GEOG/GEOL 4093 Remote Sensing of the Environment Lecture 16 Outline of today’s lecture • Earth Observing System • Terra Satellite • ASTER“Our Earth is unique among the planets with an abundance of water and highly diversified life. NASA provides a unique vantage point from space that is the only way to effectively study global scale phenomena and to understand local, regional and global-scale changes in their larger context.” Earth System Science at NASA has three major goals: 1. Science: Observe, understand and model the Earth system to learn how it is changing, and the consequences for life on Earth. 2. Applications: Expand and accelerate the realization of economic and societal benefits from Earth science, information, and technology. 3. Technology: Develop and adopt advanced technologies to enable mission success and serve national priorities. Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE): NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise (ESE)Earth Observing System (EOS)  The Earth Observing System (EOS) has been the centerpiece of NASA's Earth Science Enterprise (ESE). It is composed of a series of satellites, a science component, and a data system supporting a coordinated series of polar-orbiting and low inclination satellites for long-term global observations of the land surface, biosphere, solid Earth, atmosphere, and oceans.Earth Observing System (EOS)  The overarching goal of the Earth Observing System (EOS) Program is to determine the extent, causes, and regional consequences of global climate change  The extent (e.g. the change in average temperature and the time scale over which it will occur) is presently unknown  Causes have a natural component and a human-induced component  Both must be understood to determine how to alter human behavior appropriately to avoid climate changes that prove most detrimental to the environmentEarth Observing System (EOS) Goals  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  Support national and international environmental policy recommendations Mission objectives  Create an integrated scientific observing system that will enable multidisciplinary study of earth system science  Develop a comprehensive data and information system, including a data retrieval and processing system  Acquire and assemble a global database emphasizing remote sensing measurements from space over a decade or more  Improve predictive models of the earth systemArtists impression of Spot 5Artists impression of Spot 5Artists impression of Spot 5Artists impression of Spot 5Source: Michael D. King, EOS Senior Project ScientistSource: Michael D. King, EOS Senior Project ScientistSource: Michael D. King, EOS Senior Project ScientistEOS Data and Information Systems (EOSDIS)  More than any other factor, the commitment to make Earth science data easily available to a wide community of users is critical to the success of NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise  At present, EOSDIS manages data from NASA’s past and current Earth science research satellites and field measurement programs, providing data archiving, distribution and information services User Support – through 8 Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs)  Data Archive, Management and Distribution  Information Management – Date Gateway that provides “one-stop-shopping”  Product Generation – Data product generation from EOS data products  Spacecraft Command and Control – Space craft and instrument planning and scheduling, and command and control  Data Capture and Telemetry Processing – Capture all data from all EOS spacecraft and process them to remove telemetry errors and make available to NOAA in 3 hours Services provided by EOSDISArtists impression of Spot 5 Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs)Terra Satellite Launched December 18, 1999 ASTER CERES MISR MODIS MOPPITTerra SatelliteASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer ) Hi-resolution, multi-spectral images from 15 m to 90 m resolution, plus stereo CERES (Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System) Measures Earth’s shortwave, longwave, and net radiant energy budget MISR (Multi-angle Imaging Spectro-Radiometer) Stereo images at 9 look angles MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) 1-2 day global coverage in 36 wavelengths from 250 m to 1 km resolution MOPPIT (Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere) Global measures of CH4 & CO Terra Instruments: Launched December 18, 1999 ASTER obtains high-resolution (15 to 90 square meters per pixel) images of the Earth in 14 different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, ranging from visible to thermal infrared light  Scientists use ASTER data to create detailed maps of land surface temperature, emissivity, reflectance, and elevation.  ASTER is the only high spatial resolution instrument on the Terra platform. ASTER's ability to serve as a 'zoom' lens for the other Terra instruments is particularly important for change detection, calibration/validation and land surface studies. All three ASTER telescopes (VNIR, SWIR, and TIR) are pointable in the crosstrack direction. Given its high resolution and its ability to change viewing angles, ASTER can produce stereoscopic images and detailed terrain height models. ASTER SWIR VNIR (1,2,3N) VNIR (3B) TIRASTER Scan Swath “ASTER is Landsat on steroids," said Arizona State University geologist William Stefanov. "It's a wonderful tool for studying surface materials ASTER Spectral BandsVNIR SWIR TIR Bands Band 1: 0.52 - 0.60 µm Band 2: 0.63 - 0.69 µm Band 3: 0.76 - 0.86 µm Band 4: 1.600 - 1.700 µm Band 5: 2.145 - 2.185 µm Band 6: 2.185 - 2.225 µm Band 7: 2.235 - 2.285 µm Band 8: 2.295 - 2.365 µm Band 9: 2.360 - 2.430 µm Band 10: 8.125 - 8.475 µm Band 11: 8.475 - 8.825 µm Band 12: 8.925 - 9.275 µm Band 13: 10.25 - 10.95 µm Band 14: 10.95 - 11.65 µm Resolution 15 m 30 m 90 m Swath 60 km 60 km 60 km ASTERASTER Measurements • Spectral reflectances of the Earth’s surface at 15-30 m • Surface temperature and emissivities at 90 m • Digital elevation maps from stereo images • Surface composition and