This chapter covers remote sensing, the primary method of observing weather and climate across the global tropics. Learners will become familiar with the scientific basis and applications of radar and satellite remote sensing from examples in which clouds and precipitation are observed by measuring microwave signals using ground-based radar, spaceborne radar, and satellite radiometers. Wind estimation, dust and volcanic ash tracking, vertical sounding techniques, and remote measurement of sea-surface, soil and land surface properties are also covered.
At the end of this chapter, users should understand and be able to describe:
* Why remote sensing is important in the tropics
* Several tropical applications of ground-based radars
* The advantages and limitations of airborne and spaceborne radar
* Several tropical meteorology applications of satellite radar and microwave remote sensing
* The benefits and weaknesses of satellite estimates of water vapor content
* How GPS satellite signals are used to derive temperature and humidity profiles and how this benefits tropical meteorology
* The benefits and weaknesses of satellite precipitation estimates
* How lightning is detected by satellite
* The benefits and weaknesses of satellite wind estimation
* Why microwave sensors are useful for identifying surface moisture
* How vegetation and other land use/land cover changes are monitored by satellite
* How meteorologically important features, such as cloud properties, are monitored with satellite imagery
* How satellites are used for air quality assessment, such as dispersion of volcanic ash, chemical pollutants, dust, and smoke
February 15 2016: HTML and media assets in this lesson have been updated for current browsers and mobile devices. All links external to COMET's MetEd site have been checked and updated.
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