302760 (v.2) Remote Sensing Science 402

Area:

Department of Applied Physics

Credits:

25.0

Contact Hours:

7.0

Lecture:

3 x 1 Hours Weekly

Laboratory:

2 x 2 Hours Weekly

Other Requisite(s):

Admission: to the Physics honours program

Syllabus:

Radiative transfer - concepts, definitions, laws, equations, instruments. Solar and Infrared Radiation in the earth-atmosphere system and temperature profile determination techniques. Satellite applications from last decade - Satellite Remote Sensing in the EM Spectrum, current capabilities, radiation emission, reflection and scattering, radiative transfer equation, temperature profile retrieval, determination of surface characteristics, water vapor effect, detecting clouds, estimation of atmospheric parameters, winds, satellite instrument and orbit considerations, evolving in the global observing system. Computer - MatLab, MODIS Spectral Bands, AIRS Hyperspectral Infrared Data and Cloud Top Pressure Determination, Microwave Remote Sensing with AMSU and TMI.

Unit Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit students will have gained a sound understanding of the fundamental of radiative transfer, its definitions and the quantitative basis, an appreciation of the essential principles of radiative transfer and radiation balance and an understanding of the links between the spectroscopic properties of atmospheric constituents and atmospheric radiative transfer. They will understand the inversion of radiometric observations to yield quantitative atmospheric profile information and appreciate the role and significance of satellite applications in the earth sciences.

Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information.

Unit References:

No prescribed references.

Unit Texts:

Stephens, G., 1994, 'Remote Sensing of the Lower Atmosphere', Oxford Press. Houghton, J., 1986, 'The Physics of Atmospheres', Cambridge University Press. Kidder, S. and Haar, V., 1995, 'Satellite Meteorology', Academic Press, San Diego. Rao, P. K. et al,1990, 'Weather Satellites. Systems, Data and Applications', AMS, Boston. Andrews, D., 2000, 'An Introduction to Atmospheric Physics', Cambridge.

Unit Assessment Breakdown:

4 x Homework Assignments 20%. Mid-semester test and 4 x short in-class tests 30%. 2 x computer-based interactive assignments 20%. Final Examination 30%.

Year	Location	Period	Internal	Area External	Central External
2004	Bentley Campus	Semester 1	Y