| 1. |
- Burrascano, S., et al.
(author)
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Where are we now with European forest multi-taxon biodiversity and where can we head to?
- 2023
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In: Biological Conservation. - 0006-3207. ; 284
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The European biodiversity and forest strategies rely on forest sustainable management (SFM) to conserve forest biodiversity. However, current sustainability assessments hardly account for direct biodiversity indicators. We focused on forest multi-taxon biodiversity to: i) gather and map the existing information; ii) identify knowledge and research gaps; iii) discuss its research potential. We established a research network to fit data on species, standing trees, lying deadwood and sampling unit description from 34 local datasets across 3591 sampling units. A total of 8724 species were represented, with the share of common and rare species varying across taxonomic classes: some included many species with several rare ones (e.g., Insecta); others (e.g., Bryopsida) were repre-sented by few common species. Tree-related structural attributes were sampled in a subset of sampling units (2889; 2356; 2309 and 1388 respectively for diameter, height, deadwood and microhabitats). Overall, multi-taxon studies are biased towards mature forests and may underrepresent the species related to other develop-mental phases. European forest compositional categories were all represented, but beech forests were over-represented as compared to thermophilous and boreal forests. Most sampling units (94%) were referred to a habitat type of conservation concern. Existing information may support European conservation and SFM stra-tegies in: (i) methodological harmonization and coordinated monitoring; (ii) definition and testing of SFM in-dicators and thresholds; (iii) data-driven assessment of the effects of environmental and management drivers on multi-taxon forest biological and functional diversity, (iv) multi-scale forest monitoring integrating in-situ and remotely sensed information.
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| 4. |
- Bender, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Comparison of nitric oxide measurements in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere from ACE-FTS, MIPAS, SCIAMACHY, and SMR
- 2015
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In: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1867-1381 .- 1867-8548. ; 8:10, s. 4171-4195
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We compare the nitric oxide measurements in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (60 to 150 km) from four instruments: the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment–Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS), the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS), the SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY), and the Sub-Millimetre Radiometer (SMR). We use the daily zonal mean data in that altitude range for the years 2004–2010 (ACE-FTS), 2005–2012 (MIPAS), 2008–2012 (SCIAMACHY), and 2003–2012 (SMR).We first compare the data qualitatively with respect to the morphology, focussing on the major features, and then compare the time series directly and quantitatively. In three geographical regions, we compare the vertical density profiles on coincident measurement days. Since none of the instruments delivers continuous daily measurements in this altitude region, we carried out a multi-linear regression analysis. This regression analysis considers annual and semi-annual variability in the form of harmonic terms and inter-annual variability by responding linearly to the solar Lyman-α radiation index and the geomagnetic Kp index. This analysis helps to find similarities and differences in the individual data sets with respect to the inter-annual variations caused by geomagnetic and solar variability.
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| 5. |
- Carasco, C., et al.
(author)
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In-field tests of the EURITRACK tagged neutron inspection system
- 2008
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In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 588:3, s. 397-405
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The EURopean Illicit TRAfficking Countermeasures Kit (EURITRACK) inspection system has been designed to complement X-ray scanners in the detection of explosives and other illicit materials hidden in cargo containers. The containers are interrogated by a 14-MeV tagged neutron beam at any suspect position in the X-ray image. Interrogation of a specific volume element with tagged neutrons yields information about the chemical composition of the material. Implementation and performance tests of the EURITRACK system in the Port of Rijeka in Croatia are described. Cargo container inspection results are reported and discussed.
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| 6. |
- Emmert, J. T., et al.
(author)
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NRLMSIS 2.1: An Empirical Model of Nitric Oxide Incorporated Into MSIS
- 2022
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 127:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have developed an empirical model of nitric oxide (NO) number density at altitudes from similar to 73 km to the exobase, as a function of altitude, latitude, day of year, solar zenith angle, solar activity, and geomagnetic activity. The model is part of the NRLMSIS (R) 2.1 empirical model of atmospheric temperature and species densities; this upgrade to NRLMSIS 2.0 consists solely of the addition of NO. MSIS 2.1 assimilates observations from six space-based instruments: UARS/HALOE, SNOE, Envisat/MIPAS, ACE/FTS, Odin/SMR, and AIM/SOFIE. We additionally evaluated the new model against independent extant NO data sets. In this paper, we describe the formulation and fitting of the model, examine biases between the data sets and model and among the data sets, compare with another empirical NO model (NOEM), and discuss scientific aspects of our analysis.
