Remote Sensing and Other Space-Based Applications for Monitoring and Understanding Abrupt Climate Change

摘要

Climate has undergone both gradual and rapid changes, occurring in the timeframe of decades to millennia. Paleoclimatic research has made links between past abrupt climate change (ACC) events and major changes in North Atlantic thermohaline circulation. Since this ocean circulation system plays a key role in driving climate, remote sensing and space-based applications for studying ACC events in the North Atlantic region is the focus of this study. This paper describes the nature of ACC events, reviews the applications of Earth observation technology for monitoring and modeling ACC, and provides recommendations for an integrated system for monitoring ocean circulation parameters.