Applications to Meteorology and Climate Change

Code:

EGEO4032

Acronym:

EGEO4032

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Surveying Engineering

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Remote Sensing

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:DR	0	The study plan from 2018	1	-	3	21	81
M:EGEO	6	Official Study Plan	1	-	3	21	81

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Students are expected to deepen their general understanding of the fundamental concepts of remote sensing systems for observation of the atmosphere, techniques and processing, as well as their applicability to the weather forecast, monitoring of natural phenomena, anthropogenic impacts and climate change.

Learning outcomes and competences

It is intended that the students acquire at the end of UC the following knowledge, skills and competences:

• Knowledge of remote sensing systems for observation of the atmosphere.
• Knowledge of remote sensing techniques applied to observation of the atmosphere.
• Knowledge about the image processing techniques applied to the atmosphere.
• Remote sensing applicability to the weather forecast (nowcasting).
• Remote sensing applicability to the monitoring of natural phenomena.
• Impact of human activities on the environment.
• Knowledge of the climate change effects and the remote sensing applicability to their study.

It is intended that the students be autonomous in the management and analysis of data and be able to make an interpretation of the obtained results, bridging the theoretical and observed knowledge, in order to explain the main characteristics of remote sensing systems for observation of the atmosphere and the related topics, such as climatology, meteorology, oceanography and climate change.

Working method

Presencial

Program

• Introduction to remote sensing of the atmosphere


• Remote sensing techniques applied to the study of the the atmosphere


• Image processing techniques applied to the study of the  atmosphere


• Cloud observation: associated types and weather states


• Remote sensing for weather forecast (nowcasting)


• Meteorological phenomena monitoring: Fronts, thunderstorms, hurricanes


• Human activities monitoring: Urban island, sources of air pollution, fires


• Climate change


• Climate change monitoring using remote sensing

Mandatory literature

Cracknell Arthur P.; Remote sensing and climate change. ISBN: 1-85233-321-9
Peixoto José P.; Physics of climate
Salby Murry L.; Fundamentals of atmospheric physics. ISBN: 0-12-615160-1

Complementary Bibliography

Ahlonsou E., Ding Y., Schimel D.; The Climate System: an Overview, Baede A.P.M.
Purkis S.J., Klemas V.V.; Remote Sensing and Global Environmental Change, 2011
Roland B.S.; Meteorology Today for Scientists and Engineers, 1995
Kokhanovsky A., de Leeuw G.; Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere from Space, 2017

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical classes: Lectures using power point, presenting the theoretical concepts and examples of applications.

Practical classes: practical exercises involving the processing and analysis of remote sensing data using free software.

Lectures of type “O”: clarification of possible doubts about the various topics of the syllabus and support to the execution of the practical exercises.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	32,00
Trabalho escrito	68,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	40,00
Frequência das aulas	21,00
Trabalho laboratorial	20,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

Minimum attendance of 75% of sessions

Calculation formula of final grade

Type of assessment: individual work (IW)

IW will deal with a chosen topic from a list of proposed topics, including the oral presentation of the topic.

The IW classification has a weighting of 70% for written work (IW_W) and 30% for oral discussion (IW_O).

Examinations or Special Assignments

Apart from reports and oral presentation it is not required any further exam or assignment

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The special statute students have access to the first and second calls, as well as to special exam periods. The attendance is optional but the evaluation components (IW) are mandatory.

Classification improvement

The written work mark can be improved in the second call.