Satellite et surveillance du climat : le programme veille climatique / Satellites and climatic surveillance : the Climatic Watch Programme

Abstract

The Climatic Watch Programme aims to create climatological data files to allow climatic surveillance and to assist in agrometeorology. This is to be achieved by the combined utilisation of satellite meteorologie imagery and ground data. Parameters currently available, are the plotting of the Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), ocean surface and land temperatures and the frequency of convective clouds (clouds with a cold top). Other important parameters related to radioactive flows and the climatology of clouds are being studied. Major research has already been conducted into estimating rainfall by satellite, enabling an evaluation of the hydric condition of the soil surface.