COMET Satellite Meteorology Course

Radiative Transfer

SatMet 99-2
Presented by Bob Rabin

• Introduction
• Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Earth From Satellite
• Definitions of Radiation
• Planck Function and Wien's Law
• Radiance vs. Wavelength/Wavenumber
• Incoming (Visible) vs. Outgoing (IR) Energy
• Global Energy Budget
• Example of Scattering From Haze
• Scattering as a Function of Wavelength and Particle Radius
• Effect of Selective Absorption and Emission
• Reflectance, Absorption, and Transmittance
• Emission, Absorption, Reflection, and Scattering
• Transmittance
• Planck Emission and Molecular Absorption Spectra
• Planck's Law and Temperature Sensitivity
• Radiative Transfer Equation (Part 1)
• Radiative Transfer Equation (Part 2)
• Concept of Weighting Functions
• Earth Emitted Spectra and GOES Sounder Spectral Bands
• Weighting Functions - Longwave Bands
• Weighting Functions - Midwave Bands
• Weighting Functions - Shortwave Bands
• Moist and Dry Rawinsonde Profiles and Weighting Functions
• Band 8,10,11,12 from March 11, 1998
• Band 10 Weighting Function (VIS-5D)
• Band 11 Weighting Function (VIS-5D)
• Band 12 Weighting Function (VIS-5D)
• Sensitivity of Temperature Changes on Weighting Functions and Brightness Temperatures (Single Level Perturbation)
• Sensitivity of Temperature Changes on Weighting Functions and Brightness Temperatures (Whole Profile Perturbation)
• Sensitivity of Water Vapor Changes on Weighting Functions and Brightness Temperatures (Single Level Perturbation)
• Sensitivity of Water Vapor Changes on Weighting Functions and Brightness Temperatures (Whole Profile Perturbation)
• Instrument Observing Characteristics
• Diffraction Effects
• Comparison of Geostationary and Low Earth Orbit Satellites

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