About Space Science and Engineering, UW-Madison
Space Science and Engineering, UW-Madison: Pioneering Research in Earth and Planetary Atmospheres
The Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a world-renowned research center that has been at the forefront of scientific discovery for over 60 years. SSEC's mission is to develop cutting-edge instrumentation, algorithms, satellite ground systems, and satellite archive systems to study the Earth's atmosphere as well as other planetary atmospheres.
SSEC has a long history of pioneering research in atmospheric science. The center was established in 1965 by Professor Verner Suomi, who is widely regarded as the father of satellite meteorology. Suomi was instrumental in developing the first weather satellite, TIROS-1, which was launched by NASA in 1960. Since then, SSEC has continued to push the boundaries of atmospheric science with groundbreaking research that has led to numerous scientific discoveries.
One of SSEC's key strengths is its expertise in remote sensing technology. The center develops advanced instruments that can measure various atmospheric parameters such as temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed and direction from space-based platforms like satellites. These instruments are used to collect data on a global scale which helps scientists better understand how our planet works.
Another area where SSEC excels is its development of algorithms for processing large amounts of data collected from satellites. These algorithms help scientists extract meaningful information from vast amounts of raw data collected by satellites orbiting our planet.
SSEC also operates several state-of-the-art facilities including a Satellite Data Services division which provides access to an extensive archive of environmental data collected over several decades by various weather satellites operated by NASA and NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration). This archive contains valuable information about past weather patterns which can be used for climate studies or forecasting future weather events.
In addition to its research activities, SSEC also offers educational programs aimed at inspiring young minds towards careers in STEM fields (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics). The center hosts workshops for K-12 students as well as undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing careers related to atmospheric science or remote sensing technology.
Overall, Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) at UW-Madison stands out among other institutions due to its pioneering work on remote sensing technology applied towards studying Earth’s atmosphere along with other planetary atmospheres using advanced instrumentation techniques developed within their facility itself along with their expertise on algorithm development for processing large amounts of data collected from these sources making it one-of-a-kind institution globally renowned for its contributions towards understanding our planet better than ever before!