Satellite Climatology

Catalog description

A discussion of the application of satellite data to current and planned large-scale climate experiments. GEOG 417GEOG 417 Satellite Climatology (3)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. Geography 417 presents the theory and practice of satellite remote sensing as applied to the study of climate. Remote sensing refers to the acquisition of information about a target or phenomenon from a distance; climate is the low-frequency signal of weather that involves interactions among Earth's environmental systems (atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere). Combining these two disciplines into Satellite Climatology is logical because the fundamental basis of both remote sensing and climate is radiation transfer through Earth's atmosphere. The course emphasizes understanding the different techniques used to determine, from space-borne platforms, the atmospheric, oceanic and land surface conditions important to climate and its variations, and the interpretation of these remotely sensed data in the context of "climate dynamics" and "synoptic climatology." Specific topics include the following: Satellite systems (platforms, sensors, orbits, data processing); Remote sensing clouds and cloud systems, Retrieval of atmospheric temperature, moisture, and precipitation, the Earth-atmosphere radiation and energy budgets, and Land-surface conditions and their modification by humans . In addition, examples of the different satellite-based climatologies, and their advantages and limitations with respect to conventional observations ("ground truth"), are presented.