Characteristics of Remote Sensing

Abstract

All satellite remote sensing systems involve the measurement of ElectroMagnetic Radiation (EMR) which has bbeen emitted, reflected, or scattered by the atmosphere or the surface. These EMR measurements allow the determination of actual physical values of the atmosphere and the surface. For example, temperature of the ocean surface is obtained by observing the infrared radiation emitted by it and then inferring the ocean temperature using Planck’s law. Of course, the radiation reaching the sensor passes through the atmosphere which scatters and absorbs some of the surface radiation; these effects must be accounted for if the results are to be accurate. Remote sensing measurements provide a global coverage that is not possible with direct measurements, but they have difficulty achieving the accuracy of the more direct approach.