Region Name Wavelength Comments

Gamma Ray < 0.03 nanometers Entirely absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere and not available for remote sensing.X-ray 0.03 to 30 nanometers Entirely absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere and not available for remote sensingUltraviolet 0.03 to 0.4 micrometers Wavelengths from 0.03 to 0.3 micrometers absorbed by ozone in the Earth's atmospherePhotographic Ultraviolet 0.3 to 0.4 micrometers Available for remote sensing the Earth. Can be imaged with photographic film.

Visible 0.4 to 0.7 micrometers Available for remote sensing the Earth. Can be imaged with photographic film.Infrared 0.7 to 100 micrometers Available for remote sensing the Earth. Can be imaged with photographic film.Reflected Infrared 0.7 to 3.0 micrometers Available for remote sensing the Earth. Near Infrared 0.7 to 0.9 micrometers. Can be

imaged with photographic film.Thermal Infrared 3.0 to 14 micrometers Available for remote sensing the Earth. This wavelength cannot be captured with photographic

film. Instead, mechanical sensors are used to image this wavelength band.Microwave or Radar 0.1 to 100 centimeters Longer wavelengths of this band can pass through clouds, fog, and rain. Images using

this band can be made with sensors that actively emit microwaves.Radio > 100 centimeters Not normally used for remote sensing the Earth.

REMOTE SENSING- Remote sensing –technique used to collect data about

the earth (or any other object) without taking a physical sample of it.

- Radiometry: studies electromagnetic radiation- Sensors mounted on satellites or aerial equipment

measure electromagnetic radiation- 2 types of sensorso Passive

Source of radiation from outside the sensor (i.e. sunlight)

Record radiation reflected from earth’s surface Can only record during daylight i.e. Thematic Mapper (TM).

o Active Energy source is from within the sensor Emits a beam with a known wavelength and

frequency à hits surface à records time it takes for beam to reach sensor

emits energy in order to scan objects and areas

THE EARTH and ITS ATMOSPHERE- Formed about 4.5 bya- first life appeared 3.5 bya- 70.8% H2O- Aix 23.5 degrees- Has an atmosphere- Organisms began changing the

atmosphere because of photosynthetic organisms

- Oxygen was created as a byproduct and thus the atmosphere was born. 3O2à(plus UV)2O3

- Permanent gases – stable – N, O, Ar, Ne, He, H, Xe

- Variable gases – varies from place to place depending on conditions - H2O, CO2, CH4, NO2, CFC’s

Thermosphere (Ionosphere)- Temp. inc. b/c of gamma rays, X-rays,

UV radiation- molecules converted into ions à

aurora borealis and aurora australis. Mesosphere:- Coldest layer- Ice clouds. meteors burn.

ATMOSPHERIC PROPERTIES- Pressure is the pull of gravity - Relative humidity is the ratio of water (grams) in vol. of air to

the maximum amount of water the air can hold.o Desert ~3%o Tropical rainforest ~88%

- Temperature – varies with location and time. Dependent on angle of sun’s rays on earth.

SOLAR RADIATION- rays perpendicular to the equator à most solar energy.

Sunlight passes through less atmosphere and more heat to earth.

- At the poles, the angles of the sun’s rays to the earth are small.

- approximately 100W/m2 hit the earth- appx 700 w/m2 absorbed appx 300 w/m2 reflectedWEATHER AND CLIMATE- weather – localized area, short period of time- climate – long time, large area.

- Land heats up faster than seas. Daytime temp. range can be up to 100C or more. Temp range over sea is typically 1-20C

- Sideways expansion of the air produces changes in pressure which are transmitted sideways at the speed of sound à creates sea breeze

- sea breeze caused by pressure gradient at low levels <1500 ft. - region where colder sea air meets the drier land air is sea

breeze front. like a mini cold front.

- Hadley Cellso Btw 30S à 30 N

- Ferrel Cells and Polar Cells- do not affect temp as much as Hadley Cells

- Windso Westerlies (From West to east) and

trade winds (30Nà30S) From east and blows west

o Doldrum –no wind movement

As air moves from high to low pressure in the northern hemisphere, it is deflected to the right by the Coriolis force. In the southern hemisphere, air moving from high to low pressure is deflected to the left by the Coriolis force. The amount of deflection the air makes is directly related to both the speed at which the air is moving and its latitude. Therefore, slowly blowing winds will be deflected only a small amount, while stronger winds will be deflected more. Likewise, winds blowing closer to the poles will be deflected more than winds at the same speed closer to the equator. The Coriolis force is zero right at the equator.

Stratosphere:- less matter than troposphere- water 1/1000 as much as tropos.- 3O2à2O3

- Ozone made by UV radiation and lightening

Troposphere:- Mostly N and O with smaller amounts of H2O and CO2 - chemical cycling of earth’s nutrients- rising and falling air currents and winds à weather and climate is.