In-situ Measurements for Water Resources Monitoring and Management

Course goals

Ocean-climate nexus: in this course, the students will learn about the importance of oceanic-climate global phenomena, such as ENSO and other oscillations, and how satellite-based products of essential climate variables are used to describe these interactions;
Coastal systems and sea-level rise: in this course, the students will learn about hydrological, morphological, sedimentological and biological processes that shape coastal (eco)systems at various spatiotemporal scales, about aspects related to sea-level change (e.g., sea level, vertical land motion), and how satellite data can help to evaluate the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of coastal areas to sea-level change, erosion and subsidence;
Water pollution: in this course, the students will learn how to derive water quality indicators from optical and thermal Earth Observation sensors and integrate different satellite products to evaluate the vulnerability of coastal and inland waters to pollution and turbidity;
Blue productivity: in this course, the students will learn how the dynamics (e.g. upwelling) and biology (primary production of water and aquatic vegetation) play a vital role in the Earth’s carbon cycle and control the productivity (fishing ground aquaculture) of aquatic systems. During the exercises and the assignment, different satellite products will be integrated to estimate the primary production of coastal and oceanic waters;
Challenge: this unit spans three weeks and provides four course-related challenges that the students can choose from them. The assignment is part of the learning process as it provides an opportunity for the students to apply the newly gained knowledge (from units 1 to 4) and integrate different EO data in challenging applications.