In the previous chapter we learned how satellite data to estimate various water targets such as precipitation and surface water, can be combined in a model-reservoir system to track a reservoir’s dynamic state and understand river regulation. In this chapter we will cover how satellite data can be used to manage crops and irrigation. We will learn how satellite data can be used to estimate an area under a specific crop using classification techniques, which then helps us understand the water need for that area. Next we will learn methods to estimate crop water demand and actual crop water consumption.

Chapter 3 details the kinematics of satellite orbits and their use in InSAR processing and its automation. It covers the six parameters needed to describe an orbit (Kepler elements or Cartesian state vector), transforming coordinates from an Earth-fixed frame to the satellite frame, and methods to calculate a centimeter-accuracy satellite trajectory from a sequence of state vectors.

This chapter delves into the severe health impacts of climate change, focusing on issues such as heat stress, infectious diseases, and food insecurity. Medical doctor Sweta Koirala from Nepal shares insights on increasing heat-related illnesses and the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever. The chapter highlights the critical need for climate adaptation measures to protect human health, emphasizing the vulnerability of agricultural systems and labour productivity. Personal stories, such as those of outdoor workers facing extreme heat in Bangladesh, illustrate the direct effects on daily life and economic stability. The CVF’s Monitor and the Lancet the Lancet Countdown’s works on Health...’s works on Health and Climate Change address the interplay between climate adaptation, public health, and agricultural productivity, stressing the urgent need for comprehensive health and food security policies to mitigate these impacts.

In this chapter, we will cover the remote sensing of precipitation to understand how precipitation is tracked. Precipitation is considered one of the most important components of the water cycle that drives the availability of water and its management. For example, precipitation leads to runoff and streamflow, irrigates a field of crops and provides the water for crop growth, fills up lakes, reservoirs and ponds that are a key source for water management. The understanding of precipitation remote sensing will pave the way for learning more complex water management applications that are being increasingly carried out around the world today using satellite water data. We will first cover the history of precipitation remote sensing that began with using active sensing and ground radar. Next, we will cover satellite-based sensing where the challenges and complexities are different. The pros and cons of using various electromagnetic wavelengths will be covered. Finally, we will cover the topic of multi-sensor precipitation estimation based on the synergistic use of multiple satellite sensors spanning different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.

This chapter explores the characteristics, success factors, and contributions of vibrant streets to sustainable development. Vibrant streets are dynamic, energetic urban spaces where pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles coexist, supporting both movement and place functions. These streets are essential for fostering community interaction, economic vitality, and environmental sustainability. The chapter identifies key characteristics of vibrant streets, including active use, diverse functions, and successful businesses, which contribute to their lively atmosphere. Successful vibrant streets balance three functions: movement (efficient transportation of people and goods), place (providing areas for social interaction), and environmental functions (climate adaptation and water management). Key factors contributing to their success include walkability, well-designed public spaces, and mixed land use, which enhance both pedestrian volumes and the quality of place-based activities. The chapter also highlights broader contributions of vibrant streets to sustainable urban development. By promoting walking, cycling, and public transport, vibrant streets reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health, and foster social inclusion. Furthermore, they enhance the urban environment by integrating green spaces and promoting resource efficiency. Ultimately, vibrant streets are vital components of sustainable urbanism, supporting the goals of accessibility, environmental stewardship, and social equity, all while enhancing the quality of urban life and promoting long-term resilience.

In the previous chapter we covered how satellite remote sensing can be used to classify areas under a crop, estimate their crop water demand and actual crop water consumption. This information can be used for irrigation management using satellite data. In this chapter we will cover how satellite data can be used to estimate temperature of surface water. We will cover the basic principle behind the estimation technique, understand the limitation of the technique and then build some data literacy to derive the surface temperature of water in regulated rivers ourselves.

Chapter 8 explores a wide range of SAR operational modes, including polarization and wide swath modes. It reviews the fundamental limitation of the standard swath-mode acquisition and discusses three methods for increasing swath width: ScanSAR, Terrain Observation by Progressive Scans (TOPS), and SweepSAR for the upcoming NISAR mission.

Chapter 5 explains the process of forming an interferogram from two geometrically aligned SLC images and methods for extracting deformation and topography from the interferometric phase. It also covers critical baseline, geocoding, and geocoded SLCs.

Chapter 9 examines the three factors that affect radar range measurement: spatial and temporal variations of the dry and wet components of the troposphere, phase advance of radar waves through the ionosphere, and the solid Earth tides. It also discusses practical corrections and mitigation approaches.

The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and the V20 group of finance ministers address climate change impacts on vulnerable countries. This chapter introduces the interconnectedness of climate justice, economic resilience, and sustainable development. It highlights personal stories, such as Victor Yalanda from Colombia and Jevanic Henry from Saint Lucia, who share their experiences of climate change’s impacts on their communities — covering both the economic loss and the emotional devastation caused to communities. We introduce the CVF’s Climate Vulnerability Monitor — a unique study of the impacts of climate change, including fresh modelling, covering biophysical, economics and health projections up to 2100. The global community via COP27 and COP28 have agreed on the urgency of both adaptation and mitigation strategies. Yet the speed of change is not sufficient. The fate of today’s most vulnerable will soon be the fate of the world.

Chapter 4 provides a comprehensive presentation of the commonly used range-Doppler algorithm for focusing complex backscatter data into a single-look complex (SLC) image.