Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch

Basic Review of Satellite Foundational Topics

Introduction

This training session introduces fundamentals of radiation and satellite detection of radiation: active/passive detection, how radiation is related to emitting temperatures, what kinds of radiation are detected by a satellite, how the atmosphere and radiation interact at different radiation wavelengths. Further, it describes the GOES-16 detection spectrum and how that is related to gaseous absorption of radiation in the atmosphere. It also describes briefly describes weighting functions — distributions in the vertical that describe where radiation detected by the satellite comes from in the atmosphere.

Training Session Options

NOAA/NWS students – to begin the training, use the web-based video, YouTube video, or audio playback options below (if present for this session). Certificates of completion for NOAA/NWS employees can be obtained by accessing the session via the Commerce Learning Center.

1. Web-based video that can be taken at anytime (streamed, not recommended for low-bandwidth users). Be sure to have your speakers on and the volume loud enough to hear the presentation.

2. Audio playback (recommended for low-bandwidth users) – This is an audio playback version in the form of a downloadable VISITview and can be taken at anytime.

   Create a directory to download the audio playback file (25 MB) from the following link: http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/visit/training_sessions/basic_review_of_satellite_foundational_topics/basic_review_of_satellite_foundational_topics_audio.exe

   After extracting the files into that directory click on either the visitplay.bat or visitauto.bat file to start the lesson. If both files are present, use visitauto.bat

3. Download video (recommended for low-bandwidth users) – This is an audio playback version in the form of an Articulate Presenter video and can be taken at anytime.

   Create a directory to download the video file from the following link: http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/visit/training_sessions/basic_review_of_satellite_foundational_topics/basic_review_of_satellite_foundational_topics_articulate.zip

   After extracting the files into that directory click on either the presentation.html OR index.html file and the video will begin to play in your browser (Mozilla Firefox works best).

References/Additional Links