Abstract: A method for characterizing a state of a planetary atmosphere or of a part of the atmosphere, especially of the ionosphere of the earth includes determining values of an ionization state, especially of an electron density and/or of an electron content, in the atmosphere or in the part of the atmosphere as a function of a location variable and as a function of a time variable and determining at least one characteristic quantity for the atmosphere or the part of the atmosphere. The characteristic quantity is determined on the basis of the values of the ionization state found for the atmosphere or the part of the atmosphere.

Abstract: A process and a device for the automatic rectification of images, where at least one image is rectified by a mapping function onto a reference image and at least some of the parameters of the mapping function are unknown are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the processing of remote sensing data, especially remote sensing data recorded by a satellite. A plurality of processing routines for processing the remote sensing data is available or is prepared. A defined requirement on the use of the remote sensing data is entered by the use of an interface. In a linker, the defined requirement is used to select a certain number of processing routines and to link them together, so that the selected processing routines can process the remote sensing data in such a way that the defined requirement is fulfilled.

Abstract: The invention relates to the processing of remote sensing data, especially remote sensing data recorded by a satellite. A plurality of processing routines for processing the remote sensing data is available or is prepared. A defined requirement on the use of the remote sensing data is entered by the use of an interface. In a linker, the defined requirement is used to select a certain number of processing routines and to link them together, so that the selected processing routines can process the remote sensing data in such a way that the defined requirement is fulfilled.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a state of a planetary atmosphere or of a part of the atmosphere, especially of the ionosphere of the earth includes determining values of an ionization state, especially of an electron density and/or of an electron content, in the atmosphere or in the part of the atmosphere as a function of a location variable and as a function of a time variable and determining at least one characteristic quantity for the atmosphere or the part of the atmosphere. The characteristic quantity is determined on the basis of the values of the ionization state found for the atmosphere or the part of the atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process and to a device for the automatic rectification of images, where at least one image is rectified by a mapping function onto a reference image and at least some of the parameters of the mapping function are unknown, including at least

Abstract: The inventive process for correcting atmospheric influences in multispectral optical remote sensing data, which are acquired as raw data in satellite or airborne sensors for earth observation, comprises the combination of a pre-classification (DERA) of the raw data for an automatic identification of predefined classes, a correction calculation (CORA) for a conversion of the uncorrected to corrected reflectances on the ground, including an incorporation of current atmospheric data for a precise description of the atmospheric condition. The pre-classification (DERA) permits a more precise correction calculation (CORA) by generating required a priori knowledge. The method has applications in satellite or airborne remote sensing of the earth's surface.

Abstract: a spark gap device in a high-voltage direct current interrupting device maintains a substantially constant ignition voltage by constructing the spark gap device in at least two series-connected main spark gaps connected in parallel with a voltage divider for distributing the voltage across the main spark gaps. An ignition voltage-determining auxiliary gap is connected in series with an impedance connected in parallel with one or more of the main spark gaps to effect a continued ignition thereof. The ignition voltage of the high-voltage direct current interrupting device is determined by the auxiliary gap such that the auxiliary gap is not subjected to appreciable wear whereby the variations of the ignition voltage are relatively small and not influenced by the wear of the main spark gaps.