Lesson 2 Earth System Observation: NASA’s Earth Observation System (EOS) Satellites NOAA’s Polar Orbiting and Geostationary Satellites

Overview of NASA’s EOS Satellite Orbits Overview of NASA Earth Observation System Principle of R&S Passive and active RS Major parameters measured from space Validation of R/S products This slide provided by Jon Ranson Project Scientist, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, jon.ranson@gsfc.nasa.gov

Geostationary Orbit

NASA’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

EOS Missions Landsat 7 QuikScat Terra ACRIMSAT Jason-1 SAGE III Aqua ICESat SORCE Aura Landsat 7 Jason-1 Aura SAGE III SORCE Aqua ICESat

The Afternoon Constellation “A-Train” 2007 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

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)

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)

The Afternoon Constellation “A-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

NASA Earth Science Spacecraft in Orbit TRMM 11/27/97 Landsat 7 4/15/99 QuikScat 6/19/99 Terra 12/18/99

EOS Spacecraft Under Development 11/21/00 Aqua 7/01 ICESat 12/01 Aura 7/03

Aqua/MODIS Coverage 1 day coverage 2 day coverage July 11, 2005

Earth Observing System Measurements Discipline Measurement EOS-AM Instruments Atmosphere Cloud Properties MODIS, MISR, ASTER Radiative Energy Fluxes CERES, MODIS, MISR Precipitation Tropospheric Chemistry MOPITT Stratospheric Chemistry Aerosol Properties MISR, MODIS Atmospheric Temperature MODIS Atmospheric Humidity MODIS Lightning Solar Radiation Total Solar Radiation Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance

Earth Observing System Measurements Discipline Measurement EOS-AM Instruments Ocean Surface Temperature MODIS Phytoplankton MODIS, MISR Dissolved Organic Matter MODIS, MISR Surface Wind Fields Ocean Surface Topography Cryosphere Land Ice Change ASTER Sea Ice MODIS, ASTER Snow Cover MODIS, ASTER

Earth Observing System Measurements Discipline Measurement EOS-AM Instruments Land Land Cover/Land Use Change MODIS, MISR, ASTER Vegetation Dynamics MODIS, MISR, ASTER Surface Temperature MODIS, ASTER Fire Occurrence MODIS, ASTER Volcanic Effects MODIS, MISR, ASTER Surface Wetness

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

Geosynchronous Meteorological Satellites WMO Member States

Spectral Distribution of Energy Radiated from Blackbodies at Various Temperatures

Spectral Characteristics of Energy Sources and Sensing Systems

Why do we use different channels Biomass burning Cuiabá, Brazil (August 25, 1995) 10 km q0 = 36° R = 0.66 µm G = 0.55 µm B = 0.47 µm R = 1.65 µm G = 1.2 µm B = 2.1 µm 20 km AVIRIS Data

Spectral Characteristics of Atmospheric Transmission and Sensing Systems

Typical Spectral Reflectance Curves for Vegetation, Soil, and Water

Generalized Spectral Reflectance Envelopes for Deciduous and Coniferous Trees

Specular versus Diffuse Reflectance

LIDAR Measurement Concept

Diagram of Radar Transmission and Reception (Fig. 1 Diagram of Radar Transmission and Reception (Fig. 1.1 from Batan and Fig. 8.1 from Stephens)

CALIPSO/CALIOP (Lidar) June 7, 2006 Aura/OMI Column SO2

New EOS science results published in lay terms on NASA’s new, award-winning Web site: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov