In this course we will study methods of estimating a variety of atmospheric characteristics using satellite and ground based remote sensing instruments. Visible, near-infrared, and passive and active microwave systems will be examined. Topics to be covered include the physical principles of atmospheric remote sensing, aerosol and cloud property retrieval based on scattering and emission, vertical temperature and humidity profile estimates using atmospheric sounders, and retrieval of precipitation with microwave data. emphasis will be placed on the physicl understanding of measurements from space rather than ways to forecast various features.
Prerequisites: GG302 and GG310 or GG312, or consent of the instructor.
Instructor: | Jeff Key, Dept of Geography |
Office: | 441A, Stone Science Building., 353-2841. |
Email: | jkey@bu.edu |
Office hours: | M, T, F 2-3; other hours by appointment. |
Class time, room: | Tues, Thurs 9:30 - 11:00 .a.m. p.m., CAS 323A. |
Textbook: | Kidder and Von der Haar, Satellite Meteorology, Academic Press, 1995. |
Optional (Recommended
for graduate students): |
Stephens,G.L., Remote Sensing of the Lower Atmosphere. Oxford Press, 1994. |
Additional readings from scientific journals may also be required for graduate students. |
There will be four (4) problem sets. Each will consist of a number of problems realted to the lecture material. They are take home, open book assignments, due one week after they are given.
The research project may involve radiative transfer modelling, geophysical
parameter retrieval alogrithm development, and/or data analysis. The only
restriction is that it be related to remote sensing of the atmosphere.
The research topic must be approved by the 8th week of class. A 10-20 pages
paper and a 20 minutes presentation during one of the last two or three
class periods are required.
.
Week |
Dates |
Topic |
Reading |
Other |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9/3 | Overview, examples. The inverse problem.
In practice: ISCCP clouds (video). |
--- | |
2 | 9/8, 10 | Composition and structure of the atmosphere.
History of satellite remote sensing. |
1
2 |
|
3 | 9/15, 17 | Orbits.
Radiative transfer. |
3 | |
4 | 9/22, 24 | Radiative transfer, cont. | 3 | Problem set 1 assigned |
5 | 9/29, 10/1 | Radiative transfer, cont.
Gas absorption. |
3
|
Problem set 1 due |
6 | 10/6, 8 | Meteorological sensors: satellite and ground.
Atmospheric temperature sounding. |
4
6 |
|
7 | 10/13, 15 | Sounding, cont. | 6 | |
8 | 10/20, 22 | In practice: operational retrieval systems
Gases: ozone. |
6 | Proposal due
Problem set 2 assigned |
9 | 10/27, 29 | Gases: water vapor.
Winds: cloud tracking, soundings and stability, ocean surface winds from microwave. |
7 | Problem set 2 due |
10 | 11/3, 5 | Winds, cont.
Cloud properties; clouds from sounders. |
8 | |
11 | 11/10, 12 | Clouds from imagers and passive microwave.
In practice: International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP), CASPR. |
8 | Problem set 3 assigned |
12 | 11/17, 19 | Aerosols: stratospheric and tropospheric.
Precipitation: optical, passive and active microwave sensors. |
8
9 |
Problem set 3 due |
13 | 11/24 | Precipitation, cont.
11/25: NO CLASS |
9 | |
14 | 12/1, 3 | Estimating surface and top of the atmosphere radiative fluxes; sensitivity studies. | 10 | |
15 | 12/8, 10 | Student project presentations. | --- | Paper due
Problem set 4 assigned |
FINAL
EXAM |
12/17
(Thurs.) |
12:30-2:30 | Problem set 4 due |