Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Earth from Above provides an easy introduction to understanding and interpreting satellite images, using illustrative examples to instruct on the fantastically informative new global data sets. Beginning with two short chapters on visible satellite images and radiation, the book then covers six key Earth-atmosphere variables on such environmentally important topics as the Antarctic ozone hole, El Nino, deforestation, the missing carbon dilemma, and the effects of sea ice, snow cover, and volcanoes on atmospheric temperatures. A final chapter broadens the discussion to consider satellite Earth observations in general.The book is heavily illustrated, including photographs, maps, schematic diagrams, and 50 color-coded satellite images. Each section concludes with a list of questions encouraging the reader to review the text and, in the case of sections with satellite image, to examine the images and find answers from them. Answers to all questions are provided at the back of the book.
Synopsis
This text aims to familiarize the uninitiated with satellite data and with the reading of colour-coded satellite images of the Earth. It gives a sense of how the raw data is converted into information about the Earth and the atmosphere, and shows the range of information being collected about the Earth through satellites. There is also coverage of six of the important topics in Earth/atmosphere studies now being examined with data from satellites: atmospheric ozone; polar sea ice; continental snow cover; sea surface temperatures; land vegetation; and volcanoes.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 155-160) and index.