Sensing the Earth

Satellite remote sensing can be used to study long-term trends in volcanic unrest, such as sulphur dioxide gas emissions or deformation of the Earth's surface, from individual volcanoes through a regional area and on up to a global scale. For example, the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), a satellite-based ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer, provides daily observations of SO2 gas emissions from volcanoes worldwide. I will review advances in the use of satellites to assess volcano related hazards especially in remote regions of the world where ground-based monitoring infrastructure is sparse.

The atmosphere extends far beyond what many people think of as the edge of space. The Sun’s light drives our atmosphere yet, at great heights the links between the magnetic fields of the Sun and the Earth are very important. This causes one of the most dazzling displays in nature: the Aurora. These lights on the edge of space tell us about explosive events in space. I will discuss why the science of the Aurora is important and how we use instruments to sense this part of our Planet.

Earthquakes can destroy towns and cities in a matter of seconds and, with global population increasing, it seems like it will be only a matter of time before the "million death quake". Knowing where we expect earthquakes to happen, and how big they might be, can help people to be prepared and, ultimately, save lives. But what if we can't travel to the places we want to know about? Can we find the faults which cause earthquakes from space? How fast does the ground have to move for a satellite to spot it? And why does the BBC always print rainbows after an earthquake?