WMO Global Campus Collection of Learning Resources

Description

Basic Satellite Course Introduction

The course aims to give an overview on the basics of satellite meteorology: image analysis i.e. the interpretation of patterns in satellite images that are related to various meteorological phenomena. During the course you will read, watch and answer questions about various surface features like vegetated ares, urban areas, difference between sea and land, you will identify cloud types and analyze their characteristics and you will learn to interpret atmospheric phenomena, like for example: dust storms, smoke and fires from satellite data.

The course is asynchronous, which means that you can take it at your own pace as all the lectures are pre-prepared. Quizzes are made for youto check your level of understanding

This module - Cloud types and their characterstics

In this part of the course you will not only learn more about the identification of clouds such as Stratus, Cumulus and Cirrus from satellite images, and you will also discover various methods to derive cloud height information. Microphysical properties of clouds like cloud phase and cloud particle size are also addressed.

Expected Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module students should be able to identify and locate the following:

• High and mid-level cumuliform and stratiform clouds.
• Low clouds like fog and stratus.
• Ship trails and contrails.
• How to assign cloud top height.
• How to identify and make use of cloud phase and cloud particle size information.

Target Audience

The primary audience for the training are forecasters in shifts who have access to different satellite (and model) products, though limited time or knowledge because of their schedule and the lack of training. Secondary audience are any other meteorologists and geoscientists that are working with satellite data in training, research, etc.