Abstract: A method for determining soil moisture of a scene includes (i) generating a first antenna output in response to an upwelling thermal emission from the scene, (ii) generating a second antenna output in response to a downwelling thermal emission from sky above the scene, (iii) coupling the first antenna output and the second antenna output to yield a combined output having a quadrature phase difference between the first antenna output and the second antenna output, (iv) calculating a brightness-temperature difference based at least partially on the combined output, and (v) calculating a soil moisture based on soil-vegetation radiative transfer model using the brightness-temperature difference.

Abstract: A method for determining soil moisture of a scene includes (i) generating a first antenna output in response to an upwelling thermal emission from the scene, (ii) generating a second antenna output in response to a downwelling thermal emission from sky above the scene, (iii) coupling the first antenna output and the second antenna output to yield a combined output having a quadrature phase difference between the first antenna output and the second antenna output, (iv) calculating a brightness-temperature difference based at least partially on the combined output, and (v) calculating a soil moisture based on soil-vegetation radiative transfer model using the brightness-temperature difference.

Abstract: A weather prediction method includes generating radiance differences as a difference between measured radiances from satellites and forecast satellite radiances generated by a radiative transfer model and forecasted state profiles output by a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model. When the radiance differences exceed a noise threshold, the method includes generating updated state profiles by generating radiance-sensitivities using a Jacobian model and the forecasted state profiles; constructing a Kalman-gain matrix from background error covariance (BEC) matrices and the radiance-sensitivities; generating filtered state-profile changes from the Kalman-gain matrix and the radiance differences; updating the state profiles by adding the filtered state-profile changes to the forecasted state profiles to yield updated state profiles.

Abstract: A method for determining soil moisture of a scene includes (i) generating a first antenna output in response to an upwelling thermal emission from the scene. (ii) generating a second antenna output in response to a downwelling thermal emission from sky above the scene. (iii) coupling the first antenna output and the second antenna output to yield a combined output having a quadrature phase difference between the first antenna output and the second antenna output. (iv) calculating a brightness-temperature difference based at least partially on the combined output. and (v) calculating a soil moisture based on soil-vegetation radiative transfer model using the brightness-temperature difference.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein relates to a method for collection of atmospheric ions subject to an electron avalanche associated with a gas multiplication effect between parallel plate collectors. A voltage source can be provided. The voltage source can provide a voltage that can cause a high electric field between two consecutive plates of the plurality of parallel plates. The high electric field can cause an electron avalanche that can cause electron multiplication. Energy associated with these multiplied electrons can be extracted, and studied to give insight into where the most abundant source of atmospheric charge is located. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.