December 2004

in this issue

A window on our planet

Research carried out for the latest exhibition at the Lamb Gallery has revealed that thousands of people from all over the world are relying on the Dundee Satellite Receiving Station for up-to-the-minute environmental information and satellite images.

By early 2004, over 200,000 people had registered with the Station's web site, and over seven million of its stunning satellite images have been downloaded in the past year alone. It is these images that are the focus of Earth Watch, the current exhibition at the Lamb Gallery.

Neil Lonie, Station Manager said, "If the images are ever unavailable for a short period we immediately get lots of emails from people enquiring when they will be available again. For example, we have discovered that a lot of pilots in India use our images to check the weather conditions before they set off on flights."

Based in the Electronic Engineering and Physics Division and funded by the UK Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC), the Station has been operational since the mid 1970's. Covering a geographical region that includes Europe, Scandinavia and the North Atlantic areas, the data was mainly intended for use by meteorologists and atmospheric scientists, but is now used for a wide range of scientific applications and for education and personal interest by people all over the world.

Since an upgrade in 2000, the Station has been receiving data from a new series of NASA satellites and also supports a major NASA project examining oceanic factors that effect environmental change. A current project with the German Aerospace Centre, funded by the European Space Agency, is also investigating the environmental effects of air traffic.

Neil adds, "The systems have captured data and imagery of some of the most memorable events in the last 30 years, including volcanic eruptions and major weather related events such as the Great Storm of 1987."

The show runs at the Lamb Gallery until 14 January. For more information about the satellite station visit: www.sat.dundee.ac.uk

Principal's Column
Teaching fellowships
Grampian documentary on diabetes research
Diabetes UK donation
Honouring the Royal Scots
Success for inaugural telephone campaign
New international appeal
Kick off 2005 with Discovery Days
Reader to launch lecture series
Students fight against cancer
University voted top
40 years of town and regional planning at Dundee
Celebrating Geddes: the artist and thinker
Inaugural boxing championship held in Dundee
First law staff moot
Royal Society selects Dundee scientists
Buchanan medal
New research into rare genetic disease
Digest
Opening of Cuschieri skills centre
Medical alumnus makes historic first
Domesday Book restorer joins conservation studio
New scholarship for top students
Archives distance learning
Alumni pool their talents for BBC documentary
Suchet returns to Dundee digs
Christmas boxes for refugees
Festive fun at the botanics
Court report
Internal promotions
Books
2005 poetry competition launched
Dundee book prize winners in spotlight
Research Grants
From horseracing to football pools - the history of gambling
Representing UK design
Masters students design against crime
The key to a happy old age
Scots Fellows
Jim Cruickshank intimation
Music update
New CD supporting Barnardo's
Providing water law expertise across the globe
Professor joins 'magic circle'
Engineering success
Masters expo 2004