Course Overview: Radiative transfer is the theory that describes how electromagnetic radiation propagates and interacts with matter. The varied imprints of these interactions on top-of-atmosphere radiance spectra comprise the information that makes remote sensing possible. The aim of this course is to teach radiative transfer theory with sufficient detail to underpin the theory of remote sensing of surface characteristics (e.g., sea-surface temperature) and of the state of the atmosphere (e.g., temperature, humidity). The course builds upon and extends the introduction given in the Fundamentals of Remote Sensing course.

On completion of this module, we expect students to be able to: define and use appropriately the "language" of radiative transfer, including active and passive remote sensing techniques and coherent and incoherent detection; describe the varied interactions of radiation and matter; calculate absorption coefficients from tabulated spectral data, accounting for line-broadening effects; formulate the equations of radiative transfer with approximations appropriate to practical remote sensing applications; apply approximate equations of radiative transfer in simple cases, including the derivation of weighting functions; qualitatively interpret spectra of top-of-atmosphere in terms of surface characteristics and atmospheric temperature and composition.

Course syllabus: introduction to electromagnetic radiation, emission and absorption, propagation of radiation through the atmosphere, the electromagnetic spectra, application of a simple computer model of radiative transfer, interaction of radiation with Earth's surface, radiation in Earth's atmosphere, atmospheric scattering processes, line shapes and band models.

Course assessment: 1) assignment (5%), deadline midday Monday W4; 2) 3 in-class tests (15%) W2,5,9; 3) MODTRAN radiative transfer calculation (30%), deadline midday Friday W10; 4) written examination paper (50%), scheduled in W12/13.