evinced by marked changes in the magnitude and the sign of rotatory powers observed in various media. These species are interconverted by independent motion along two large-amplitude torsional coordinates and are stabilized differentially by interaction with the surroundings, thereby reapportioning their relative contributions to the collective response evoked from a thermally equilibrated ensemble. The intrinsic behavior exhibited by isolated (vapor-phase) R-GME molecules was calculated through use of both conformer-averaging and restricted vibrational-averaging procedures, the former affording moderately good agreement with measurements of optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) and the latter providing strong evidence for sizable effects arising from vibrational degrees of freedom. A similar conformer-averaging ansatz based on the polarizable-continuum model (PCM) for implicit solvation was deployed to elucidate R-GME specific-rotation parameters acquired for six dilute solutions. This approach gave reasonable predictions for sodium D-line (589.3 nm) experiments performed in the extremes of solvent polarity represented by cyclohexane and acetonitrile but failed to reproduce the overall shape of ORD profiles and suggested more complex processes might be involved in the case of an aromatic medium.

Simplified physically based retrieval of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence from GOSAT data

First global retrievals of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (F <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">8</sub> ) have been achieved in the last years by using data from the Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) onboard the Japanese Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT). The high spectral resolution (approximately 0.025 nm) of the FTS enables measurements of F <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">8</sub> by the evaluation of the in-filling of solar Fraunhofer lines around 755 nm. This study presents a new F <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">8</sub> retrieval algorithm (GARLiC, for GOSAT retrieval of chlorophyll fluorescence) and compares its results to F <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">8</sub> from two previously implemented approaches. GARLiC is intended to simplify some of the assumptions of existing retrieval approaches without a loss in retrieval accuracy. We show that GARLiC F <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">8</sub> retrievals are comparable to the previously used methods. We also assess the effect of clouds on F <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">8</sub> retrieval from GOSAT data through the analysis of the effect of different cloud filter thresholds on F <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">8</sub> time series. Our results show a low sensitivity of Fraunhofer-line-based F <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">8</sub> retrievals to cloud contamination.

SN 2011A: A LOW-LUMINOSITY INTERACTING TRANSIENT WITH A DOUBLE PLATEAU AND STRONG SODIUM ABSORPTION

We present optical photometry and spectroscopy of the optical transient SN 2011A. Our data span 140 days after discovery including ${BVRI}\;u\prime g\prime r\prime i\prime z\prime $ photometry and 11 epochs of optical spectroscopy. Originally classified as a type IIn supernova (SN IIn) due to the presence of narrow Hα emission, this object shows exceptional characteristics. First, the light curve shows a double plateau, a property only observed before in the impostor SN 1997bs. Second, SN 2011A has a very low luminosity (${M}_{V}=-15.72$), placing it between normal luminous SNe IIn and SN impostors. Third, SN 2011A shows low velocity and high equivalent width absorption close to the sodium doublet, which increases with time and is most likely of circumstellar origin. This evolution is also accompanied by a change in line profile; when the absorption becomes stronger, a P Cygni profile appears. We discuss SN 2011A in the context of interacting SNe IIn and SN impostors, which appears to confirm the uniqueness of this transient. While we favor an impostor origin for SN 2011A, we highlight the difficulty in differentiating between terminal and non-terminal interacting transients.

Capability of shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy under ambient daylight.

We present the capability of shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) under ambient daylight. A dual-wavelength diode laser emitting at 785 nm is used as the excitation light source. The monolithic diode laser provides more than 110 mW in cw operation. Both excitation lines show an emission width ≤0.2 cm(-1) and a spectral distance of 10 cm(-1) as targeted for SERDS. Polystyrene (PS) is used as the test sample and ambient daylight to generate real-world background interference. Here, a broadband background signal with narrowband absorption lines from water vapor and Fraunhofer lines from singly ionized calcium (Ca II) obscure the Raman lines of PS. SERDS clearly separates the Raman signals from the background signals with a 13-fold improvement in signal-to-background noise.

Detection of mosaic virus disease in cassava plants by sunlight-induced fluorescence imaging: a pilot study for proximal sensing

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) is a prominent virus infection that causes considerable crop damage and yield reduction. Early detection of crop damage by remote sensing could be a useful tool for initiating remedial measures to reduce further crop damage. This article presents a non-destructive method for detection and classification of CMD infection, based on the red:far-red chlorophyll (chl) fluorescence image ratio. This pilot study was carried out in 14 varieties of potted cassava plants (Manihot esculenta Crantz) with a multispectral imaging system (MSIS) consisting of an electron multiplying charge coupled device (EMCCD) camera. Sunlight-induced chl fluorescence (SICF) images of plant leaves were recorded using the MSIS at the Fraunhofer lines of O2-B at 687 nm and O2-A at 759.5 nm and their off-lines at 684 and 757.5 nm. The recorded images were analysed using the Fraunhofer line discrimination (FLD) technique to extract the SICF from the solar reflectance in the recorded images. The chl fluorescence image ratio (red:far-red, F687:F760) was computed and correlated with the laser-induced chl fluorescence (LICF) ratio (F685:F735) determined by point monitoring, chl content variation, and the net photosynthetic rate (Pn). The scatter plot of the F687:F760 image ratio showed good discrimination between different levels of CMD infection as evidenced by the high sensitivity and specificity values. It is observed that the fluorescence image ratio (F687:F760) has a good correlation with Pn (coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.85), chl content (R2 = 0.82), and the LICF ratio (F685:F735) (R2 = 0.80), thereby highlighting the potential of the SICF image ratio in the discrimination of CMD infection. The results clearly indicate that changes in the red:far-red fluorescence image ratio due to CMD stress can easily be detected at an early stage and the technique has great potential for monitoring the health of crops and vegetation from proximal sensing platforms.

OMI 구름 측정 자료들의 비교 분석과 그에 따른 오존 측정에 미치는 영향 평가

The presences of clouds significantly influence the accuracy of ozone retrievals from satellite measurements. This study focuses on the influence of clouds on Ozone Monitoring instrument (OMI) ozone profile retrieval based on an optimal estimation. There are two operational OMI cloud products; OMCLDO2, based on absorption in at 477 nm, and OMCLDRR, based on filling in Fraunhofer lines by rotational Raman scattering (RRS) at 350 nm. Firstly, we characterize differences between and RRS effective cloud pressures using MODIS cloud optical thickness (COT), and then compare ozone profile retrievals with different cloud input data. cloud pressures are significantly smaller than RRS by ~200 hPa in thin clouds, which corresponds to either low COT or cloud fraction (CF). On the other hand, the effect of Optical centroid pressure (OCP) on ozone retrievals becomes significant at high CF. Tropospheric ozone retrievals could differ by up to DU with the different cloud inputs. The layer column ozone below 300 hPa shows the cloud-induced ozone retrieval error of more than 20%. Finally, OMI total ozone is validated with respect to Brewer ground-based total ozone. A better agreement is observed when cloud data are used in OMI ozone profile retrieval algorithm. This is distinctly observed at low OCP and high CF.