Satellite Detection of HABs: A Practical Course

Description:

The course teaches the basics of ocean color radiometry, provides practical capabilities to search and download satellite data relevant for the detection of harmful algal blooms, remapping, merging, compositing and visualizing these satellite data to estimate the extent and frequency of algal blooms. The students will learn how to program using Windows batch files, how to create time series from satellite data, how to make statistical analysis of the time series.

Contents:

• Ocean color radiometry.
• Satellite data: orbits, sensors, measured variables, calibration and corrections.
• Processing of satellite data: mapping, compositing, visualizing.
• Time series of satellite data: detecting trends and anomalies.

Methodology:

The course will start with lectures on the basics of satellite ocean color radiometry and will then switch to practical, hands-on course learning the basics of Windows batch files, sources of satellite data relevant for the detection of harmful algal blooms, downloading and processing of these satellite data. Software as well as sample datasets used in for training will be provided. Each student must have access to a personal computer running Windows (any version of 64-bit Windows). After students will acquire some basic knowledge, they will do their own project: each will select their area of interest, create a target map for the area of interest, download and process satellite data for the area of interest. Each student’s results will then be discussed first personally with the advisor and finally at a group meeting.