Scientific understanding of aerosol-cloud interactions can profit from an analysis of the transition regions between pure aerosol and pure clouds as detected in satellite data. This study identifies and evaluates pixels in this region by analysing the residual areas of aerosol and cloud products from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Radiometer (MODIS) satellite sensor. These pixels are expected to represent the “twilight zone” or transition zone between aerosols and clouds. In the analysis period (February and August, 2007–2011), about 20% of all pixels are discarded by both MODIS aerosol and cloud retrievals (“Lost Pixels”). The reflective properties and spatial distribution of Lost Pixels are predominantly in between pure aerosol and cloud. The high amount of discarded pixels underlines the relevance of analyzing the transition zone as a relevant part of the Earth’s radiation budget and the importance of considering them in research on aerosol-cloud interactions.

In this article, we introduce the topic of crime forecasting performed in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. We give a brief overview of three forecasting methods used in theory and practice: predictive policing, risk terrain modeling, and time series analysis. As a result, spatio-temporally-based statistical techniques offered high potential to optimize operational and strategic planning for policing.

In this article, we present the use of risk terrain modeling for the risk assessment of explosive ATM attacks in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. We give a brief overview of three methods used for this purpose: risk terrain modeling, recapture rate index, and time series analysis. The results show that by using these methods, police can gain a deeper understanding of the patterns and trends associated with explosive ATM attacks and better allocate their resources by focusing on higher-risk ATMs.