Section: Satellite-based Climate Data - Essential Climate Variables | Workshop on the Use of Gridded Satellite Data for Climate Services in Africa, Pretoria, 2018 | EUMETSAT

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  • General

     

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    Welcome to the Training Course on

    The Use of Gridded Satellite Data for Climate Services in Africa

    Online Phase: 30 July - 10 August 2018

    Classroom Phase: 20 - 24 August 2018, Pretoria, South Africa

    This 2 weeks online phase is designed for you to:

    • study the concept of satellite based climate monitoring
    • get an overview of the satellite based climate data we will be working with in the classroom
    • to learn where an how to access/download these data
    • to prepare your laptop for the classroom by installing software tools will be working with in the classroom
    • to get an impression on these software tools by working through the tutorial provided

    This is a self learning environment, which allows you to learn at your own speed! However, there are several life chat sessions where you can discuss questions with the instructors and your course mates. Feel free to join in! Besides that you can use the course forum at any time to get in touch with course mates, instructors and discuss questions and comments.

    Most of the content provided in this online course is to read and to watch/listen. There are 4 active tasks you are expected to do during this online phase:

    1. Task 1: Download CM SAF Data, see section 2 "CM SAF Data" 
    2. Task 2: Download LSA SAF Data, see section 3 "LSA SAF Data for African Applications" 
    3. Task 3: Install the software, see section 5 "Data Formats, Software Tools and Installation"  
    4. Task 4: Submit the idea for you mini project, see section 6 "Your Mini Project for the Classroom Session" 

    Besides these tasks you can check what you have learned about the concept of satellite based climate monitoring in the Quiz that is provided in section 4. The Quiz will be available from Wednesday, 1. August 2018, approx. 14:00 UCT, as we are still working on it. We will inform you, as soon as it is available.

    After you have worked through the content of this online phase, you should be able to:

    • explain the difference between weather and climate
    • discuss why climate monitoring is important and why satellites play an increasing role
    • explain the difference between Environmental Data Records, Fundamental Data Records and Thematic Climate Data Records
    • browse through the catalogue of available CM SAF and LSA SAF data
    • order and download CM SAF and LSA SAF data
    • get help in case of questions on the CM SAF and LSA SAF data

       

    We did our best to provide the material of the online phase in a user friendly way. If you do not have a stable internet connection available, we encourage you to download the PDFs that are provided in the different course sections. They cover the most important course content.

    Enjoy the online phase and use it to prepare yourself for the classroom - the better you prepare, the more you will get out of the classroom phase!

    We are looking forward to meeting you soon!

     

    • To help us organize the classroom room phase, please answer the following questions as soon as you can!

      Not available unless: You belong to The Climate Monitoring SAF - Workshop Group
    • choice icon
      Choice
      Will you bring your laptop to the workshop? Choice
      Not available unless: You belong to The Climate Monitoring SAF - Workshop Group
    • choice icon
      Choice
      Does the laptop you bring have a LAN plug-in? Choice
      Not available unless: You belong to The Climate Monitoring SAF - Workshop Group
    • choice icon
      Choice
      Which operating system will be installed on the laptop you bring? Choice
      Not available unless: You belong to The Climate Monitoring SAF - Workshop Group
    • choice icon
      Choice
      Which statistical software, if any, have you used? Choice
      Not available unless: You belong to The Climate Monitoring SAF - Workshop Group

    • Live chats

CM SAF Data

Satellite-based Climate Data - Essential Climate Variables

  • Satellite-based Climate Data - Essential Climate Variables

    Satellite-based Climate Data

    In the context of climate monitoring, climate data are collected to (1) document the status of the climate system and (2) classify the current state of the climate system in the long term. In this section you find background information on climate data and, more specifically, on those climate data that can be derived from satellite observations.

    Several sources of satellite-based climate data are available:

    These data are made available free of charge.

    The presentations below provide you with information about

    • the concept of Essential Climate Variables
    • the retrieval of geophysical variables from satellite measurements, based on the examples of solar irradiation
    • the concept of (thematic) climate data records ((T)CDR's), operational/environmental data records (EDR's) and fundamental climate data records (FCDR's) as used in the context of the CM SAF
    • the CM SAF and what it does
    • resource icon
      File
      Satellite based climate data records File
      View

      General introduction into satellite-based climate data records, and those provided by the CM SAF as well as some applications.

    • Introductory presentation to the CM SAF

      In this presentation you will learn

      • who CM SAF is and what it does

      • why satellite data play an increasing role in climate monitoring

      • the differences between Environmental Climate Data Records, Fundamental Climate Data Records and Thematic Climate Data Records

       Please enter the password "cmsaf" to view the video.

    • folder icon
      Folder
      Content of this section as pdf's to download Folder
CM SAF Data