Chapter 21
Recent Advances and Challenges of Monitoring
Climate Change from Space
John J. Qu, Alfred M. Powell Jr., and Mannava V.K. Sivakumar
Abstract Extreme weather and climate events have over the years impacted
human society and have currently become a more complex challenge with the
changing climate. Many more climate change consequences have been recognized
due to various environmental and social stresses in the last few decades. One way to
assess the impacts of observed climate change is by viewing the Earth from space.
Monitoring climate change from space is one of the most important and challenging
responsibilities. Satellite remote sensing measurements can make the task of monitoring the entire Earth relatively easy with low costs; thus, environment and
weather satellite measurements provide the ability to observe and predict the
Earth’s environment and weather while improving the accuracy. Satellite observations make a significant contribution to the Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
and their associated data sets and products of the Global Climate Observing System
(GCOS) which was established to ensure that all users have access to the climate
observations, data records, and information which they require to address pressing
climate-related concerns. Generating climate data records with multi-mission and
multi-instrument measurements is difficult and complex because of the spectral
spatial, temporal, and angular coverage issues. Cross-sensor calibration and
J.J. Qu (*)
Department of GGS/College of Science (COS), Environmental Science and Technology Center
(ESTC), George Mason University (GMU), MS 6A2, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
e-mail: jqu@gmu.edu
A.M. Powell Jr.
Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR)/NOAA/NESDIS, World Weather
Building, 5830 University Research Court, College Park, MD 20746, USA
e-mail: Al.Powell@noaa.gov
M.V.K. Sivakumar
Climate Prediction and Adaptation Branch (CLPA), Climate and Water Department (CLW),
World Meteorological Organization, 7 bis Avenue de la Paix, Case Postale No. 2300, Geneva
2 CH-1211, Switzerland
e-mail: msivakumar@wmo.int
J.J. Qu et al. (eds.), Satellite-based Applications on Climate Change,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-5872-8_21, # Springer (outside the USA) 2013
359
Recent Advances and Challenges of Monitoring
Climate Change from Space
John J. Qu, Alfred M. Powell Jr., and Mannava V.K. Sivakumar
Abstract Extreme weather and climate events have over the years impacted
human society and have currently become a more complex challenge with the
changing climate. Many more climate change consequences have been recognized
due to various environmental and social stresses in the last few decades. One way to
assess the impacts of observed climate change is by viewing the Earth from space.
Monitoring climate change from space is one of the most important and challenging
responsibilities. Satellite remote sensing measurements can make the task of monitoring the entire Earth relatively easy with low costs; thus, environment and
weather satellite measurements provide the ability to observe and predict the
Earth’s environment and weather while improving the accuracy. Satellite observations make a significant contribution to the Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
and their associated data sets and products of the Global Climate Observing System
(GCOS) which was established to ensure that all users have access to the climate
observations, data records, and information which they require to address pressing
climate-related concerns. Generating climate data records with multi-mission and
multi-instrument measurements is difficult and complex because of the spectral
spatial, temporal, and angular coverage issues. Cross-sensor calibration and
J.J. Qu (*)
Department of GGS/College of Science (COS), Environmental Science and Technology Center
(ESTC), George Mason University (GMU), MS 6A2, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
e-mail: jqu@gmu.edu
A.M. Powell Jr.
Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR)/NOAA/NESDIS, World Weather
Building, 5830 University Research Court, College Park, MD 20746, USA
e-mail: Al.Powell@noaa.gov
M.V.K. Sivakumar
Climate Prediction and Adaptation Branch (CLPA), Climate and Water Department (CLW),
World Meteorological Organization, 7 bis Avenue de la Paix, Case Postale No. 2300, Geneva
2 CH-1211, Switzerland
e-mail: msivakumar@wmo.int
J.J. Qu et al. (eds.), Satellite-based Applications on Climate Change,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-5872-8_21, # Springer (outside the USA) 2013
359