Remote sensing (satellite and ground-based) is increasingly being used as technique to probe the Earth's atmosphere, ocean, and land surfaces. Probing of other planets is accomplished largely by satellite remote sensing. Given national priorities in such areas as climate and global change, the interest in remote sensing will only increase with time.
Remote sensing is a relatively new academic subject, with few universities having any sort of an organized curriculum. The purpose of formalizing the CU remote sensing curriculum is to coordinate curricula across campus so that a coherent curriculum in remote sensing can be provided to complement and supplement the student’s regular degree program. An additional purpose is to encourage multidisciplinary education of the students in the area of remote sensing.
Graduate students, research staff, and faculty work on a wide variety of topics, ranging from the theory of remote sensing to its application. These applications include: use of satellite remote sensing to determine ocean surface temperature and heat fluxes; use of surface radar to improve the determination of clouds and precipitation from satellite; determination of surface biological characteristics and productivity from satellite; mapping of land use from satellite; mapping of surface landform and topographical features; searching for locations of buried artifacts; use of surface radar to determine upper atmosphere wind motions; and aircraft remote sensing to assess the validity of satellite retrieval algorithms of surface and atmospheric characteristics.
A Certificate in Remote Sensing will be awarded based on a written request by the student to the remote sensing graduate chairman, provided that the following requirements have been met:
The Remote Sensing graduate courses are:
For more information or to contact the Remote Sensing Graduate Committee, write Remote Sensing Graduate Chairman Professor Bill Emery, 431 UCB; call 303-492-8591; e-mail emery@colorado.edu; or go to Certificate Request Form.