Earth Observation from Satellites

GEOF 334

MICROWAVE REMOTE SENSING

A brief introduction

Oceanography from Space is GLOBAL

with REPEAT VISIT

near SIMULTANEOUS

and provide data in NEAR REAL TIME

Oceanography from space is vital for the monitoring and understanding of the ocean and its fundamental role in the integrated Earth system, both w.r.t. the ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, HAZARDS & EXTREME EVENTS and SECURITY.

EARTH OBSERVING SATELLITES

Animations

- Launch (actual)

- Launch sequence (simulation)

- Polar Orbiting satellite (simulation)

- Provide long time series

- Strengthen process understanding

- Vital for ocean model validation, for assimilation and for Operational Oceanography

- Provide good atmospheric forcing fields for ocean models

- Are often optimal when properly combined with in-situ data

Satellite Observations

Overview of satellite sensor classes

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

f (frequency) = C (em speed)/ L (wavelength)

Radars & Passive RadiometerOptical Sensors

Overview of satellites and sensor classes

26 m x 10 m x 5 m

Oceanography from Space is GLOBAL

with REPEAT VISIT

near SIMULTANEOUS

and provide data in NEAR REAL TIME

Oceanography from space is vital for the monitoring and understanding of the ocean and its fundamental role in the integrated Earth system, both w.r.t. the ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, HAZARDS & EXTREME EVENTS and SECURITY.

Global Climate Observing System - Essential Climate Variables

Domain Essential Climate Variables

Surface: Air temperature, Precipitation, Air pressure, Surface radiation budget, Wind speed and direction, Water vapour.

Upper air:

Earth radiation budget (including solar irradiance), Upper-air temperature (including MSU radiances), Wind speed and direction, Water vapour, Cloud properties

Atmosperic (over land, sea and ice)

Composition: Carbon dioxide, Methane, Ozone, Other long-lived greenhouse gases, Aerosol properties

Surface: Sea-surface temperature, Sea-surface salinity, Sea level, Sea state, Sea ice, Current, Ocean colour (for biological activity), Carbon dioxide partial pressure. Oceanic

Sub-surface: Temperature, Salinity, Current, Nutrients, Carbon, Ocean tracers, Phytoplankton

Terrestrial

River discharge, Water use, Ground water, Lake levels, Snow cover, Glaciers and ice caps, Permafrost and seasonally-frozen ground, Albedo, Land cover (including vegetation type, Fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (FAPAR), Leaf area index (LAI), Biomass, Fire disturbance

OCEAN SURFACE QUANTITIES MEASURED FROM SPACE?

SEA LEVEL

CHLOROPHYLL

NEAR SURFACE WIND

WAVES

SURFACE TEMPERATURE

ICEBERG

SEA ICE

SURFACE CURRENT

SURFACE SALINITY

SEA ICE THICKNESS

GEOID & MDT

Global Observations - Chlorophyll

Global Observations – Geostrophic Current

Global Sea Level Change

SPATIAL TRENDS

LOCAL EFFECT

from Lombard et al., from Lombard et al., EPSL, en presse, 2007EPSL, en presse, 2007

+3,3 mm/an

+1,3 mm/an

+1,9 mm/an

Problem of instrumental correction? ?

T/P, Jason-1 : Total sea level variation

GRACE :

ocean mass variation

 Jason-1 minus GRACE  : steric variation

in situ (ARGO) :

0-700m steric contribution

Undestanding the MSL variations

• Use of GRACE• Use of in-situ and in particular of ARGO network

Regular Repeat Observations

Demonstration Sea Ice Monitoring

http://www.arctic-roos.org

Monthly Deviations of Sea Ice Area in the Arctic from merged SMMR and SSMI Data

http://www.arctic-roos.org

Monitoring sot (aerosols)

Mesoscale Processes

Prestige Oil Spill 2002

OIL POLLUTION: A Treath to the Environment

Variables, data sources, availability