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<font size="3" style="font-size:12pt">Dear GLIMS colleagues,</font><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt"><br></font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt">The number of GLIMS scenes returned by ASTER increased dramatically in 2012 relative to 2010 and the preceding few years. However, I am aware that some areas continue to get clouded out 90% and more of the time; whereas we can't avoid the clouds without a direct phone line to a higher power, I need to know if your area is not being covered, and to know whether it is due to the following three common reasons:</font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt">1-- there are no scenes or there are far too few scenes attempted.</font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt">2-- there were many scenes returned by ASTER but clouds keep obscuring.</font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt">3-- scenes were returned but they were at the wrong times of year and were much too snowy</font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt">4-- scenes were returned but the gain settings were wrong, making the scenes far </font><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">too saturated (and give band numbers where saturated)</span></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt">5-- scenes returned, but they were too dark (and give band numbers)</font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt">6-- other technical problems </font><font size="3">(scanline problems, mis-targeted, processing problems, etc.)</font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt"><br></font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt">If it is a general problem for your whole region, tell me what region; if it is a specific problem for one or two or three areas of special interest, then tell me what places (lat/lons and geographic name)</font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt"><br></font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt">If you have noted an increase is number of high quality scenes, that information is also helpful (don't worry, there is no pressure to take coverage priority away from you!)</font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt"><br></font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt">If you are happy with GLIMS acquisitions by ASTER, I'd like to know, but if I don't hear from you I will assume you are happy with the situation. (As for me, I am still profoundly unhappy with the situation for Alaska-- but that's due mainly to pervasive cloudiness in my areas of interest, and at least we do have some images to work with over the years.)</font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt"><br></font></div><div><font size="3" style="font-size:12pt">--Jeff Kargel</font></div> </div></body>
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