Projekte zu Earth Oriented Space Science and Technology

ECTS: 8

Modul-Kennung: BV450021

Inhalte:

The module consists of three lectures; Electrodynamics, Software Engineering for an Earth Observation Satellite Mission and a Seminar

Lecture Electrodynamics:

The theoretical part of the lecture Electrodynamics is organized as follows:

Mathematical background: scalar and vector fields; line and surface integrals; nabla operator; differential relationships for vector fields; irrotational and solenoidal fields; Gauss and Stokes theorems.
Electrostatic: Coulomb's law; the elastostatic field; divergence and curl of the elastostatic field.
Magnetostatic: Ampere's law; the magnetostatic field; divergence and curl of the magnetostatic field.
Electrodynamics: equation of continuity for the electric charge; Maxwell's displacement current; electromotive force; Faraday's law of induction; Maxwell's microscopic and macroscopic equations.
Electromagnetic waves: wave equation in time and frequency domains; plane and spherical waves; observables and averages.
Electromagnetic scattering theory: Stratton-Chu representation theorem; far-field pattern and amplitude matrix; phase and extinction matrices; extinction, scattering and absorption cross-sections; optical theorem; reciprocity principle.
Mie theory: vector wave equation; vector spherical wave functions, solution of the transmission boundary-value problem; computation of the far-field pattern, optical cross-sections and phase function in the framework of the Mie theory.
Derivation of the adiative transfer equation starting from Maxwell's equations.

The last four lectures of Electrodynamics are devoted to practical aspects and consist in the elaboration of a project with the title: Optical properties of clouds and aerosols. The project will contain a theoretical part, which should be a synthesis of the electromagnetic scattering theory and should include the following topics: field characterization, extinction, scattering and absorption processes, polarization, and Mie theory. The computational part will involve the calculation of the phase matrix and of the wavelength-dependent extinction cross-section, scattering cross-sections and asymmetry parameter for clouds (stratus continental and maritime, cumulus continental and maritime, fog) and aerosols (small and large rural, small and large urban, maritime). The computations will be performed by using a dedicated Mie code for radiative transfer calculation. Great importance is attached to the synthesis abilities of the theoretical part and the interpretation of the numerical results.

Project:

Earth Observation Satellite Mission Data Analysis according to Software Engineering Standards.

Preparation of a project proposal
Definition of Software & system requirements
Development of a Software architecture
Software development and implementation
Data analysis (real data)
Documentation of project
Presentation of project

The topic of the project might vary. Currently a sea level analysis using satellite altimeter data is performed.

Seminar:

Each student gives an oral presentation of 25 minutes length on an up-to-date scientific topic. Students can choose between various topics proposed by ESPACE teachers from different fields. Presentations are spread over the lecture period. During the preparation of their presentation the students are guided by a supervisor who gives feedback and provides information material (in the form of scientific articles, books, slides, etc.).