MSc Thesis Proposal: Atmospheric Monitoring Using Nano-Satellites

This thesis proposal investigates the use of nanosatellites for atmospheric monitoring, focusing on the validation of data against the established GOES satellite system. It addresses the increasing need for cost-effective alternatives to traditional satellites for remote sensing applications, particularly in the context of global warming and greenhouse gas monitoring. The research aims to extract and process image datasets from spectroscopic instruments aboard a nanosatellite and compare them with data from GOES to assess the reliability and accuracy of nanosatellites. The study outlines specific objectives, including mapping CO2, water vapor, methane, oxygen, ozone, and hydroxyl radicals, followed by validation with GOES data. The methodology includes image processing using software like GVAR and Dartcom iDAP, along with techniques such as edge detection and histogram equalization. The proposal also includes a literature review covering relevant topics like Bayesian classification, spectral pattern recognition, and various spectroscopic methods. The expected outcome is to demonstrate the potential of nanosatellites as a viable and reliable tool for atmospheric monitoring, contributing to future space mission developments.