At last, a book that has what every atmospheric science and meteorology student should know about satellite meteorology: the orbits of satellites, the instruments they carry, the radiation they detect, and, most importantly, the fundamental atmospheric data that can be retrieved from their observations.Key Features* Of special interest are sections on:* Remote sensing of atmospheric temperature, trace gases, winds, cloud and aerosol data, precipitation, and radiation budget* Satellite image interpretation* Satellite orbits and navigation* Radiative transfer fundamentals

“Meteorological Satellite Systems” is a primer on weather satellites and their Earth applications. This book reviews historic developments and recent technological advancements in GEO and polar orbiting meteorological satellites. It explores the evolution of these remote sensing technologies and their capabilities to monitor short- and long-term changes in weather patterns in response to climate change. Satellites developed by various countries, such as U.S. meteorological satellites, EUMETSAT, and Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Indian satellite platforms are reviewed. This book also discusses international efforts to coordinate meteorological remote sensing data collection and sharing. This title provides a ready and quick reference for information about meteorological satellites. It serves as a useful tool for a broad audience that includes students, academics, private consultants, engineers, scientists, and teachers.

Introduction: History of Satellite Meteorology. Scope of The Book. Orbits and Navigation: Newton's Laws. Keplerian Orbits. Orbit Perturbations. Meteorological Satellite Orbits. Satellite Positioning, Tracking and Navigation. Space-Time Sampling. Launch Vehicles and Profiles. Radiative Transfer: Basic Quantities. Blackbody Radiation. The Radiative Transfer Equation. Gaseous Absorption. Scattering. Surface Reflection. Solar Radiation. Meteorological SatelliteInstrumentation: Operational Polar-Orbiting Satellites. Operational Geostationary Satellites. Other Satellite Instruments. Satellite Data Archives. Image Interpretation: Satellite Imagery. Spectral Properties. Image Enhancement Techniques. Geolocation and Calibration. Atmospheric and Surface Phenomena. A Final Note. Temperature and Trace Gases: Sounding Theory. Retrieval Methods. Operational Retrievals. Limb Sounding Retrievals. Ozone and Other Gases. The Split-Window Technique. Winds: Cloud and Vapor Tracking. Winds from Soundings. Ocean Surface Winds. Doppler Wind Measurements. Clouds and Aerosols: Clouds from Sounders. Clouds from Imagers. Clouds from Microwave Radiometry. Stratospheric Aerosols. Tropospheric Aerosols. Precipitation: Visible and Infrared Techniques. Passive Microwave Techniques. Radar. Severe Thunderstorms. Earth Radiation Budget: The Solar Constant. Top of the Atmosphere Radiation Budget. Surface Radiation Budget. The Future: NOAA K, L, M. Mission to Planet Earth. Other Possibilities. A Final Comment. Appendixes: List of Meteorological Satellites.

This practical textbook introduces the fundamental physics behind radar measurements, to guide students and practitioners in the proper interpretation of radar reflectivity, Doppler velocity and dual-polarization imagery. Operational applications are explored, such as how radar imagery can be used to analyze and forecast convective and widespread weather systems. The book concludes with an overview of current research topics, including the study of clouds and precipitation using radars, signal processing, and data assimilation. Numerous full-color illustrations are included, as well as problem sets, case studies, and a variety of supplementary electronic material including animated time sequences of images to help convey complex concepts. This book is a valuable resource for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in radar meteorology and other related courses, such as precipitation microphysics and dynamics. It will also make a useful reference for researchers, professional meteorologists and hydrologists.

Weather Analysis and Forecasting is a practical guide to using potential vorticity fields and water vapor imagery from satellites to elucidate complex weather patterns and train meteorologists to improve operational forecasting. In particular, it details the use of the close relationship between satellite imagery and the potential vorticity fields in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. It shows how to interpret water vapor patterns in terms of dynamical processes in the atmosphere and their relation to diagnostics available from weather prediction models. The book explores topics including: a dynamical view of synoptic development; the interpretation problem of satellite water vapor imagery; practical use of water vapor imagery and dynamical fields; significant water vapor imagery features associated with synoptic dynamical structures; and use of water vapor imagery for assessing NWP model behavior and improving forecasts. Applications are illustrated with color images based on real meteorological situations. The book's step-by-step pedagogy makes this an essential training manual for forecasters in meteorological services worldwide, and a valuable text for graduate students in atmospheric physics and satellite meteorology. * Shows how to analyze current satellite images for assessing weather models' behavior and improving forecasts * Provides step-by-step pedagogy for understanding and interpreting meteorological processes * Includes full-color throughout to highlight "real-world" models, patterns, and examples

A highly-illustrated manual for meteorology students and operational weather forecasters.