1. Introduction Metr280: Independent Study on Satellite Meteorology/Climatology Professor Menglin Jin

3. After this class, you should have in-depth understanding on Physical principles behind the remote sensing of atmosphere, land, and ocean properties from Satellite orbits and repeat coverage required for global observations Fundamental concepts and terminology of radiative transfer Atmospheric absorption and transmission characteristics Radiance & irradiance Scattering phase function Optical thickness Single and multiple scattering Familiar the recent NASA satellite observations, in particular, land and atmosphere be able to access, analyze, and visualize the data be able to identify important research topics, and capable to find approach to work on the topic Be able to use GRADS, IDL/MATLAB to plot data GOAL of this class

4. Focus on Good Understanding of How to measure land surface properties: Skin Temperature Albedo Land Cover Vegetation (LAI, NDVI) Clouds (for land-atmosphere interactions) Aerosols Water Vapor

5. To become expertise on Using IDL and Grads Computer Program to Analyze EOS MODIS Observations

6. Frequently visit Useful NASA’s web site, at... http://earthobse rvatory. nasa.gov

7. Class Project An independent study with the professor by each student Focus: Land Surface »Land surface climatology »Land surface-atmosphere interaction Data: NASA EOS MODIS, TRMM Identify research topic by Feb. 15, 2009

8. Text Book and Critical References Books: Satellite Meteoroology –by Stanley Kidder and Thomas H. V. Haar (SM) Our Changing Planet – Michael D. King (MD) References Assigned ppt Critical papers websites

9. Grading and Exams: 280 (graduate indepent Study) Test/Final Exam30% Lab/homework assignments30% Lit. review/poster10% Research Project30%

10. Computer Vortex.met.sjsu.edu Ask for an account – send me your longin name Access satellite data, sample GRADS/IDL scripts, papers there