MT4RS: Remote Sensing Methods and Applications

Module code: MT4RS

Module provider: Meteorology; School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 4 (Undergraduate Masters)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Thorwald Stein, email: t.h.m.stein@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor Christopher Merchant, email: c.j.merchant@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( TAKE MT1WCF AND TAKE MT2AP ) OR ( TAKE MT11D AND TAKE MT24B ) (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module shows how to obtain information about the atmosphere using electromagnetic waves. In the first half of the course, we will consider how absorption, scattering and emission processes can used to quantify various atmospheric properties using satellites and ground-based instruments. In the second half of the course, we will study how radar and lidar instruments provide information about precipitation and clouds. 

This module aims to review fundamentals of radiative transfer as applied to remote sensing, and to develop knowledge of the theory and practice of passive and active remote sensing of meteorological parameters from space and ground. 

The purpose of this module is to prepare students for the development and analysis of remote sensing data sets, which are essential to weather and climate science and services. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Demonstrate an appreciation of the accuracy and sampling limitations of various satellite sounding systems; 
2. Demonstrate an understanding of which parts of the electromagnetic spectrum can be used for remote sensing of the atmosphere and land, whether from the ground or from space; 
3. Analyse the capability of ground and space-based radar and lidar systems for sensing precipitation, clouds and Aerosols. 
4. Develop and evaluate retrieval methods for sensing aerosols, clouds, precipitation, and atmospheric profiles of temperature and humidity. 

Module content

• The radiative transfer equation. 
• Extinction and aerosols. 
• Emission of water vapour and cloud water. 
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• Satellite remote sensing of the earth surface. 
• Scattering and aerosols and clouds. 
• Active remote sensing (radar and lidar): basic principles. 
• Active remote sensing: Doppler and polarisation. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

There will be twenty 50-minute lecture classes. Each weekly lecture is a mix of theory, where we learn how a given physical process and used to interpret remote sensing measurements, and applications, where we work together on concrete applications of the theory. 

The lectures will be complemented by fortnightly computer labs, where we learn to handle with Python the various satellite and radar data sets and recreate widely used cloud and rainfall retrieval techniques. 

Study hours

At least 36 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

• Intermediate feedback session about the coursework in weeks 6-7. 
• Massive open online courses on specific topics. 

Reassessment

Additional costs