Satellite scatterometers have recently gained popularity due to their unique ability to measure global geophysical data on a daily basis. Increased interest in scatterometry mandates improved design and calibration of these instruments. This dissertation presents new techniques for scatterometer calibration and addresses issues related to the design of future instruments and applications. First, the use of a calibration ground station is considered. A new methodology is established for calibration of SeaWinds, NASA's current scatterometer, using a receive-only ground station. Principles of the methodology are implemented, new analysis techniques developed, and important results obtained for instrument timing, frequency, power, position, and pointing. Second, an investigation into methods for calibration of measurement surface location is conducted. Two new approaches are proposed and results of both approaches using SeaWinds data are provided. Third, measurement correlation, a critical issue related to new scatterometer designs, particularly those which significantly oversample the surface is considered. General statistical expressions for measurement correlation are derived and analysis of the effects on data variance is presented. Finally, a new data simulation model is developed to support instrument and application development. New applications require sophisticated models which are general, yet accurate, enabling them to rapidly and easily simulate data from multiple instruments. The model generates data which is statistically equivalent (in a mean and variance sense) to actual scatterometer measurements by separately accounting for the two main forms of variation present in scatterometer data, multiplicative fading and additive noise, and also accounting for correlation between measurements. The model is valuable for a variety of data applications including image generation and high resolution wind retrieval.

The Ku-band SeaWinds-on-QuikSCAT scatterometer (QuikSCAT) operated continuously from 1999 to 2009. Though its primary mission was to estimate global ocean winds, QuikSCAT has proven useful in a variety of geophysical studies using land backscatter measurements. The end of the primary QuikSCAT mission in 2009 has prompted interest for continuing the QuikSCAT land dataset with other scatterometers. The Oceansat-2 scatterometer (OSCAT), launched in 2009, is a viable candidate for continuing the QuikSCAT time series because of the similarities of both sensors in function and design. An important difference in the sensors is that they operate at slightly different incidence angles. Continuing the time series requires careful cross-calibration of the two sensors. Because the sensor datasets overlapped by only a few weeks in late 2009, the amount of simultaneous data is insufficient to describe temporal and locational variations in the relative calibration, or difference between QuikSCAT and OSCAT measurements. To overcome this limitation, we perform direct and model-based comparisons of temporally-disjoint QuikSCAT and OSCAT global land measurements to describe the relative calibration. Using homogeneous rainforest targets, we also identify drift and azimuthal biases in the OSCAT dataset and present suggestions for removing them. The relative calibration is found to vary locationally by several tenths of a decibel over certain regions. Evidence is presented that suggests the relative calibration is dependent on environmental factors such as vegetation density and freeze-thaw status and results from the different incidence angles of the measurements.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

<p>  </p> <p>The Leafspec portable imaging device had provided a reliable low-cost hyperspectral image acquisition solution to a wide range of users. The Leafspec implemented a enclosed imaging environment and a build-in halogen light source, which eliminated the influence of ambient light. However, a uniform light source was hard to achieve due to dimension and power restrains. White Reference, in many cases refer to an image of a uniform white material such as a Teflon board. White Referencing is a widely used calibration technique in the effort of minimizing noises in an image, including ones that are induced by the light source. However, an abnormal spatial distribution was found remained in images collected by Leafspec even after performing White Referencing technique. In hypothesis, the huge spectral difference between Teflon board and leaves caused this issue. Following this assumption, this article proposed to use a uniform section of soybean leaf to create a Green Reference for calibrating hyperspectral images. In our experiment, 20 green reference samples were collected by imaging a 15 𝑚𝑚 × 15 𝑚𝑚 most uniform section from soybean leaf along a 100 𝑚𝑚 imaging window with a 5 𝑚𝑚 increment. </p>

<p> A coarse grained amphibolite from the metamorphosed rim of the Whitestone Anorthosite was prepared in several ways for the purpose of determining the modal abundance of the constituent minerals by calibrated X-ray diffraction. A simple two component amphibolite consisting of plagioclase and amphibole was chosen and five major methods of mounting the specimens for X-ray diffraction were employed.</p> <p> It was hoped that a method could be found which would produce randomly oriented, homogeneous samples. A series of such samples each of a different component ratio would then provide a calibration curve from which the mode of a whole rock specimen could be estimated.</p> <p> The calibrated X-ray charts were produced on Philips scanning X-ray diffractometers.</p> <p> The inconsistencies in the results indicate that better technical procedures are required.</p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

The finite element analysis (FEA) is a numerical method widely used to predict the metal-cutting performance in both academic and industrial studies, avoiding the high expense and time consumption of experimental methods. The problem is how to calibrate reliable fracture-parameters as chip-separation criterion are implemented into FEA modelling. This thesis introduces a calibration method of the Johnson-Cook fracture parameters used in the orthogonal metal cutting modelling with a positive rake angle for AISI 1045 steel. These fracture parameters were obtained based on a set of quasi-static tensile tests, with smooth and pre-notched round bars at room temperature and elevated temperatures. The fracture parameters were validated by low- and high-strain rate simulations corresponding to tensile tests and orthogonal metal-cutting processes respectively in ABAQUS/Explicit. Compared to literature calibration methods, this method is simpler, less expensive but valid. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