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| 7. |
- Funke, B., et al.
(author)
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HEPPA-II model-measurement intercomparison project: EPP indirect effects during the dynamically perturbed NH winter 2008-2009
- 2017
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In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 17:5, s. 3573-3604
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We compare simulations from three high-top (with upper lid above 120 km) and five medium-top (with upper lid around 80 km) atmospheric models with observations of odd nitrogen (NOx D NO+NO2), temperature, and carbon monoxide from seven satellite instruments (ACE-FTS on SciSat, GOMOS, MIPAS, and SCIAMACHY on Envisat, MLS on Aura, SABER on TIMED, and SMR on Odin) during the Northern Hemisphere (NH) polar winter 2008/2009. The models included in the comparison are the 3-D chemistry transport model 3dCTM, the ECHAM5/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) model, FinROSE, the Hamburg Model of the Neutral and Ionized Atmosphere (HAMMO-NIA), the Karlsruhe Simulation Model of the Middle Atmosphere (KASIMA), the modelling tools for SOlar Climate Ozone Links studies (SOCOL and CAO-SOCOL), and the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM4). The comparison focuses on the energetic particle precipitation (EPP) indirect effect, that is, the polar winter descent of NOx largely produced by EPP in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. A particular emphasis is given to the impact of the sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) in January 2009 and the subsequent elevated stratopause (ES) event associated with enhanced descent of mesospheric air. The chemistry climate model simulations have been nudged toward reanalysis data in the troposphere and stratosphere while being unconstrained above. An odd nitrogen upper boundary condition obtained from MIPAS observations has further been applied to medium-top models. Most models provide a good representation of the mesospheric tracer descent in general, and the EPP indirect effect in particular, during the unperturbed (pre-SSW) period of the NH winter 2008/2009. The observed NOx descent into the lower mesosphere and stratosphere is generally reproduced within 20 %. Larger discrepancies of a few model simulations could be traced back either to the impact of the models' gravity wave drag scheme on the polar wintertime meridional circulation or to a combination of prescribed NOx mixing ratio at the uppermost model layer and low vertical resolution. In March-April, after the ES event, however, modelled mesospheric and stratospheric NOx distributions deviate significantly from the observations. The too-fast and early downward propagation of the NO x tongue, encountered in most simulations, coincides with a temperature high bias in the lower mesosphere (0.2-0.05 hPa), likely caused by an overestimation of descent velocities. In contrast, upper-mesospheric temperatures (at 0.05-0.001 hPa) are generally underestimated by the high-top models after the onset of the ES event, being indicative for too-slow descent and hence too-low NOx fluxes. As a consequence, the magnitude of the simulated NOx tongue is generally underestimated by these models. Descending NOx amounts simulated with mediumtop models are on average closer to the observations but show a large spread of up to several hundred percent. This is primarily attributed to the different vertical model domains in which the NOx upper boundary condition is applied. In general, the intercomparison demonstrates the ability of state-of- the-art atmospheric models to reproduce the EPP indirect effect in dynamically and geomagnetically quiescent NH winter conditions. The encountered differences between observed and simulated NOx, CO, and temperature distributions during the perturbed phase of the 2009 NH winter, however, emphasize the need for model improvements in the dynamical representation of elevated stratopause events in order to allow for a better description of the EPP indirect effect under these particular conditions.
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| 8. |
- Gierlik, M., et al.
(author)
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Comparative study of large NaI(Tl) and BGO scintillators for the EURopean illicit TRAfficking countermeasures kit project
- 2005
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- One of the essential requirements of the Tagged Neutron Inspection System, which is the principle of the EURITRACK project, is an efficient and inexpensive gamma ray detector. For this purpose properties of cylindrical 3"×3" and 5"×5" BGO, and 3"×3", two different 5"×5", and a rectangular 5"×5" ×10" NaI(Tl) scintillators were explored. In this communication we report on light yield, energy and time resolution of the investigated crystals at high energies of γ-rays. Additionally, results of Monte Carlo simulations of the crystals' efficiencies are compared to peak-to-total ratios obtained experimentally for various combinations of PMTs and the scintillators.
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| 9. |
- Gierlik, M., et al.
