Ozone trend estimation using MIPAS ESA Level 2 Version 7 data

The largest part of the Earth's atmosphere ozone is located in the stratosphere, forming the so-called ozone layer. This layer played a key role in the development of life on Earth and still protects the planet from the most Dangerous ultraviolet radiation. After the discovery of the high ozone depletion potential of some anthropogenic origin substances (e.g. chlorofluorocarbons), some limitations in the production of the major ozone-depleting substances (ODS) have been applied with the Montreal Protocol in 1987.

Computing the Jordan structure of an eigenvalue

In this paper we revisit the problem of finding an orthogonal similarity transformation that puts an $n\times n$ matrix $A$ in a block upper-triangular form that reveals its Jordan structure at a particular eigenvalue $\lambda_0$. The obtained form in fact reveals the dimensions of the null spaces of $(A-\lambda_0 I)^i$ at that eigenvalue via the sizes of the leading diagonal blocks, and from this the Jordan structure at $\lambda_0$ is then easily recovered. The method starts from a Hessenberg form that already reveals several properties of the Jordan structure of $A$.

CCl4 distribution derived from MIPAS ESA V7 data: validation, trend and lifetime estimation

Atmospheric emissions of Carbon tetrachloride CCl4 are regulated by the Montreal Protocol due to its role as a strong ozone-depleting substance. The molecule has been the subject of recent increased interest as a consequence of the so called ``mystery of CCl4,'' the discrepancy between atmospheric observations and reported production and consumption. Surface measurements of CCl4 atmospheric concentrations have declined at a rate almost three times smaller than its lifetime-limited rate, suggesting persistent atmospheric emissions despite the ban.

The influence of solar x-ray flares on sar meteorology: The determination of the wet component of the tropospheric phase delay and precipitable water vapor

In this work, we study the impact of high-energy radiation induced by solar X-ray flares on the determination of the temporal change in precipitable water vapor (?PWV) as estimated using the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) meteorology technique. As recent research shows, this radiation can significantly affect the ionospheric D-region and induces errors in the estimation of the total electron content (TEC) by the applied models.

Mathematical modelling of experimental data for crystallization inhibitors

In this paper, we propose a new mathematical model describing the effect of phosphocitrate (PC) on sodium sulphate crystallization inside bricks. This model describes salt and water transport, and crystal formation in a one dimensional symmetry. This is a preliminary study that takes into account mathematically the effects of inhibitors inside a porous stone. To this aim, we introduce two model parameters: the crystallization rate coefficient, which depends on the nucleation rate, and the specific volume of precipitated salt.

Phosgene distribution derived from MIPAS ESA v8 data: intercomparisons and trends

The Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) measured the middle-infrared limb emission spectrum of the atmosphere from 2002 to 2012 on board ENVISAT, a polar-orbiting satellite. Recently, the European Space Agency (ESA) completed the final reprocessing of MIPAS measurements, using version 8 of the level 1 and level 2 processors, which include more accurate models, processing strategies, and auxiliary data. The list of retrieved gases has been extended, and it now includes a number of new species with weak emission features in the MIPAS spectral range.

Table-top combined scanning X-ray small angle scattering and transmission microscopies of lipid vesicles dispersed in free-standing gel

A mm thick free-standing gel containing lipid vesicles made of 2-oleoyl-1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) was studied by scanning Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and X-ray Transmission (XT) microscopies. Raster scanning relatively large volumes, besides reducing the risk of radiation damage, allows signal integration, improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), as well as high statistical significance of the dataset. The persistence of lipid vesicles in gel was demonstrated, while mapping their spatial distribution and concentration gradients.