Post on 27-Dec-2015
Satellite Imagery and Remote Sensing
NC Climate FellowsJune 2012
DeeDee WhitakerSW Guilford HighEarth/Environmental Science & Chemistry
OutlineWhat is remote sensing?What role does the electromagnetic spectrum play in satellite imagery?
How does remote sensing work?
How can satellite imagery be applied to climate change?
Applicable NC Essential Standards
Earth Environmental Science-1.1.3, 1.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.2.1, 2.5.1, 2.5.2, 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.8.3
Biology-2.1.4, 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 4.2.1
Physical Science- 3.2.1
Physics- 2.2
Middle School Science- 6.P.1, 6.P.3, 6.E.2, 6.L.2, 7.E.1, 8.P.2, 8.E.1, 8.E.2
Identifying, observing, and measuring an object without coming into direct contact with it (NASA)
What is remote sensing?
So many satellites and sensors
According to NASA-there are about 3000 satellites operating in Earth orbit in 2012.
US Satellite Orbits
Constellation
A
What role does the electromagnetic spectrum play in satellite imagery?
Visible Light
Differences Among Infrared Regions
Near IR- (0.7 - 1)microns 740- (3000-5200 K) Earth’s surface and above
Mid IR 5 to (25-40) microns (92.5-140) to 740 K only above the atmosphere
Far IR (25-40) to (200-350) microns (10.6-18.5) to (92.5-140) K only above the atmosphere
Satellite imagery is a special case of photography.
Radiation bands in the electromagnetic spectrum that are reflected from the Earth’s surface back into space can be collected by satellite sensors and stored digitally.
The most common electromagnetic bands used in satellite imagery are visible light, near infrared radiation (NIR), and infrared radiation (IR).
Satellite Imagery-Remote Sensing
Electromagnetic Spectrum and Satellite Sensors
Different types of earth viewing satellite sensors operate in different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.© DLR-DFD, 1996
http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/education/class/yuri/erb.html
Reflectance
http://accessscience.com/search.aspx?rootID=796762
Examples of Satellite ImageryNASA and Google Earth
Visible and Near IR Comparisons
What different types of information do IR and visible wavelengths supply?
Differences between ground IR
data, aerial data, and satellite data? Ease of data collection
Data extent, records
Spatial Resolution
Temporal Resolution
Spectral Resolution
Tradeoffs in Sensor Design
To increase the signal to noise ratio, we can :
Field of View Dwell time Width of spectral bands
How do these changes affect
the different resolutions?
Landsat 7 Program
Temporal: 16 days
Spectral: 4-8 bands
Spatial: 30 m http://
earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Landsat/
Land cover and land cover change
MODIS (on 2 satellites, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer)Temporal: DailySpectral: 36 bandsSpatial: 250-1000 m http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/about
Global land cover and ocean RS
Fire monitoring
IKONOS- commercial
Temporal: On DemandSpectral: 4 bands, panchromaticSpatial: 1-4 mLocal land cover http://www.satimagingcorp.com/
gallery-ikonos.html
JASON (Active)Temporal: 10 daysSpectral: NA (Active)Spatial: ~ 2 km http://ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/satellite_missions/
list_of_satellites/jas2_general.html
Sea level
Sensor Platforms
Pigeons, Planes, and Satellites
Pigeons, planes, and satellites
How might scientists use IR data to study the earth’s surface?
Kohrs, Infrared Image
How can satellite imagery be applied to climate change?
Weather forecasting
Storm tracking Ocean
temperature monitoring Sea level changes Large scale land
mass changes
Aerial Photography Works on the same principles
as satellite imagery Altitude is less giving better
resolution and more details. Used for change analysis,
planning, natural resource management, and land use identification.
Student Activities Spectral Analysis-inquiry exploration Satellite Imagery-internet NC OneMap-data and imagery
http://www.nconemap.com/
National Map-data and imagery http://nationalmap.gov/viewer.html
SummaryRemote sensing allows us to
observe and monitor the earth surface
Features on the ground can be
interpreted using spectral information
Satellites have wide range of purposes