(author)
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Comparative study of large NaI(Tl) and BGO scintillators for the EURopean Illicit TRAfficking Countermeasures Kit project
- 2006
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In: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). - 0018-9499 .- 1558-1578. ; 53:3, s. 1737-1743
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Tagged Neutron Inspection System, which is the principle of the EURITRACK project, requires efficient and inexpensive gamma-ray detectors. For this purpose, properties of 3 x 3 and 5 x 5 cylindrical BGO and NaI(TI) scintillators and of a 5 x 5 x 10 rectangular NaI(TI) scintillator were determined. 14 Light yield, energy and time resolution of the investigated crystals at the energy of few MeVs of gamma-rays are emphasized. Additionally, the crystals efficiencies calculated with Monte Carlo simulations are compared to peak-to-total ratios obtained experimentally for various combinations of PMTs and the scintillators.
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| 10. |
- Perot, B., et al.
(author)
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Development of the EURITRACK tagged neutron inspection system
- 2007
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In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-583X .- 1872-9584. ; 261:02-jan, s. 295-298
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The EURopean Illicit TRAfficing Countermeasures Kit (EURITRACK) project is part of the 6th European Union Framework Program. It aims at developing a Tagged Neutron Inspection System (TNIS) to detect illicit materials, such as explosives and narcotics, in cargo containers. Fast neutron induced reactions produce specific gamma-rays used to determine the chemical composition of the inspected material. The associated particle technique is employed to precisely locate the interaction points of the neutrons. A new deuterium-tritium neutron generator has been developed, including a pixelized alpha particle detector. The TNIS also comprises high-efficiency fast neutron and gamma-ray detectors, a dedicated front-end electronics and an integrated software to entirely drive the system and automatically process the data. Most components have been integrated during last months at Institute Ruder Boskovic, in Zagreb, Croatia. An overview of the TNIS and of its preliminary performances is presented.
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| 11. |
- Perot, B., et al.
(author)
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Measurement of 14 MeV neutron-induced prompt gamma-ray spectra from 15 elements found in cargo containers
- 2008
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In: Applied Radiation and Isotopes. - : Elsevier BV. - 0969-8043 .- 1872-9800. ; 66:4, s. 421-434
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Within the EURopean Illicit TRAfficking Countermeasures Kit (EURITRACK) project, the gamma-ray spectra produced in a series of materials by 14-MeV tagged-neutron beams have been collected in the inspection portal equipped with large volume Nal(Tl) detectors, in order to build a database of signatures for various elements: C, N, O, Na, Al, Si, Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb. The measured spectra have been compared with prediction from Monte Carlo simulations to verify the consistency of the relevant nuclear data inputs. This library of measured 14-MeV neutron-induced gamma-ray spectra is currently used in a data processing algorithm to unfold the energy spectra of the transported goods into elementary contributions, thus allowing material identification.
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| 12. |
- Perot, B., et al.
(author)
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The EURITRACK project : Development of a tagged neutron inspection system for cargo containers
- 2006
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In: Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng. - : SPIE. - 0819462691 - 9780819462695
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The EURopean Illicit TRAfficing Countermeasures Kit project is part of the 6th European Union Framework Program, and aims at developing a neutron inspection system for detecting threat materials (explosives, drugs, etc.) in cargo containers. Neutron interaction in the container produces specific gamma-rays used to determine the chemical composition of the inspected material. An associated particle sealed tube neutron generator is developed to allow precise location of the interaction point by direction and time-of-flight measurements of the neutrons tagged by alpha-particles. The EURITRACK project consists in developing: a transportable deuterium-tritium neutron generator including a position sensitive alpha detector (8×8 matrix of YAP:Ce crystals coupled to a multi-anode photomultiplier), fast neutron and gamma-ray detectors, front-end electronics to perform coincidence and spectroscopic measurements, and an integrated software which manages neutron generator and detectors positioning, data acquisition and analysis. Hardware components have been developed and tested by the consortium partners. Current status of this work and provisional performances of the system assessed by Monte Carlo calculations are presented.
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| 13. |
- Viesti, G., et al.
(author)
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Scanning cargo containers with tagged neutrons
- 2007
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In: 7th Latin American Symposium on Nuclear Physics and Applications. - : American Institute of Physics (AIP). - 0735404615 - 9780735404618 ; , s. 57-62
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A new Tagged Neutron Inspection System (TNIS) able to detect illicit materials such as explosives and narcotics in cargo containers has been developed within the EURopean Illicit TRAfficing Countermeasures Kit (EURITRACK) project. After the R&D phase, the inspection portal has been installed and commissioned at the Rijeka seaport in Croatia, where it has been operated in connection with the existing X-ray scanner for a first two-month demonstration campaign. Results obtained are presented and discussed in this paper.
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