Transcript The 17th International Terascan User`s Remote Sensing Conference

Satellite Remote Sensing – An
Appropriate Technology Solution
for the Region.
Deanesh Ramsewak, Remote Sensing Officer,
Institute of Marine Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago.
First Regional Meeting on Appropriate Technology, UTT Pt. Lisas
Campus April 8th 2008.
Climate Change
We are all familiar with the rhetoric on Climate Change. The media are full
of statements, concerns, guesses, and speculation about the phenomenon,
as scientists and policy-makers around the world struggle to manage its
impacts.
The need to derive strategies to mitigate or adapt to a changing world is
ever present. With this need comes the subsequent need for large amounts
of reliable data upon which we can develop these strategies. This need for
data has led to the design of efficient and cost effective methods of large
scale data gathering. Remote Sensing is one such technique
Remote Sensing (RS)
Remote sensing is the act of monitoring changes in an object
or feature using a sensor without direct contact between the
sensor and object.
Common RS Applications:
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land cover mapping and analysis,
land use mapping,
agricultural plant health monitoring
water resources,
wildlife ecology,
disaster management,
geologic and soil mapping,
coastal resource management,
military surveillance, and many more.
Global Warming Trends
Prevailing wind patterns
over the world’s oceans
(NASA, 2007)
Mean Surface Temperature
for January 1979
(NASA, 2007)
Global Temperature Anomalies
(NASA, 2007)
Recent Forecasts for Global Warming
(NASA, 2007)
Under current trends the temperature rise will be somewhat
greater (more than 1 °C) than the last 50 years
Regional Focus
Remote Sensing System at the IMA
The trends illustrated previously were derived from remote sensing data. In
July 2004 a TeraScan 1.5 m L-Band system for satellite data reception and
processing was acquired. We in the Caribbean therefore, have access to the
same technology and thus regional studies can be done.
Terascan Research
Parameters: Sea Surface Temperatures, NDVI (Vegetation Index), Wind
Vector,
SST Composite, August 24, 2004 (AVHRR)
Terascan Research
Clouds, GP Height, Dew point, Relative & Specific Humidity
Acquisition of a More Advanced System
Increased number of
parameters to be acquired
MODIS X-band system
Spatial resolution = 250
metres
An Appropriate Technology
Benefits of Using remote sensing Technology:
1. Enables continuous acquisition of data
2. Helps to receive up-to-date information (real time for Terascan)
3. Offers wide regional coverage.
4. Offers accurate data for information and analysis
5. Serves as a large archive of historical data
6. Cost effective
7. Non-Intrusive
END
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