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Miller, W. F.

Publications and source records attributed to Miller, W. F..

At least 19 records

Angular Distribution Models for Top-of-Atmosphere Radiative Flux Estimation from the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System Instrument on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Satellite: Methodology - Part 1

Clouds and the Earth s Radiant Energy System (CERES) investigates the critical role that clouds and aerosols play in modulating the radiative energy flow within the Earth-atmosphere system. CERES builds upon the foundation laid by previous missions, such as the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment, to provide highly accurate top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiative fluxes together with coincident cloud and aerosol properties inferred from high-resolution imager measurements. This paper describes the method used to construct empirical angular distribution models (ADMs) for estimating shortwave, longwave, and window TOA radiative fluxes from CERES radiance measurements on board the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite. To construct the ADMs, multiangle CERES measurements are combined with coincident high-resolution Visible Infrared Scanner measurements and meteorological parameters from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts data assimilation product. The ADMs are stratified by scene types defined by parameters that have a strong influence on the angular dependence of Earth's radiation field at the TOA. Examples of how the new CERES ADMs depend upon the imager-based parameters are provided together with comparisons with existing models.

Loeb, N. G.

Application of remote sensing to state and regional problems

Progress was made in the hydroclimatology, habitat modeling and inventory, computer analysis, wildlife management, and data comparison programs that utilize LANDSAT and SEASAT data provided to Mississippi researchers through the remote sensing applications program. Specific topics include water runoff in central Mississippi, habitat models for the endangered gopher tortoise, coyote, and turkey Geographic Information Systems (GIS) development, forest inventory along the Mississipppi River, and the merging of LANDSAT and SEASAT data for enhanced forest type discrimination.

Miller, W. F.

Application of remote sensing to state and regional problems

The objectives, accomplishments, and future plans of several LANDSAT applications projects in Mississippi are discussed. The applications include land use planning in Lowandes County, strip mine inventory and reclamation, white tailed deer habitat evaluation, data analysis support systems, discrimination of forest habitats in potential lignite areas, changes in gravel operations, and determination of freshwater wetlands for inventory and monitoring. In addition, a conceptual design for a LANDSAT based information system is discussed.

Miller, W. F.

Discrimination of unique biological communities in the Mississippi lignite belt

Small scale hardcopy LANDSAT prints were manually interpreted and color infrared aerial photography was obtained in an effort to identify and map large contiguous areas of old growth hardwood stands within Mississippi's lignite belt which do not exhibit signs of recent disturbance by agriculture, grazing, timber harvesting, fire, or any natural catastrophe, and which may, therefore, contain unique or historical ecological habitat types. An information system using land cover classes derived from digital LANDSAT data and containing information on geology, hydrology, soils, and cultural activities was developed. Using computer-assisted land cover classifications, all hardwood remnants in the study area which are subject to possible disturbance from surface mining were determined. Twelve rare plants were also identified by botanists.

Miller, W. F.

Application of remote sensing to state and regional problems

The methods and procedures used, accomplishments, current status, and future plans are discussed for each of the following applications of LANDSAT in Mississippi: (1) land use planning in Lowndes County; (2) strip mine inventory and reclamation; (3) white-tailed deer habitat evaluation; (4) remote sensing data analysis support systems; (5) discrimination of unique forest habitats in potential lignite areas; (6) changes in gravel operations; and (7) determining freshwater wetlands for inventory and monitoring. The documentation of all existing software and the integration of the image analysis and data base software into a single package are now considered very high priority items.

Miller, W. F.

The Viking seismometry

Efforts were made to determine the seismicity of Mars as well as define its internal structure by detecting vibrations generated by marsquakes and meteoroid impacts. The lack of marsquakes recognized in the Viking data made it impossible to make any direct inferences about the interior of Mars and only allowed the setting of upper bounds on the seismic activity of the planet. After obtaining more than 2100 hours worth of data during the quite periods at rates of one sample per second or higher, the Viking 2 seismometer was turned off as a consequence of a landing system failure. During the periods when adequate data were obtained, one event of possible seismic or meteoroid impact origin was recognized; however, there is a significant probability that this event was generated by a wind gust.

