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Lesson 2

Earth System Observation:

NASA’s Earth Observation System (EOS) Satellites

NOAA’s Polar Orbiting and Geostationary Satellites

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Overview of NASA’s EOS

This slide provided by Jon Ranson Project Scientist, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, jon.ranson@gsfc.nasa.gov

1. Satellite Orbits

2. Overview of NASA Earth Observation System

3. Principle of R&SPassive and active RS

3. Major parameters measured from space

4. Validation of R/S products

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Geostationary Orbit

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NASA’S Earth Observation SystemNASA’S Earth Observation System

EOS (Earth Observing System)

– Earth system science wouldn’t emerge and develop so fast without the NASA’s earth observation system.

– EOS is the principal component within the Earth Science Enterprise» Develop an understanding of the total Earth system, and the

effects of natural and human-induced changes on the global environment

» Expand scientific knowledge of the Earth system using NASA’s unique capabilities from the vantage points of space, aircraft, and in situ platforms

» Disseminate information about the Earth system

Mission objectives» Acquire and assemble a global database emphasizing remote

sensing measurements from space over a decade or more» Improve predictive models of the Earth system

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QuikScat

EOS MissionsEOS Missions

Landsat 7

QuikScat

Terra

ACRIMSAT

Jason-1

SAGE III

Aqua

ICESat

SORCE

Aura

Terra

ICESat

Aura

SORCE

Landsat 7

Jason-1

Aqua

SAGE III

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The Afternoon ConstellationThe Afternoon Constellation““A-TrainA-Train””

The Afternoon constellation consists of 5 U.S. and international Earth Science satellites that fly within approximately 15 minutes of each other to enable coordinated science

The joint measurements provide an unprecedented sensor system for Earth observations

2007

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Major Satellite and Sensors Used in this Course (Continued)

Major Satellite and Sensors Used in this Course (Continued)

Resource Satellite Landsat (1972-present)

– Remote sensing at high spatial resolution of the Earth’s land masses

– Open skies policy of access to data on the world’s environment– ERTS-1 renamed Landsat 1 in January 1975

Radiation Research Satellite Nimbus (launches 1964-1978)

– Successor to the polar-orbiting TIROS 1-3 series– Medium resolution satellites with sensors for monitoring the

Earth’s atmosphere (ozone and other trace gases in the stratosphere, aerosols, radiation budget, clouds, temperature), oceans (ocean color & sea surface temperature), and cryosphere (sea ice)

Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (1985-1989, 1985-199?– launch October 5, 1984)

» Earth radiation budget and solar occultation of aerosols and ozone

» first science satellite launched by the shuttle (Challenger; Sally Ride)

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Recent History of Digital Remote Sensing

Recent History of Digital Remote Sensing

Precipitation– TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission; launch November 27,

1997)» tropical rainfall measurement using spaceborne radar and

passive microwave sensing (joint NASA & NASDA)

Atmospheric Profile UARS (Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, launch September 14,

1991» global photochemistry of the upper atmosphere» launched by the shuttle (Discovery)

Sea-Level TOPEX/Poseidon (Ocean Topography Experiment, launch August 10,

1992)» radar altimetry of ocean surface topography (joint NASA &

CNES)

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The Afternoon Constellation The Afternoon Constellation ““A-TrainA-Train””

The Afternoon constellation consists of 7 U.S. and international Earth Science satellites that fly within approximately 30 minutes of each other to enable coordinated science

The joint measurements provide an unprecedented sensor system for Earth observations

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TRMM11/27/97

Terra12/18/9

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QuikScat

6/19/99

Landsat 7

4/15/99

NASA Earth Science Spacecraft in Orbit

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EO-111/21/00

Aura7/03

ICESat12/01

Aqua7/01

EOS Spacecraft Under Development

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1 day coverage 2 day coverage

July 11-12, 2005July 11, 2005

Aqua/MODIS Coverage

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DisciplineDiscipline EOS-AM InstrumentsEOS-AM InstrumentsMeasurementMeasurement

AtmosphereAtmosphere Cloud Properties Cloud Properties MODIS, MISR, ASTERMODIS, MISR, ASTERRadiative Energy FluxesRadiative Energy Fluxes CERES, MODIS, MISRCERES, MODIS, MISRPrecipitationPrecipitationTropospheric ChemistryTropospheric Chemistry MOPITTMOPITTStratospheric ChemistryStratospheric ChemistryAerosol PropertiesAerosol Properties MISR, MODISMISR, MODISAtmospheric TemperatureAtmospheric Temperature MODISMODISAtmospheric HumidityAtmospheric Humidity MODISMODISLightningLightning

Earth Observing System Measurements

Solar RadiationSolar Radiation Total Solar RadiationTotal Solar RadiationUltraviolet Spectral IrradianceUltraviolet Spectral Irradiance

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DisciplineDiscipline EOS-AM EOS-AM InstrumentsInstruments

MeasuremenMeasurementt

OceanOcean Surface TemperatureSurface Temperature MODISMODISPhytoplankton Phytoplankton MODIS, MISRMODIS, MISRDissolved Organic MatterDissolved Organic Matter MODIS, MISRMODIS, MISRSurface Wind FieldsSurface Wind FieldsOcean Surface TopographyOcean Surface Topography

CryosphereCryosphere Land Ice ChangeLand Ice Change ASTERASTERSea IceSea Ice MODIS, ASTERMODIS, ASTERSnow CoverSnow Cover MODIS, ASTERMODIS, ASTER

Earth Observing System Measurements

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DisciplinDisciplinee

EOS-AM InstrumentsEOS-AM InstrumentsMeasurementMeasurement

LandLand Land Cover/Land Use ChangeLand Cover/Land Use Change MODIS, MISR, ASTERMODIS, MISR, ASTERVegetation DynamicsVegetation Dynamics MODIS, MISR, ASTERMODIS, MISR, ASTERSurface TemperatureSurface Temperature MODIS, ASTERMODIS, ASTERFire OccurrenceFire Occurrence MODIS, ASTERMODIS, ASTERVolcanic EffectsVolcanic Effects MODIS, MISR, ASTERMODIS, MISR, ASTERSurface WetnessSurface Wetness

Earth Observing System Measurements

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Major Satellite and Sensors for Weather

Major Satellite and Sensors for Weather

Weather Satellites GOES 1-15 (1975-present)

– High temporal resolution geosynchronous satellites fixed over the equator at about 35,800km » hemispheric views of the Earth every 15 minutes

– Meteosat (Europe), GMS (Japan), and INSAT (India) complement GOES-E and GOES-W in a global meteorological geosynchronous constellation

POES (Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites)– TIROS-N (1978) & NOAA 6-19 (1979-present)– Remote sensing at moderate resolution of the Earth’s land,

ocean, and atmosphere» backbone of the US (NOAA’s) operational meteorological

program» operational instruments AVHRR, HIRS/MSU/SSU (TOVS),

SBUV

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Geosynchronous Meteorological Satellites WMO Member States

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Spectral Distribution of Energy Radiated from Blackbodies at Various

Temperatures

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Spectral Characteristics of Energy Sources and Sensing

Systems

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Why do we use different channelsBiomass burning

Cuiabá, Brazil (August 25, 1995)20 k

m

10 km 0 = 36°R = 0.66 µmG = 0.55 µmB = 0.47 µm

R = 1.65 µmG = 1.2 µmB = 2.1 µm

AVIRIS Data

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Spectral Characteristics of Atmospheric Transmission and

Sensing Systems

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Typical Spectral Reflectance Curves for Vegetation, Soil, and

Water

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Generalized Spectral Reflectance Envelopes for Deciduous and

Coniferous Trees

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Specular versus Diffuse Reflectance

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LIDAR Measurement Concept

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Diagram of Radar Transmission and Reception (Fig. 1.1 from Batan and Fig.

8.1 from Stephens)

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CALIPSO/CALIOP (Lidar)CALIPSO/CALIOP (Lidar)June 7, 2006June 7, 2006

Aura/OMI Column SO2

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New EOS science results published in lay terms on NASA’s new, award-winning Web site:

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov