The goal of this course is to introduce students to a broad range of satellite remote sensing platforms, the multispectral data sets they generate, and the application of these data and derived data products to the environmental sciences. Examples are drawn from many disciplines (meteorology, ecology, atmospheric chemistry, etc.). The course covers the basics of radiative transfer in the atmosphere. Students learn how satellite sensors work and explore the inherent assumptions and limitations in the application of remotely sensed observations. The advantages and disadvantages of various orbital configurations (geostationary, sun-synchronous polar) will be considered with regard to specific applications. The concept of derived products (based on algorithms using multispectral data, or combining satellite data with in-situ data or conventional model output) will be covered in some detail. A substantial amount of imagery will be incorporated into class discussions and assignments.