Earth Observing Systems (EOS)School of Computational Sciences304 Population Dimensions of Global Change (3:3:0). Prerequisites: 30 credits of prior course work. This interdisciplinary course combines knowledge from social sciences and environmental science to develop a global understanding of the world's population condition, issues, and related problems. Using GIS and quantitative methods, demographic concepts are applied. 656/EVPP 652/GEOG 570 The Hydrosphere (3:3:0). Prerequisites: Two semesters of calculus (partial differential equations recommended) or permission of instructor. The components and transfer processes within the hydrosphere. The hydrosphere consists of the aqueous envelope of Earth, including the oceans, lakes, rivers, snow, ice, glaciers, soil moisture, groundwater, and atmospheric water vapor. Students get an understanding of the various components of the hydrosphere, their spatial and temporal distributions, the physics of the transfer processes for redistribution, and an appreciation of the role of water in sustaining life and influencing the global and regional energy and mass balance. 657/GEOL 601/GEOG 671 The Lithosphere (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Graduate standing. A global-scale overview of the lithosphere, the solid nonliving Earth, its materials, cycles, plate tectonic and geomorphic processes, and history, including interactions with and history of the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere, and methods of analysis. Students who have taken this course will be able to understand the materials, features, and landforms of solid Earth, and the processes by which they formed. 680 Environmental Applications of Integrated Geographic Information Technologies (3:3:0). Prerequisites: EOS 753, GEOG 550 or 585, or permission of instructor. This course focuses on how geoinformation technologies, namely GIS, RS, and GPS, and spatial analytical techniques, can be used in an integrated manner to address various situations in environmental risk assessment, monitoring, and planning. 740 Hyperspectral Imaging Systems (3:3:0). Prerequisites: CSI 660 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. This course provides the requisite materials to understand hyperspectral imaging technology and its many civilian and military applications. The emphasis is on the scientific principles involved and the application of the technology to real-world imaging systems. Topics covered include hyperspectral concepts and system tradeoffs; data collection systems; calibration techniques; data processing techniques and software; classification methods; and case studies. The data processing techniques covered include N-dimensional space; scatterplots; spectral angle mapping; spectral mixture analysis; spectral matching; mixture tuned matched filtering; and other techniques. Ground, airborne, and spaceborne hyperspectral remote sensing systems are discussed. 753 Observations of the Earth and Its Climate (3:3:0). Prerequisites: CSI 660 or an introductory remote sensing course; environmental science, space science, physics, or chemistry undergraduate background; or permission of instructor. Provides the requisite material to understand techniques of remote sensing and other observational methods as applicable to Earth science and global change. Surveys methodologies and their applications, including a systematic study of how each part of the electromagnetic spectrum is used to gather data about Earth. Describes limitations imposed by satellite engineering, sensor limitations on data gathering, and a survey of data reduction specific to remote sensing applications. Also covers current research issues, including examples pertaining to the atmosphere, land masses, and oceans. Includes discussions of current efforts by agencies such as NASA and NOAA to provide integrated data gathering and dissemination systems. 754 Earth Observing/Remote Sensing Data and Data Systems (3:3:0). Prerequisite: EOS 753 or permission of instructor. Covers how to access and apply Earth observations/remote sensing data for Earth system science research and applications. Major topics are data formats, analysis and visualization tools, advanced data analysis methods, and data applications. The course also covers combining innovative information technology techniques and Earth science data to set up online data centers for accessing data through the web. 757 Techniques and Algorithms in Earth Observing and Remote Sensing (3:3:0). Prerequisite: EOS 753 or permission of instructor. Covers retrieval, analysis, and application of geophysical parameters derived from remotely sensed data for Earth system research and applications. Includes theory of visible/infrared and microwave remote sensing, heritage sensors, sensor calibration, retrieval algorithms, validation, and error estimates. 759 Topics in Earth Systems Science (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Covers selected topics in Earth systems and global changes not covered in fixed-content Earth systems/global changes courses. May be repeated for credit as needed. 792/EVPP 792/GEOG 792 Seminar in Earth Systems Science (2:2:0). Prerequisites: Fifteen graduate credits, including CSI 655, EOS 656 and 657. A seminar for Earth systems science graduate students who have backgrounds in Earth's major systems. Intended to be a capstone experience. Seminars will be presented by faculty and students. Topics will vary from semester to semester. 840 Hyperspectral Imaging Applications (3:3:0). Prerequisites: CSI 660 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Introduces advanced hyperspectral imaging and multisensor concepts with emphasis on real-world civilian and military applications. Topics covered include advanced hyperspectral concepts, multisystem tradeoffs, data collection and processing systems, imaging radar systems, laser systems, calibration techniques, data fusion, quantitative remote sensing techniques, data compression techniques, case studies, and U.S national policy. Applications and case studies will include environmental, homeland security, medical, military, disaster mitigation, agricultural, and transportation. 854 Introduction to Planetary Boundary Layer (3:3:0). Prerequisite: CLIM 710 or 711, or permission of instructor. This course is concerned with the interaction between the atmosphere and the Earth's surface. It deals with the important exchanges of heat, mass, and momentum occurring continuously between the atmosphere and the earth's surface. Students will be introduced to numerical models for the land surface and their applications in numerical weather prediction. Vertical distributions of meteorological variables such as wind, temperature, and humidity will be discussed, as well as trace gas concentrations and their role in the energy balance near the surface. |
