Space Observations for Monitoring the
Climate and Environment
Prof. Colin Price
Porter School of the Environment and Earth Science
Tel Aviv University
Direct and Indirect methods
of monitoring the environment
Direct methods Indirect methods
In situ Remote sensing
Stages of Remote Sensing
• Emission of radiation (Sun/Earth)
• Transmission of energy from the source to the sensor, as well as
absorption and scattering
• Interaction of radiation with Earth’s surface, gases, aerosols, clouds
• Detection by sensor
Satellite Observations (Remote Sensing)
• Active Sensors
transmit and receive signals
eg. Cloud radar, lasers, sea
level radar, wind profilers
• Passive Sensors
Only receive signals
eg. Reflection of sunlight
heat from Earth, fires
Passive Remote Sensing
VIS IR
Sun Earth
Active Remote Sensing
GPM radar
How do we measure GASES in the Atmosphere?
H2O, CO2, CH4….?
Infrared Absorption Bands
Meteosat Water Vapor
Wavelength = information
Visible Light Temperature Water Vapor
0.5µm 10µm 6µm
Hyperspectral Remote Sensing
Our Changing Earth
Smart Cites and Space
Efficient Cities:
✓ Urban Planning
*Land use management
*Property Tax evaluation
*Illegal buildings
✓ Transport and Mobility
*real time information and connectivity
*urban traffic analysis
✓ Buildings and Infrastructure
*Monitoring of pavements, buildings and critical infrastructure
*Mapping of buried optic fibre, gas,water and electric lines
*Soil subsidence maps to prioritise maintenance work
Safe and Resilient Cities:
✓ Disasters and Security
*Management of natural disasters
*Oil spill detection and removal
*Analysis of crime incident patterns
✓ Soil and Water
*Remote sensing of reservoirs
*Hazardous material management
*Urban agriculture
Changes in Surface Characteristics
Atlanta, Georgia
Urbanization
Detection water pipe leaks from
space
Air Pollution and Solar Energy
Halley Station
Ozone Hole Antarctica
70% decrease
Ozone Hole
TOMS satellite
October Ozone over Antarctica
Montreal
Protocol 1987
Global Warming – Climate Crisis
CO2 measurements from space
Total column of carbon dioxide [ppmv] for Thursday 28 November 2019. (Credit: Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, ECMWF)
CO Concentrations from satellite
The Oceans
Sea Surface Temperature
Melting of the Ice Caps
GRACE Gravity Satellite
Ice Sheet Mass Measurements
Melt descending
into a moulin,
a vertical shaft
carrying water
to ice sheet base.
Greenland Ice
Melt in Summer
Source: Roger Braithwaite,
University of Manchester (UK)
Greenland Ice Sheet Antarctic Ice Sheet
Sea Level Rise
Deforestation
100km
1975 1975 2009
Remote Sensing of Natural Disasters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhFZa7gQ2zA
Fires from Space
Fire Season over Africa
Monitoring Lightning from
Space
First GEO lightning detector
Earth Observations from Space
✓Satellites allow us to monitor the Earth at remote locations –
oceans, ice sheets, deserts, poles, ….
✓Vital for monitoring the ozone hole, melting ice sheets, changes
in the climate, deforestation, etc.
✓Satellites allow us to sample everywhere with the same sensor
(detection efficiency, resolution)
✓Satellites allow us to monitor changes over time (climate
change)
✓Satellites allow early warnings of natural disasters (evacuation,
preparation)
✓Satellites allow rapid response to natural disasters (response
and recovery, communication)
