The Dust Enhancement Techniques Using MODIS and SeaWiFS Webcast features Dr. Steven Miller of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Monterey, California and takes about one hour to complete. Dr. Miller explains two techniques for detecting blowing dust using multispectral satellite imagery from the MODIS and SeaWiFS instruments. He also provides guidelines for the best uses of these techniques. The Webcast includes several recent operational examples from southwest Asia. This presentation was originally given at a workshop hosted by NRL in April, 2003.
After completing the module the user will be able to:
• Describe the process for creating RGB or “true-color” enhancements
• State the limitations of the RGB enhancement for detecting dust
• Describe the process for creating “false-color” dust specific enhancements
• Identify dust plumes using the dust enhancement
• Identify surface features that mimic dust signatures using the dust enhancement
• Identify source regions for dust using dust enhancement imagery
• Distinguish smoke and clouds from dust using the dust enhancement
• State the limitations of the false-color dust enhancement
July 2014: While newer multispectral observing capabilities and products becoming available since the 2003 publication date are not included, this lesson remains scientifically valid and relevant to the dust detection challenge.
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