Pieter De Vis

National Physical Laboratory | NPL · Earth Observation, Climate and Optical Group

The HYPERNETS project developed a new hyperspectral radiometer (HYPSTAR ® ) integrated in automated networks of water (WATERHYPERNET) and land (LANDHYPERNET) bidirectional reflectance measurements for satellite validation. In this paper, the feasibility of using LANDHYPERNET surface reflectance data for vicarious calibration of multispectral (Senti...

The LANDHYPERNET and WATERHYPERNET networks (which together make up the HYPERNETS network) consist of a set of autonomous hyperspectral spectroradiometers (HYPSTAR ® ) acquiring fiducial reference measurements of surface reflectance at various sites covering a wide range of surface types (both land and water) for use in satellite Earth observation...

This paper demonstrates the use of a novel, autonomous hyperspectral surface reflectance data collected at Wytham Woods, United Kingdom (WWUK) as part of the LANDHYPERNET network for the validation of multispectral data from Sentinel-2, Landsat 8 and Landsat 9. The deployment of the HYPSTAR instrument at the site and the corresponding quality contr...

Satellites are now routinely used for measuring water and land surface reflectance and hence environmentally relevant parameters such as aquatic chlorophyll a concentration and terrestrial vegetation indices. For each satellite mission, radiometric validation is needed at bottom of atmosphere for all spectral bands and covering all typical conditio...

Checking the radiometric calibration of satellite hyper-spectral sensors such as the PACE Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) while they operate in orbit and evaluating remote sensing reflectance, the basic variable from which a variety of optical and biogeochemical ocean properties can be derived, requires measuring upwelling radiance just above the surf...

The project FDR4ATMOS (Fundamental Data Records in the domain of satellite Atmospheric Composition) has been initiated by the European Space Agency (ESA). Task A of the project covers the improvement of the SCIAMACHY Level 1b degradation correction, with the aim to remove ozone trends from the SCIAMACHY Level 2 data set that were introduced during...

The Fundamental Data Record for ATMOSpheric Composition (FDR4ATMOS) project is part of the ESA Long Term Data Preservation (LTDP) programme. A Fundamental Data Record (FDR) is a long-term record of selected Earth observation Level 1 parameters (radiance, irradiance, reflectance), possibly multi-instrument, which provides improvements of performance...

Atmospheric corrections introduce uncertainties in bottom-of-atmosphere Ocean Colour (OC) products. In this paper, we analyse the uncertainty budget of the SeaDAS atmospheric correction algorithm. A metrological approach is followed, where each of the error sources are identified in an uncertainty tree diagram and briefly discussed. Atmospheric cor...

Atmospheric correction (AC) algorithms for ocean color (OC) data processing usually rely on ancillary data documenting the atmosphere and the sea state to help the calculation of the remote sensing reflectance $R_{\text {RS}}$ from the radiance measured by a space sensor. This study aims at assessing the impact that the uncertainties associated w...

The Fundamental Data Record for ATMOSpheric Composition (FDR4ATMOS) project is part of the ESA Long Term Data Preservation (LTDP) programme and has two objectives: First, update the SCIAMACHY processing chain for better Ozone total column data: After the full re-processing of the SCIAMACHY mission with the updated processor versions, the validation...

We present here far-infrared photometry of galaxies in a sample that is relatively unexplored at these wavelengths: low-metallicity dwarf galaxies with moderate star formation rates. Four dwarf irregular galaxies from the Little Things survey are considered, with deep Herschel PACS and SPIRE observations at 100, 160, 250, 350, and 500 μ m. Results...

We build a rigorous statistical framework to provide constraints on the chemical and dust evolution parameters for nearby late-type galaxies with a wide range of gas fractions ($3\%<f_g<94\%$). A Bayesian Monte Carlo Markov Chain framework provides statistical constraints on the parameters used in chemical evolution models. Nearly a million one-zon...

We build a rigorous statistical framework to provide constraints on the chemical and dust evolution parameters for nearby late-type galaxies with a wide range of gas fractions ($3{{\ \rm per\ cent}}<f_g<94{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$). A Bayesian Monte Carlo Markov Chain framework provides statistical constraints on the parameters used in chemical evolutio...

We present here far-infrared photometry of galaxies in a sample that is relatively unexplored at these wavelengths: low-metallicity dwarf galaxies with moderate star formation rates. Four dwarf irregular galaxies from the $\mathrm{L{\small{ITTLE}}}$ $\mathrm{T{\small{HINGS}}}$ survey are considered, with deep $\textit{Herschel}$ PACS and SPIRE obse...

Scaling laws of dust, H i gas, and metal mass with stellar mass, specific star formation rate, and metallicity are crucial to our understanding of the build-up of galaxies through their enrichment with metals and dust. In this work, we analyse how the dust and metal content varies with specific gas mass (MH i/M⋆) across a diverse sample of 423 near...

Scaling laws of dust, H I gas, and metal mass with stellar mass, specific star formation rate, and metallicity are crucial to our understanding of the build-up of galaxies through their enrichment with metals and dust. In this work, we analyse how the dust and metal content varies with specific gas mass (MH I/M⋆) across a diverse sample of 423 near...

Scaling laws of dust, HI gas and metal mass with stellar mass, specific star formation rate and metallicity are crucial to our understanding of the buildup of galaxies through their enrichment with metals and dust. In this work, we analyse how the dust and metal content varies with specific gas mass ($M_{\text{HI}}$/$M_{\star}$) across a diverse sa...

We compare the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and inferred physical properties for simulated and observed galaxies at low redshift. We exploit UV-submillimetre mock fluxes of ∼7000 z = 0 galaxies from the EAGLE suite of cosmological simulations, derived using the radiative transfer code skirt. We compare these to ∼800 observed galaxies in the...

Dust emission, an important diagnostic of star formation and ISM mass throughout the Universe, can be powered by sources unrelated to ongoing star formation. In the framework of the DustPedia project we have set out to disentangle the radiation of the ongoing star formation from that of the older stellar populations. This is done through detailed,...

Context. Interstellar dust absorbs stellar light very efficiently, thus shaping the energy output of galaxies. Studying the impact of different stellar populations on the dust heating continues to be a challenge because it requires decoupling the relative geometry of stars and dust and also involves complex processes such as scattering and non-loca...

Interstellar dust absorbs stellar light very efficiently and thus shapes the energetic output of galaxies. Studying the impact of different stellar populations on the dust heating remains hard because it requires decoupling the relative geometry of stars and dust, and involves complex processes as scattering and non-local dust heating. We aim to co...

Context: Dust in late-type galaxies in the local Universe is responsible for absorbing approximately one third of the energy emitted by stars. It is often assumed that dust heating is mainly attributable to the absorption of UV and optical photons emitted by the youngest (<= 100 Myr) stars. Consequently, thermal re-emission by dust at FIR wavelengt...

We compare the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and inferred physical properties for simulated and observed galaxies at low redshift. We exploit UV-submillimetre mock fluxes of ~7000 z=0 galaxies from the EAGLE suite of cosmological simulations, derived using the radiative transfer code SKIRT. We compare these to ~800 observed galaxies in the U...

The purpose of this work is the characterization of the main scaling relations between all of the interstellar medium (ISM) components, namely dust, atomic, molecular, and total gas, and gas-phase metallicity, as well as other galaxy properties, such as stellar mass (Mstar) and galaxy morphology, for late-type galaxies in the Local Universe. This s...

In this paper, we use the Herschel Reference Survey to make a direct test of the hypothesis that the growth of a stellar bulge leads to a reduction in the star formation efficiency of a galaxy (or conversely a growth in the gas-depletion time-scale) as a result of the stabilization of the gaseous disc by the gravitational field of the bulge. We fin...

Aims. The purpose of this work is the characterization of the main scaling relations between all of the interstellar medium (ISM) components, namely dust, atomic, molecular, and total gas, and gas-phase metallicity, as well as other galaxy properties, such as stellar mass ( Mstar ) and galaxy morphology, for late-type galaxies in the Local Universe...

The purpose of this work is the characterization of the main scaling relations between all the ISM components (dust, atomic/molecular/total gas), gas-phase metallicity, and other galaxy properties, such as Mstar and galaxy morphology, for late-type galaxies in the Local Universe. This study is performed by extracting late-type galaxies from the ent...

The Herschel-ATLAS unbiased survey of cold dust in the local Universe is dominated by a surprising population of very blue (FUV-K < 3.5), dust-rich galaxies with high gas fractions (f_HI = M_HI/(M*+M_HI)>0.5)). Dubbed `Blue and Dusty Gas Rich Sources' (BADGRS) they have cold diffuse dust temperatures, and the highest dust-to-stellar mass ratios of...

Aims. We compare the far-infrared to sub-millimetre dust emission properties measured in high Galactic latitude cirrus with those determined in a sample of 204 late-type DustPedia galaxies. The aim is to verify if it is appropriate to use Milky Way dust properties to derive dust masses in external galaxies. Methods. We used Herschel observations an...

Aims: We compare the far-infrared to sub-millimetre dust emission properties measured in high Galactic latitude cirrus with those determined in a sample of 204 late-type DustPedia galaxies. The aim is to verify if it is appropriate to use Milky Way dust properties to derive dust masses in external galaxies. Methods: We used Herschel observations an...

In this paper, we use the Herschel Reference Survey to make a direct test of the hypothesis that the growth of a stellar bulge leads to a reduction in the star-formation efficiency of a galaxy (or conversely a growth in the gas-depletion timescale) as a result of the stabilisation of the gaseous disk by the gravitational field of the bulge. We find...

The dust mass absorption coefficient, $\kappa_{d}$, is the conversion function used to infer physical dust masses from observations of dust emission. However, it is notoriously poorly constrained, and it is highly uncertain how it varies, either between or within galaxies. Here we present the results of a proof-of concept study, using the DustPedia...

The dust mass absorption coefficient, κd is the conversion function used to infer physical dust masses from observations of dust emission. However, it is notoriously poorly constrained, and it is highly uncertain how it varies, either between or within galaxies. Here we present the results of a proof-of-concept study, using the DustPedia data for t...

Context . Dust in late-type galaxies in the local Universe is responsible for absorbing approximately one third of the energy emitted by stars. It is often assumed that dust heating is mainly attributable to the absorption of ultraviolet and optical photons emitted by the youngest (≤100 Myr) stars. Consequently, thermal re-emission by dust at far-i...

We use a sub-set of the DustPedia galaxy sample (461 galaxies) to investigate the effect the environment has had on galaxies. We consider Virgo cluster and field samples and also assign a density contrast parameter to each galaxy, as defined by the local density of SDSS galaxies. We consider their chemical evolution (using MDust/MBaryon and MGas/MB...

We use a sub-set of the DustPedia galaxy sample (461 galaxies) to investigate the effect the environment has had on galaxies. We consider Virgo cluster and field samples and also assign a density contrast parameter to each galaxy, as defined by the local density of SDSS galaxies. We consider their chemical evolution (using M_{Dust}/M_{Baryon} and M...

We use a sub-set of the DustPedia galaxy sample (461 galaxies) to investigate the effect the environment has had on galaxies. We consider Virgo cluster and field samples and also assign a density contrast parameter to each galaxy, as defined by the local density of SDSS galaxies. We consider their chemical evolution (using M_{Dust}/M_{Baryon} and M...

Aims . Within the framework of the DustPedia project we investigate the properties of cosmic dust and its interaction with stellar radiation (originating from different stellar populations) for 814 galaxies in the nearby Universe, all observed by the Herschel Space Observatory. Methods . We take advantage of the widely used fitting code CIGALE, pro...

We present the severe, systematic uncertainties currently facing our understanding of dust emission, which stymie our ability to truly exploit dust as a tool for studying galaxy evolution. We propose a program of study to tackle these uncertainties, describe the necessary facilities, and discuss the potential science gains that will result. This wh...

Within the framework of the DustPedia project we investigate the properties of cosmic dust and its interaction with the stellar radiation (originating from different stellar populations) for 814 galaxies in the nearby Universe, all observed by the Herschel Space Observatory. We take advantage of the widely used galaxy SED fitting code CIGALE, prope...

Observations of evolution in the dust-to-metal ratio allow us to constrain the dominant dust processing mechanisms. In this work, we present a study of the dust-to-metal and dust-to-gas ratios in a sub-sample of ~500 DustPedia galaxies. Using literature and MUSE emission line fluxes, we derived gas-phase metallicities (oxygen abundances) for over 1...

Observations of evolution in the dust-to-metal ratio allow us to constrain the dominant dust processing mechanisms. In this work, we present a study of the dust-to-metal and dust-to-gas ratios in a sub-sample of ~500 DustPedia galaxies. Using literature and MUSE emission line fluxes, we derived gas-phase metallicities (oxygen abundances) for over 1...

Galaxies continuously reprocess their interstellar material. We can therefore expect changing dust grain properties in galaxies that have followed different evolutionary pathways. Determining the intrinsic dust grain mix of a galaxy helps in reconstructing its evolutionary history. Early-type galaxies occasionally display regular dust lanes in thei...

Galaxies continuously reprocess their interstellar material. One can therefore expect changing dust grain properties in galaxies which have followed different evolutionary pathways. Determining the intrinsic dust grain mix of a galaxy helps in reconstructing its evolutionary history. Early-type galaxies occasionally display regular dust lanes in th...

Most radiative transfer models assume that dust in spiral galaxies is distributed exponentially. In this paper our goal is to verify this assumption by analysing the two-dimensional large-scale distribution of dust in galaxies from the DustPedia sample. For this purpose, we have made use of Herschel imaging in five bands, from 100 to 500 μm, in whi...

The galaxies found in optical surveys fall in two distinct regions of a diagram of optical colour versus absolute magnitude: the red sequence and the blue cloud, with the green valley in between. We show that the galaxies found in a submillimetre survey have almost the opposite distribution in this diagram, forming a 'green mountain'. We show that...

Most radiative transfer models assume that dust in spiral galaxies is distributed exponentially. In this paper our goal is to verify this assumption by analysing the two-dimensional large-scale distribution of dust in galaxies from the DustPedia sample. For this purpose, we make use of Herschel imaging in five bands, from 100 to 500{\mu}m, in which...

Aims . We aim to study the fraction of stellar radiation absorbed by dust, f abs , in 814 galaxies of different morphological types. The targets constitute the vast majority (93%) of the DustPedia sample, including almost all large (optical diameter larger than 1′), nearby ( v ≤ 3000 km s ⁻¹ ) galaxies observed with the Herschel Space Observatory....

We study the fraction of stellar radiation absorbed by dust, f_abs, in 814 galaxies of different morphological types. The targets constitute the vast majority (93%) of the DustPedia sample, including almost all large (optical diameter larger than 1'), nearby (v <= 3000 km/s) galaxies observed with the Herschel Space Observatory. For each object, we...

The galaxies found in optical surveys fall in two distinct regions of a diagram of optical colour versus absolute magnitude: the red sequence and the blue cloud with the green valley in between. We show that the galaxies found in a submillimetre survey have almost the opposite distribution in this diagram, forming a `green mountain'. We show that t...

The Herschel-ATLAS unbiased survey of cold dust in the local Universe is dominated by a surprising population of very blue (FUV-K < 3.5), dust-rich galaxies with high gas fractions (fH i = MH i/(M* + MH i) > 0.5). Dubbed 'Blue and Dusty Gas-Rich Sources' (BADGRS) they have cold diffuse dust temperatures, and the highest dust-to-stellar mass ratios...

We have combined data of the DustPedia project with observations of gas components of the interstellar medium (ISM) and metallicity abundances for late-type DustPedia galaxies to definitively characterize the ISM scaling relations in the Local Universe. In particular, we have focused on the comparison of the dust-to-gas mass ratio with gas phase me...

We present a local dust mass function (DMF) of 15,355 galaxies drawn from the overlapping GAMA and H-ATLAS fields out to redshifts of 0.1. We derive this fundamental measurement of the dust content of galaxies using the traditional density corrected $V$max method where we use: (i) the normal photometric selection limit ($pV$max) and (ii) a bivariat...

Aims. The DustPedia project is capitalising on the legacy of the Herschel Space Observatory, using cutting-edge modelling techniques to study dust in the 875 DustPedia galaxies – representing the vast majority of extended galaxies within 3000 km s ⁻¹ that were observed by Herschel . This work requires a database of multiwavelength imagery and photo...

The purpose of this work is the characterization of the radial distribution of dust, stars, gas, and star-formation rate (SFR) in a sub-sample of 18 face-on spiral galaxies extracted from the DustPedia sample. This study is performed by exploiting the multi-wavelength, from UV to sub-mm bands, DustPedia database, in addition to molecular (12CO) and...

We combine samples of nearby galaxies with Herschel photometry selected on their dust, metal, HI, and stellar mass content, and compare these to chemical evolution models in order to discriminate between different dust sources. In a companion paper, we used a HI-selected sample of nearby galaxies to reveal a sub-sample of very gas rich (gas fractio...

A common assumption is that galaxies fall in two distinct regions on a plot of specific star-formation rate (SSFR) versus galaxy stellar mass: a star-forming Galaxy Main Sequence (GMS) and a separate region of `passive' or `red and dead galaxies'. Starting from a volume-limited sample of nearby galaxies designed to contain most of the stellar mass...

We present a study of the dust, stars and atomic gas (HI) in an HI-selected sample of local galaxies (z<0.035) in the Herschel Astrophysical Terahertz Large Area Survey (H-ATLAS) fields. This HI-selected sample reveals a population of very high gas fraction (>80 per cent), low stellar mass sources that appear to be in the earliest stages of their e...

The radiation of stars heats dust grains in the diffuse interstellar medium and in star-forming regions in galaxies. Modelling this interaction provides information on dust in galaxies, a vital ingredient for their evolution. It is not straightforward to identify the stellar populations heating the dust, and to link attenuation to emission on a sub...

We present the properties of the first 250 μm blind sample of nearby galaxies (15 < D < 46 Mpc) containing 42 objects from the Herschel Astrophysical Terahertz Large Area Survey. Herschel's sensitivity probes the faint end of the dust luminosity function for the first time, spanning a range of stellar mass (7.4 < M⋆ < 11.3 log10 M⊙), star formation...