EAS 6145
Remote sensing of the atmosphere and oceans

Instructor:
Professor Irina N. Sokolik
office 3104, ph.404-894-6180
email: isokolik@eas.gatech.edu

Dr.Leda Sox
office 2252, ph 404-407-7097
email:Leda.Sox@gtri.gatech.edu

Location and meeting time:
Monday/Wednesday/Friday 1:55 - 2:45 PM
ES&T L1116

Course Syllabus
Course description

Class Research Project

Aug. 19 Lecture 1. Class Logistics; Intro to satellite sensors.
Aug. 21 Lecture 2. Basics of electromagnetic radiation:
Aug. 23 Lab 1. Intro to NASA data products
Aug. 26 Lecture 3. Basics of EM radiation: polarization
Aug. 28 Lecture 4. Important radiation laws: blackbody emission, Stefan-Boltzmann, Wien’s Displacement, Kirchoff’s
Aug.30 Lab 2. Passive microwave remote sensing of sea-ice
Sep. 2   Labor Day: NO CLASS
Sep. 4 Lecture 5. Composition and structure of the atmosphere.
Sep. 6 Lecture 6. Absorption and emission by atmospheric gases.
Sep. 9 Lecture 7. Composition and structure of the atmosphere.
Absorption and emission by atmospheric gases.
Sep. 11 Lecture 8. Molecular (Rayleigh) scattering
Sep. 13 Lab 3. Spectral absorption by atmospheric gases
Sep. 16 Lecture 9. Scattering and absorption by aerosol and cloud particles: Mie theory
Sep. 18 Lecture 10. Mie theory and remote sensing applications of direct solar radiation
Sep. 20 Lab 4. Modeling of optical characteristics with Mie theory.
Remote sensing based on direct solar radiation. AERONET.
Sep. 23 Lecture 11. Multiple scattering as a source of radiation
Sep. 25 Lecture 12. Reflectance from surfaces and remote sensing of ocean color
Sep. 27 Lab 5 Surface albedo and ocean color. Examination of true color images.
Sep. 30 Lecture 13. Applications of passive remote sensing using extinction and scattering:
remote sensing of aerosols in the solar spectrum
Oct. 2 Lab 6 Passive remote sensing of atmospheric aerosols
Oct. 4 Lecture 14. Passive Remote Sensing using emission
Oct. 7 Midterm Review Midterm Study Guide
Oct. 9   MID-TERM EXAM
Oct. 11 Midterms back Review of midterm results
Oct. 14 Fall Break: NO CLASS
Oct. 16 Lecture 15. Principles of passive remote sensing using emissionand applications:
Remote sensing of atmospheric path-integrated quantities(cloud liquid water content and precipitable water vapor).
Remote sensing of SST.
Oct. 18 Lab 7. Passive microwave remote sensing: retrievals of total precipitable water and cloud liquid water
Oct. 21 Lecture 16 Applications of passive remote sensing using emission:
Principles of sounding by emission and applications (temperature and
atmospheric gases).
Oct. 23 Lecture 17 Applications of passive remote sensing using emission:
Principles of sounding by emission and applications (temperature and atmospheric gases).
Oct.25 Lab 8. Atmospheric sounding.
Oct. 28 Lecture 18. Applications of passive remote sensing:
Remote sensing of planetary atmospheres - Examples
Oct. 30 Lecture 19. Applications of passive remote sensing:
Remote sensing of precipitationand clouds.
Nov. 1 Lab 9 Passive remote sensing of clouds.
Nov. 4   Research project updates.
Nov. 6 Lecture 20. Radar remote sensing principles.
Nov. 8 Lecture 21 Radar sensing of clouds and precipitation.
Nov. 11 Lab 10. Radar sensing of precipitation.
Nov. 13 Lecture 22. Principles of active remote sensing: Lidars.
Lidar sensing of gases, aerosols, and clouds.
Nov. 15 Lecture 23 Lidar sensing of gases, aerosols, and clouds
Nov. 18 Lab 11. Introduction of CALIPSO products
Nov. 20 Project Presentations Round 1
Nov. 22 Project Presentations Round 2
Nov. 25 Lecture 24. Remote sensing of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere
Nov. 27-29 Thanksgiving Break: NO CLASS.
Dec. 2 Final Review Course overview.
Dec. 4-6 Reading Period.
Dec. 9 FINAL EXAM 2:40-5:30 PM.
Dec. 16 Final grades due.

Supplement Materials