GEOG 1100 – Measuring Global Change From Space

South America and Antarctica from the Galileo Spacecraft (NASA)
 Professor: Phil Dennison
Meets Monday and Wednesday, 3:00-4:20, 174 OSH
In this class we examine how satellites are being used to help scientists learn about the Earth.  We will use satellite images and animations to explore the air, water, land, ice, and life components of the Earth system. This class fulfills the physical/life science  exploration (SF) requirement. This class is also a Biology/Natural Science elective for the Environmental Studies Program.

Click on the following topics or scroll below to see some of the questions we will be answering in this class:
Global Climate Change
Natural Hazards
The Ozone Hole
El Niño
Deforestation
Glaciers

Click here for additional class information

Global Climate Change
  • Is global warming real?
  • How can scientists measure global climate change from space?
  • What is likely to happen to our climate over the coming decades and centuries?

Global sea surface temperature (NASA GSFC)

Natural Hazards
  • What causes earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, fires, and flooding?
  • How can we use satellites to measure and map natural hazards?

ASTER image of the 2003 Grand Prix Fire (NASA JPL)

The Ozone Hole
  • What is the ozone hole?
  • How does it form?
  • How did a satellite help discover the ozone hole?
  • What is going to happen to the ozone hole in the future?


Images of ozone concentrations over Antarctica in 1979, 1988, and 2000 (NASA GSFC)

El Niño •
  • What causes El Niño?
  • How does El Niño impact our weather?
  • How can we use satellites to warn us of El Niño’s impacts months in advance?
TOPEX/Poseidon sea height measurements (JPL/NASA/CNES)

Deforestation
  • Where is deforestation occurring?
  • Why is it important?
  • How can scientists map deforestation as it occurs?

Landsat TM image of deforestation patterns in Brazil

Glaciers
  • Why are glaciers disappearing worldwide?
  • How can satellites measure the height of glaciers within inches – from space?

Changes in ice sheet thickness in Greenland (NASA GSFC SVS)

Additional Class Information

The NASA Earth Observing 1 spacecraft (NASA)
  • Meets Monday and Wednesday, 3:00-4:20, 174 OSH
  • Fulfills the physical/life science exploration (SF) requirement
  • No textbook
  • No prerequisites
Please contact Phil Dennison ()  if you have questions regarding this class.