<p> The Arrhenius equation for the ring opening isomerization of cyclopropylmethyl radicals (R•) to 3-buten-1-yl radicals (R•') for the 303-362 K temperature range was determined by thermolysis of cyclopropylmethyl [1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl] diazene in the presence of excess 1,1,3,3-tetra-methylisoindolin-2-yloxyl (Y•).</p> <p> Rate constants for coupling of R• with Y• were assumed to be proportional to diffusion controlled rate constants (kd) and rate constants (ki) for the isomerization were calculated from kd (corrected) and product ratios (RY/R'Y). The temperature dependence of ki, given by log(ki/s^-1) = (13.9 ± 0.4) - (7.6 ± 0.1)/θ, is significantly different from that determined by Ingold and co-workers by kinetic epr spectroscopy in the temperature range 128-153 K; log(ki/s^-1) = (11.34 ± 0.85) - (5.94 ± 0.57)/θ, where θ = 2.3 RT kcal mol^-1.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

<p> An inexpensive method was developed for the conversion of a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system for use with 1 mm I.D. microbore columns. Chromatographic performance of the system was tested under both isocratic and gradient elution conditions, using a standard mixture of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).</p> <p> The microbore column HPLC was also coupled to a mass spectrometer equipped with a moving belt interface. Chromatographic performance under isocratic and gradient elution and mass spectral performance under scanning and selected ion monitoring modes were tested using the PAH standard.</p> <p> A marine sediment extract was subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis for PAH. Qualitative results on the sample were obtained from a combination of retention indices, mass spectra, and retention times. Quantitation was performed by microbore column liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) in the selected ion monitoring mode of operation. The method of calibration used was external calibration.</p> <p> The microbore column HPLC system exhibited good chromatographic behavior. Resolution, peak shape and short term retention time reproducibility were good, although, long term retention time fluctuations, due to changing mobile phase flow rates, were noted.</p> <p> The combination of microbore column HPLC with a moving belt interface and mass spectrometer gave excellent results. Problems commonly encountered with conventional column (4.6 mm I.D.) LC/MS, such as backstreaming, droplet formation, and splattering were greatly reduced, resulting in no apparent loss of chromatographic integrity and stable mass spectrometer operating conditions. These operating conditions proved to be most advantageous in the quantitative analysis of the marine sediment extract by selected ion monitoring.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun in the Solar System and because of this, its study has been a challenging task. BepiColombo/MMO is an orbiter part of a mission to Mercury with the goal of studying Mercury's magnetic field and magnetosphere. The orbiter is being developed by ISAS-JAXA. The studies are done using a five instruments payload. One of them is the Mercury Plasma Particle Experiment (MPPE) which will study low and high energy electrons/ions and energetic neutrals. The low-energy ion measurements are done using the Mercury Ion Analyzer (MIA) sensor, which is part of the MPPE.The MIA sensor requires calibration and testing to ensure its adequate operation. The testing will prove that the MIA sensor will be able to operate adequately in the Bepi-Colombo mission. This thesis work covers a series of factors that are required to verify the performance of the sensor. These factors are the degradation of the Micro-Channel Plate over time, the survival to vibration and thermal vacuum environments and the development of the software model of the sensor. These factors were evaluated with a MCP life test, qualification testing on the form of vibration and thermal vacuum tests and comparison of the sensor model response to the expected plasma environment around Mercury.The results of the MCP life test show that the MCP degrades faster at high temperatures, however, it will be able to survive the two year mission to Mercury. The qualification testing showed that the MIA sensor is able to withstand the vibration conditions in the mission. However, it will be until a new thermal vacuum test is done that it will be considered that the MIA sensor can withstand the expected thermal conditions. Finally, the response of the software model of the MIA sensor is in accordance to the expected plasma environment around Mercury. Therefore, it could be used to test the accuracy of the velocity moments calculation of the MDP1 software. Overall, the calibration and testing of the MIA sensor still continues. However, the results so far show that it will probe that it can operate under the conditions that the BepiColombo mission requires. / <p>Validerat; 20121116 (global_studentproject_submitter)</p>

Tracking small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) becomes increasingly important with their increased use in populated areas. We propose an effective tracking solution for SUAS using a networked system of one-dimensional scanning radars. Tracking SUAS with a network of radar systems requires extrinsic calibration of each radar to a common frame. We provide a calibration solution using an orthogonal Procrustes formulation that associates radar measurements from the ground-mounted radar to real-time-kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK-GPS) data. Two variations of the calibration are presented, an online and batch processing method. Outdoor hardware experiments validate the capabilities of the radar network in tracking SUASs. The advantages and disadvantages of the two calibration methods are also illustrated with simulation and hardware tests.