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NOAA: Monitoring Climate
Change from Space
Presented by: Steve Ackerman and
Margaret Mooney
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Monitoring Climate Change from Space
Steve Ackerman
stevea@ssec.wisc.edu
Margaret Mooney
margaret.mooney@ssec.wisc.edu
Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies
Monitoring Climate Change from Space
Presentation Outline:
• Historical Perspective
• Basics of Observing from Satellites
• Satellite Contributions to Climate Research
•Monitoring surface
•Monitoring atmosphere
•Monitoring the sun
• Classroom Resources
Poll Question
How often do you use satellite observations
in your courses?
A) Never
B) Occasionally
C) Often
D) Frequently
E) Less than I want to
Historical Perspective on Satellites & Climate
1957 – Soviet Union launches Sputnik
• Successful space craft but no instruments
Initiated the Space Race
1959 – NASA launches Explorer VII
• Included UW-Madison Instrument to measure
the radiative energy balance of Earth.
Initiated Global Climate Studies of our Planet
Historical Perspective on Satellites & Climate
L
April 2nd, 1960
Surface Pressure
Explorer 7 Radiance
0.20 Langleys/Min 0.53
Let’s Pause for
Two Questions
from the Audience
Monitoring Climate Change from Space
Presentation Outline:
• Historical Perspective
• Basics of Observing from Satellites
• Satellite Contributions to Climate Research
•Monitoring surface
•Monitoring atmosphere
•Monitoring the sun
• Classroom Resources
Basics of Observing from Satellites
Observing Change
Direct methods, also called in situ for “in place,”
measure the properties of the air that are in contact
with the instrument being used.
Thermometer tells us
the temperature of the
room is about 60F
Basics of Observing from Satellites
Observing Change
Indirect methods, also referred to as remote
sensing, obtain information without coming into
physical contact with the region of the atmosphere
being measured.
Question: What can
you tell us about the
pan?
Basics of Observing from Satellites
Observing Change
Electromagnetic energy spans a large spectrum of
wavelengths. In our conversation we are interested primarily in
solar (or shortwave) and infrared (or longwave); maybe a little
on the microwave.
Basics of Observing from Satellites
Types of Satellite Orbits
Geostationary – Polar orbiting.
Most satellite images seen on the
local television news or The
Weather Channel are produced by
GOES satellites.
GOES Satellites orbit the earth above
the equator at the same speed as
the earth rotates so they can
transmit a continuous picture of the
region below.
POES orbits are significantly lower
and shorter, taking about 100
minutes to travel from pole to pole
and produce high resolution
"snapshots" of the Earth.
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/sose/pirs/pirs_m1_leo.html
Basics of Observing from Satellites
Question: What orbit would you select to monitor ice bergs and why?
Orbit Type Characteristics
Considerations
Geostationary
•Orbits the earth above the
equator at the same speed the
earth rotates
•Orbit is high - ~ 36,000 km
•Can produce animations of the
earth's weather patterns
Good for tracking weather
storms
Can observe changes in time
Can not see the poles very well
Can view only one hemisphere
Image resolution is not very
good because of distance from
earth
Polar
•Orbits are lower altitude
•Takes about 100 minutes to
travel from pole to pole
•Produces high resolution
“snaps shots” of the earth
Image resolution is good
because it’s closer to earth
Sees the poles a lot (~14 times a
day)
Sees give tropical and middle
latitude regions of the globe twice
a day
Let’s Pause for
Two Questions
from the Audience
Basics of Observing from Satellites
Making Images
Black and White Images – single wavelength. Energy
represented by gray scale.
Color scale of derived products from satellite
measurements
A true-color image of a subject is an image that appears to
the human eye just like the original subject would
A "false-color" is typically used to describe images whose
colors represent measured intensities outside the visible
portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satmet/modules/sat_images/index.html
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/sose/pirs/pirs_m2_footprint.html
We will visit
this site
Basics of Observing from Satellites
January 5, 2010
Basics of Observing from Satellites
January 2, 2010
Basics of Observing from Satellites
Interpreting Satellite Image: Four ‘Ws”
• When
Basics of Observing from Satellites
Interpreting Satellite Image: Four ‘Ws”
• When
• Where
Basics of Observing from Satellites
Interpreting Satellite Image: Four ‘Ws”
• When
• Where
• Wavelength
Basics of Observing from Satellites
Interpreting Satellite Image: Four ‘Ws”
• When
• Where
• Wavelength
• Wesolution (Resolution)
Let’s Pause for
Two Questions
from the Audience
Monitoring Climate Change from Space
Presentation Outline:
• Historical Perspective
• Basics of Observing from Satellites
• Satellite Contributions to Climate Research
•Monitoring surface
•Monitoring atmosphere
•Monitoring the sun
• Classroom Resources
Satellite Contributions to Climate Research
Monitoring Surface Changes
Differences in reflectance at different
wavelengths for different surfaces.
What two wavelengths
would you use to
separate snow from dry
sand?
What two wavelengths
would you use to
separate grass from dry
gass?
Satellite Contributions to Climate Research
Monitoring Surface Changes
• Differences in reflectance at different
wavelengths for different surfaces.
Satellite Contributions to Climate Research
Longer Growing Seasons (about 1 week)
Satellite Images allow scientists to monitor chlorophyll
activity in the vegetation for monitoring.
