Understanding Climate Change using Satellite Data (FutureLearn)

Offered by University of Twente,
Understanding Climate Change using Satellite Data (FutureLearn)

Explore cutting-edge technology and learn how to analyse satellite climate data to help measure and mitigate climate change. Explore the tools that can help with climate change solutions. To accurately study climate change, assess its risks, and mitigate the impact, we need systematic observations of the climate.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

There are 54 essential variables used to measure climate change. These essential climate variables (ECVs) are crucial in helping to provide evidence for climate change and implement adaptation methods.
On this three-week course, you’ll explore the state-of-the-art technology used in the Climate Change Initiative programme (CCI) of the European Space Agency, and how satellite data is used to measure climate change.
Through interactive exercises, you’ll be trained to understand climate change and analyse satellite climate data using the CATE (Climate Analysis Toolbox) of the Climate Change Initiative Programme.
With these tools, you’ll find essential climate variables that are indicators of the state and change of the climate and a specific process in the atmosphere-Earth system.
Understand the components of the climate system
You’ll explore many components of the climate system: the water, energy and carbon cycles, cryosphere and land.
This will help you understand the physical processes of climate change from different perspectives.
With this knowledge, you’ll learn how to create and communicate maps, times series, and trends of essential climate variables. You’ll also be able to evaluate the results and provide judgments of the significance of the analysis.
Learn from the experts at the University of Twente
You’ll be guided through articles and videos by world-class scientists on this course led by the specialists at the ITC faculty at the University of Twente.
With a 70-year track record in knowledge transfer in the field of Earth observation, ITC was awarded by the European Space Agency to create this interactive online course.

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: How land interacts with the climate
Week 3: Cryosphere

Learning on this course
You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Understand the physical processes of the climate systems.
  • Explore the CCI toolbox and find essential climate variables (ECVs) that are indicators of the state and change of the climate.
  • Create and communicate maps, time series and trends of ECVs using the CCI Toolbox.
  • Evaluate the results and provide judgments of the significance of the analysis.

Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone studying, researching, or interested in climate change and satellite climate data.

What software or tools do you need?
You will need to have access to a computer to access the websites used in this course.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Learning for a Sustainable Future: Live at COP26 (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Edinburgh

Learning for a Sustainable Future: Live at COP26 (FutureLearn)

Explore global issues during COP26 and be part of the call for collective action. What on Earth could be more important? Live at COP26. The 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) is being held in Glasgow, Scotland between 31st October and 12th November 2021. It will bring together heads of state, climate experts and campaigners to agree and accelerate coordinated global action on climate change.

Nov 7th 2022
2 Weeks
Environmental Humanities: Remaking Nature (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
UNSW Sydney - University of New South Wales

Environmental Humanities: Remaking Nature (FutureLearn)

Learn how the new Environmental Humanities field is shaping how we understand environmental issues, with this free online course. In Environmental Humanities: Remaking Nature, you’ll get a broad overview of an emerging area of interdisciplinary research that reframes contemporary environmental challenges using approaches from philosophy, literature, language, history, anthropology, cultural studies and the arts.

No sessions available
5-12 Weeks
The Challenge of Global Water Security (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Cardiff University

The Challenge of Global Water Security (FutureLearn)

An introduction to the challenges of water security on a local and global scale. How do we achieve water security for everyone? Over the next 30 years it is estimated that 80% of the world’s population will live in areas with high levels of water scarcity. How do we manage this so that we can ensure global water security for both people and ecosystems?

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Championing Change: Human Rights and the Climate Crisis (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Amnesty International

Championing Change: Human Rights and the Climate Crisis (FutureLearn)

Learn why climate change is a human rights issue, and how human rights can be used as a tool to combat the climate crisis.Find solutions that address both global warming and human rights violations. Rising sea levels. Floods. Droughts. Extreme weather. We know the effects of climate change but their associated human rights violations are not as well understood.

Nov 22nd 2021
3 Weeks
How to Measure, Reduce, and Offset your Company’s Carbon Footprint (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
BIMA,MSQ

How to Measure, Reduce, and Offset your Company’s Carbon Footprint (FutureLearn)

Help tackle climate change with this guide to carbon footprint measurement, offsetting, and reduction strategies for your company. Explore the different carbon footprint modelling tools No matter how many green practices you have in place, companies still produce at least some carbon in their operations.

Sep 6th 2021
5-12 Weeks
Learning for a Sustainable Future (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Edinburgh,British Council,Learning for a Sustainable Scotland

Learning for a Sustainable Future (FutureLearn)

Join a personal and professional global learning journey towards a sustainable future. What on Earth could be more important? Grow your knowledge of sustainability. Climate change, gender equality, health, social equity, and inclusion are issues that affect us all, impacting human well-being and economic stability. How to live a sustainable life affects – and connects - us all.

Mar 13th 2023
5-12 Weeks
Sustainable Food Teach-Out (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Michigan

Sustainable Food Teach-Out (FutureLearn)

Discover the link between food and climate change and learn about the collective journey towards a sustainable global diet. Explore the importance of food choices in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. What we choose to eat matters. Did you know that a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions come from food and agricultural systems? One way each and every one of us can reduce our impact on the environment is to change what is on the end of our forks.

Nov 1st 2021
2 Weeks
Planet Earth: Understanding and Protecting our Environment (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Leeds

Planet Earth: Understanding and Protecting our Environment (FutureLearn)

Learn about the physical geography of Earth and discover how to use this knowledge to protect our natural environment. Discover the Earth’s natural systems and how human activity affects them. On this two-week course from the University of Leeds, you will discover the processes of the hydrosphere, the geosphere, and the biosphere and explore the impact of human activity and climate change on our planet.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
Innovation in Arable Farming: Technologies for Sustainable Farming Systems (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Reading,EIT Food,EIT

Innovation in Arable Farming: Technologies for Sustainable Farming Systems (FutureLearn)

Explore how innovative, digital technologies can help achieve sustainable intensification of arable farming systems. Consider ways arable farmers in the EU can use agri-tech to benefit business. On this course, you’ll explore evidence-based information that outlines the benefits and challenges of adopting new technologies within the EU, and have the chance to read case study examples of some of these applications.

Jan 2nd 2023
3 Weeks
Climate and Energy: An Interdisciplinary Perspective (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Glasgow,CIVIS

Climate and Energy: An Interdisciplinary Perspective (FutureLearn)

Explore climate change issues from an interdisciplinary perspective to find innovative solutions for a better future. Gain interdisciplinary skills for climate change solutions. On this four-week course, you’ll join educators from ten universities on a virtual field trip to a remote Swedish island to gain perspectives on climate and energy from a multitude of disciplines.

Self Paced
4 Weeks