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Remote Sensing (SUG656/GLS612) : Principle of Electromagnetic Radiation (Emr) Dr. Nor Aizam Adnan/ DR Ainon Nisa
Remote Sensing (SUG656/GLS612) : Principle of Electromagnetic Radiation (Emr) Dr. Nor Aizam Adnan/ DR Ainon Nisa
(SUG656/GLS612)
LECTURE 2:
PRINCIPLE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC
RADIATION (EMR)
14
Properties of light important in remote sensing
Blue (0.4 to 0.5) • For water body penetration, making it useful for
coastal water mapping.
• Useful for soil/vegetation discrimination, forest
type mapping, and cultural feature identification
Green (0.5 to 0.6) • To measure green reflectance peak of vegetation
for vegetation discrimination and vigor
assessment.
Red (0.6 to 0.7) • to sense in a chlorophyll absorption region aiding
in plant species differentiation.
• useful for cultural feature identification
Cont’
Wavelength Wavelength (μm) Applications
region
Infrared (IR) 0.7 -100 • Wavelength longer than red portion of visible
spectrum is designed as the infrared spectrum
• Discovered by British astronomer William Herschel
in 1800
• The infrared region can be divide onto 2 categories
on their radiation properties
Near Infra Red • Just beyond human vision
(NIR) • Very useful for mapping vegetation (will see later
0.7 to 1.1 why)
Shortwave Infrared • Suitable for determining the chemical composition
(SWIR) of objects on the ground (e.g., determining amount
1.1 to 2.5 of oxygen in tree leaves)
• geology
Thermal (25-35) • Radiation emitted from earth’s surface in the form
of heat Very sensitive to heat differences
• In a laboratory setting very useful for identifying
organic and inorganic materials
Cont’
Radio waves (more than 1m) • This is the longest portion of the spectrum mostly
used for commercial broadcast and meteorology
Interaction Processes
• Incoming EMR - the solar radiation arriving at the earth from all frequencies or
wavelengths, typically from 300 nm to 3000 nm wavelength. Meteorologists refer
to this band as short-wave radiation.
• Reflected EMR - the radiation from the sun which is reflected back into the
atmosphere after striking the Earth.
• Emitted EMR - outgoing long-wave radiation emitted by the Earth's surface and
lower atmosphere.
• Absorbed – amount of radiation being absorbed by different earth’s features
Basic strategy for sensing electromagnetic
radiation
Everything in nature has its own unique
distribution of reflected, transmitted and
absorbed radiation
These spectral characteristics, if ingeniously
exploited can be used to distinguish one thing from
another or to obtain information about shape, size,
and other physical and chemical properties (add
examples)
Emitted EMR by the Earth’s Surface
Infrared remote sensing makes use of infrared sensors to detect infrared radiation
emitted from the Earth's surface (within the thermal infrared region). These radiations
are emitted from warm objects such as the Earth's surface. They are used in satellite
remote sensing for measurements of the earth's land and sea surface temperature.
Thermal infrared remote sensing is also often used for detection of forest fires.
More on Concepts of Remote Sensing (cont.)
When we look at trees and This light is called infrared light. Special
grass, we see green. film is used to record infrared
The grass reflects green information. Since we cannot see infrared
light and absorbs all the light, scientists give it a color. Red is the
other colors. But grass and color most commonly used to show this
trees also reflect light we light, but it can be shown in any color.
cannot see. Special sensors on the satellites can also
record infrared light.
Which combination
Scientists of data
use data received would
from you use in
the satellite if you were acombinations
different farmer?
A closer look at this satellite image shows differences in the red areas.
Scientists can study these areas on the ground to learn what type of
vegetation is there. Then, scientists can map the location of different
habitats.
Why should you be interested in remote sensing
“culture”
Provides unique information about planet
earth
Use in dissertation (data is limiting factor)
Why use satellite remote sensing?
A tool for global monitoring
An objective and consistent tool for spatial
dimensions
At variety of scales (local and global)
means
Rapid update of data (every 15 min?)