Satellite Meteorology

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Satellite Meteorology

• Lecture 8
• Part I

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Topics

• Why Satellites?
• A Brief History...
• Satellite Orbits
• The EM Spectrum
• Identifying clouds
• Satellite imagery
• Derived products
• Significant Weather
• Monitoring the health of the planet

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Why Satellites?
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A Brief History

• 1960 - First Weather Satellite TIROS-I Television
  Infrared Observing Satellite Psuedo-Polar Orbit
  (April 1)
• 1966/1967 - First Geostationary Weather Satellite
  ATS-I - University of Wisconsin-Madison, Verner
  Suomi Spin Scan Camera
• 2003 - 14 Polar orbiting satellites 8
  Geostationary orbiting satellites operational
  today, many more in the works...

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Geostationary Orbit
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Polar Orbit
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Other Orbits
Molynia Orbit
Lagrange (L1, L2, etc.)
Artificial Lagrange
Precessing (See Poster)
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Worldwide Operational Weather Satellite Observing
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Microwave Infrared Visible
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What the Satellite Sees InfraredThermalTemper
atureBrightnessVisible
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Whats on a satellite?
Communications
Sensors/Instruments
Bus
Power
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Identifying CloudsSatellite Imagery
Cirrus
Nimbostratus Cumulonimbus
Polar Storm
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Tropical Storm Thunderstorms
Storm Wave Train
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Cirrus Thunderstorm Outflow
Water Vapor Signatures
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What is this?
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Derived Products
Surface Temperatures Water Vapor Cloud Drift
Winds
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Significant Weather
Hurricane Isabel
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Thunderstorms
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Thunderstorms
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Siren, WI Tornado
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Fog
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Polar Lows
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Animation
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Monitoring the health of the planet
Plankton bloom SeaWiFS Biosphere Arizona Forest
Fires Terra MODIS
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The Collapse of an Ice Shelf Larsen B Antarctic
Peninsula 01/31/2002
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The Collapse of an Ice Shelf Larsen B Antarctic
Peninsula 04/05/2002
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Space Weather AuroraCity Lights
DMSP
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Ice Motion
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The EndQuestions?