OC3522OC3522 - Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Ocean - Summer 2001Summer 2001A Brief History of Environmental Satellite SystemsA Brief History of Environmental Satellite Systems
(suggested reading Chapter 4 - Kidder & Vonder Haar, Reference Appendix A - List of Meteorological Satellites, and
Remote Sensing Tutorial at http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov)
Mosaic of photographs from V-2 rocket 1947
First Generation
TIROS series - research satellites with: TV cloud imageryscanning IR radiometerlow resolution E.R.B. experiments
DMSP - Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (classified until 1973)
IR; cloud cover information
ESSA (TOS) became operational system
Nimbus series - NASA research series with: passive radiometric sensors for sounding atmospheresurvey land and ocean surfaces7th operated for about 10 yearsexperiments became operational instruments on
several systems(IR/MW sounding, MW imaging, Ocean color, ERB)
ATS - geostationary research series first multispectral imagery from geostationary orbitSMS and then GOES became operational system
Second Generation
Landsat - land (earth resources) research
NOAA - series of operational polar orbiters
SMS/GOES - operational geostationary
Third Generation
TIROS-N/NOAA - operational polar orbiters, advanced sounders and imagers
GOES - added sounders from geostationary orbit
Additional research systems: SAGEERBESeasat - active and passive MW for ocean remote sensing (1978) GEOS-3 - altimeter (1975) Landsat - 4/5and many other
Current Generation - too many to list completely
GOES - Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)
OLS - operational line scan
Sat: F13 Thu Jan 1 01:04:29 1998
Visible (0.4-1.1 m) Infrared (8-12 m)
Low-Light capability
Special Sensor Microwave/Imager
=19 GHz
=22 GHz
=37 GHz
=85 GHz
TIROS-N/NOAA Polar Orbiters
26 Dec 1996 18:24 Z
Channel 2(from JHU/APL)
InterestingImages
History of Satellites Ocean Sciences
http://www.oc.nps.navy.mil/~rtt/history.html
Oceanography - early 1900’s invariant oceanSIO founded in 1912; WHO 1930- post WWII - ocean’s not invarient- 1950’s multiship international surveys begin
Repeat Hydrographic surveys- 1960’s/70’s Growth in technology; current meter
advancement, drifters- 1970/80s - satellite oceanography
SEASAT - 1978 (CZCS; Altimeter; SAR) NIMBUS - CZCS 1978TIROS - AVHRR (SST) 1978GEOSAT - US NAVY - 1985ERS 1/2 - SST/SSH/Winds/Waves - 1991SSMI - 1992 (ICE)TOPEX/Poseidon - SSH/Winds/Waves 1992RADARSAT - 1995SeaWifs - 1997 GFO - US NAVY - SSH/Winds/Waves - 1998SeaWinds - 1998
Infrared
http://coastwatch.nmfs.hawaii.edu/topex/pictures/latest_hawaii.gif
http://topex-www.jpl.nasa.gov/applications/images/coral-reef-monitoring.gif
http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEAWIFS.html
Mystery Plankton Bloom in the Bering Sea June 5, 2001
http://www.es.ucsc.edu/~swifs/oceanscience.htm#Productivity
C
A
B
http://www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/ccrs/tekrd/radarsat/images/pei/rpei01e.html
http://www.earth.nasa.gov/history/seasat/seasat.html
Objectives: Seasat A was the first satellite designed for sensing of the Earth's oceans with active microwave instruments. Specific objectives were to collect data on sea-surface winds, ocean topography, sea-surface temperatures, wave heights, wave length and direction, atmospheric water, and sea ice features. The mission ended after 116 days due to a failure of the vehicle's electric powersystem.
The mission demonstrated the feasiblity of using microwave sensors to monitor ocean conditions, and laid the groundwork for future ocean missions.
The major difference between Seasat-A and previous Earth observation satellites was the use of active and passive microwave sensors to achieve an all-weather capability.