Monitoring Surface Changes
Satellite: LandSat
August 5, 1987
Monitoring Surface Changes
Burned areas
are red
August 23, 1988
Monitoring Surface Changes
793,000 of the park’s
2,221,800 acres had
burned
August 2, 1989
Monitoring Surface Changes
September 23, 1999
Monitoring Surface Changes
September 15, 2008
Monitoring Surface Changes
Decreasing Snow Cover
The 28 year trend in snow extent derived from visible and
passive microwave satellite data indicates an annual
decrease of approximately 1 to 3 percent per decade with
greater deceases of approximately 3 to 5 percent during
spring and summer.
Monitoring Surface Changes
January 5, 2010
Monitoring Surface Changes
December 20, 2009
Monitoring Surface Changes
January 3, 2010
Monitoring Surface Changes
January 3, 2010
Monitoring Surface Changes
Glacial Retreat
This 2001 image of the Himalaya mountains documents glacier stagnation
and lake formation. The image was produced using data from the ASTER
(Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission & and reflection Radiometer)
instrument flown on NASA's Terra satellite.
Monitoring Surface Changes
Diminishing Arctic Sea Ice
Satellite studies indicate Arctic sea ice declining annually
Monitoring Surface Changes
Sea Level Rise
Altimeters on satellites provided the first detailed
picture of global sea level and now track its change
Monitoring Surface Changes
Sea Level Rise
Altimeters on satellites provided the first detailed
picture of global sea level and now track its change
Monitoring Surface Changes
Desertification
The disappearance of the Aral Sea,
as seen by Landsat satellite
during the period 1973 to 2000.
Over this peroid, more than 60%
of the lake vanished, replaced
with a dry, dusty plain.
Monitoring Atmospheric Changes
Ozone Hole (measured by NOAA and NASA satellites.
Total Ozone (DU)
Monitoring Atmospheric Changes
Instruments on the ground (at Halley) and high above Antarctica (the
Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer [TOMS] and Ozone Monitoring
Instrument [OMI]) measured an acute drop in total atmospheric ozone
during October in the early and middle 1980s.
http://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/facts/history.html
Monitoring Atmospheric Changes
Atmospheric Water Vapor
Warmer temperatures enable an increase in atmospheric
water vapor (H20). (the most abundant greenhouse gas)
Satellite Contributions to Climate Research
Sea Surface Temperature
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/data/sst/
Monitoring Atmospheric Changes
Hurricanes
Hurricane Katrina 2005
Monitoring Atmospheric Changes
Hurricanes
James P. Kossin · Suzana J. Camargo, 2009: Hurricane track
variability and secular potential intensity trends, Climatic Change
http://profhorn.meteor.wisc.edu/wxwise/hurr/hurr.html
Monitoring Solar Changes
April 1999
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft shows
sunspots (right) and ultraviolet light (left) emitted by the Sun
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/solar.php
Monitoring Solar Changes
April 2001
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft shows
sunspots (right) and ultraviolet light (left) emitted by the Sun
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/solar.php
Monitoring Solar Changes
April 2003
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft shows
sunspots (right) and ultraviolet light (left) emitted by the Sun
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/solar.php
Monitoring Solar Changes
April 2005
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft shows
sunspots (right) and ultraviolet light (left) emitted by the Sun
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/solar.php
Monitoring Solar Changes
April 2007
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft shows
sunspots (right) and ultraviolet light (left) emitted by the Sun
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/solar.php
Monitoring Solar Changes
April 2009
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft shows sunspots
(right) and ultraviolet light (left) emitted by the Sun
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/solar.php
Monitoring Solar Changes
April 2009
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/01apr_deepsolarminimum.htm
Monitoring Climate Change from Space
Satellites monitor changes in surface conditions:
Urban heat island
Sea and land surface temperature
Chlorophyll concentration/sedmiment
Vegetation
Snow and Ice cover
Satellite monitor changes in atmospheric conditions
Ozone (and other trace gases) concentration
Cloud cover and type
Aerosols/Pollution
Temperature structure
Satellite monitor changes in Top of Atmosphere energy budget
Incoming and out going solar energy
Outgoing terrestrial energy
Let’s Pause for
Two Questions
from the Audience
Monitoring Climate Change from Space
Presentation Outline:
• Historical Perspective
• Basics of Observing from Satellites
• Satellite Contributions to Climate Research
•Monitoring surface
•Monitoring atmosphere
•Monitoring the sun
• Classroom Resources
Classroom Resources
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/sage/
Classroom Resources
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/sose/
Classroom Resources
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/
Classroom Resources
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/climatechange
Classroom Resources
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/education
Contact Information
Stop by if you’re ever in town!
QUESTIONS?
Steve Ackerman
steve.ackerman@ssec.wisc.edu
Margaret Mooney
margaret.mooney@ssec.wisc.edu
Thank you to the sponsor of
tonight's Web Seminar:
http://learningcenter.nsta.org
http://www.elluminate.com
National Science Teachers Association
Dr. Francis Q. Eberle, Executive Director
Zipporah Miller, Associate Executive Director
Conferences and Programs
Al Byers, Assistant Executive Director e-Learning
NSTA Web Seminars
Paul Tingler, Director
Jeff Layman, Technical Coordinator
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