Climate Change Analysis using Satellite Data

Abstract

Recent times have witnessed increasing impact of industrialization and urban growth on environment. In addition, the potential climate changes and possible adverse impacts on the economy and society at large are causing concern. In India, one of the major concerns is the variability of monsoon rainfall and effects on agriculture and water management. The various parameters associated with environment and climate change need to be monitored and analyzed. The effects of global warming on the Indian subcontinent vary from the submergence of low-lying islands, frequent flooding, coastal degradation and melting of glaciers in the Indian Himalayas. Indian satellites INSAT and IRS launched in early 1980s heralded the era of Space observations. The IRS satellites are providing observations of parameters such as land use/cover, forest, water bodies, crops etc. while INSAT provides quantitative products such as Cloud Motion Vectors (CMVs), Quantitative Precipitation Estimates (QPEs), Outgoing Long-wave Radiation (OLR), Vertical Temperature Profiles (VTPRs), Sea Surface Temperature. The satellite data is operationally used for generating long term database on vegetation, soil condition, rainfall, groundwater etc.. Some of the unique studies are Biosphere Reserve Monitoring, Mapping of