Lazarewicz, A. R.

Application of remote sensing to state and regional problems

Progress is reported in the following areas: remote sensing applications to land use planning Lowndes County, applications of LANDSAT data to strip mine inventory and reclamation, white tailed deer habitat evaluation using LANDSAT data, remote sensing data analysis support system, and discrimination of unique forest habitats in potential lignite areas of Mississippi. Other projects discussed include LANDSAT change discrimination in gravel operations, environmental impact modeling for highway corridors, and discrimination of fresh water wetlands for inventory and monitoring.

Miller, W. F.

Application of remote sensing to state and regional problems

The author has identified the following significant results. The Lowndes County data base is essentially complete with 18 primary variables and 16 proximity variables encoded into the geo-information system. The single purpose, decision tree classifier is now operational. Signatures for the thematic extraction of strip mines from LANDSAT Digital data were obtained by employing both supervised and nonsupervised procedures. Dry, blowing sand areas of beach were also identified from the LANDSAT data. The primary procedure was the analysis of analog data on the I2S signal slicer.

Miller, W. F.

Development of a tree classifier for discrimination of surface mine activity from Landsat digital data

In a cooperative project with the Geological Survey of Alabama, the Mississippi State Remote Sensing Applications Program has developed a single purpose, decision-tree classifier using band-ratioing techniques to discriminate various stages of surface mining activity. The tree classifier has four levels and employs only two channels in classification at each level. An accurate computation of the amount of disturbed land resulting from the mining activity can be made as a product of the classification output. The utilization of Landsat data provides a cost-efficient, rapid, and accurate means of monitoring surface mining activities.

Solomon, J. L.

Use of a bubble tiltmeter as a horizontal seismometer

A bubble tiltmeter has been used as a horizontal seismometer. With the appropriate filters, the bubble system has good response for displacement over the passband of conventional seismometers (from about 10 Hz to 200 s), and for tilt from about 1 Hz to DC. The accuracy of the response is confirmed by comparing the filtered bubble output to conventional seismic instruments. The agreement between the filtered bubble records and broad band and short period conventional records is extremely good in every case. The small size, broad-band response, and lack of moving parts make the bubble ideal as an instrument for remote environments. In particular, the instrument seems ideal for the ocean bottom, land and marine boreholes and planetary missions.

Miller, W. F.

Seismology on Mars

High-quality data (uncontaminated by lander or wind noise) obtained with a three-axis short-period seismometer operating on Mars in the Utopia Planitia region are analyzed. No large events have been detected during the first five months of operation covered in the present paper. This indicates that Mars is less seismically active than the earth. Winds, and therefore a seismic background, began to intrude into the nighttime hours, starting with sol 119 (sol is a Martian day). The seismic background correlates well with wind velocity, and is proportional to the square of the wind velocity, as is appropriate for turbulent flow. A local seismic event of a magnitude of 3 and a distance of 110 km was detected on sol 80. It is interpreted as a natural seismic event.

Anderson, D. L.

Application of remote sensing to state and regional programs

The problem includes data acquisition and transformation to products acceptable to the users. Optimized institutionalization of data management, product transfer, and education of the user community are also of major concern. With respect to the lattice, various structures were suggested and the fields of application are presented.

Miller, W. F.

The Viking seismometer

The Viking seismometer, operating on the Martian surface in the region of Utopia Planitia, includes three inertial velocity transducers, amplifiers, filters, automatic event detectors, data compactors, and temporary data storage capability within a unit weighing 2.2 kg. The seismometer functions at a peak magnification of 218,000 with a ground resolution of 2 nanosec and 3 Hz. Since the telemetry capacities associated with the system are limited, the seismometer instrument package employs three data processing modes: a high sampling rate mode; a heavily filtered background monitoring mode; and a frequently-used data compacting mode.

Miller, W. F.

The Viking seismic experiment

A three-axis short-period seismometer is now operating on Mars in the Utopia Planitia region. The noise background correlates well with wind gusts. Although no quakes have been detected in the first 60 days of observation, it is premature to draw any conclusions about the seismicity of Mars. The instrument is expected to return data for at least 2 years.

Anderson, D. L.