Difference between revisions of "Remote sensing"
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* Ecology | * Ecology | ||
== Ocean colour== | == Ocean colour== | ||
| − | ===Introduction=== | + | ====Introduction==== |
The "colour" of the ocean is determined by the impact of light with the water and any colored particles or dissolved chemicals in the water. Colour is the light reflected by the water and the substances present in it. When light hits a water molecule or a coloured substrate in it, the different colours (wavelengths) can be absorbed or scattered in differing intensities. The colour we see results from the colours that are reflected. The substances in seawater which most affect the water colour are: phytoplankton, inorganic particles, dissolved organic chemicals, and the water molecules themselves. Phytoplankton contains chlorophyll, which absorbs red and blue light and reflects green light. Particles can reflect and absorb light, which increases turbidity of the water. Dissolved organic matter only absorbs, mainly blue light, and its presence can interfere with measurements of chlorophyll. The main reason to measure ocean colour is to study phytoplankton, the microscopic algae which are at the base of the oceanic food web. Phytoplankton produce organic carbon using light and carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. This is possible because plants contain chlorophyll, green-coloured compounds. The ocean colour is also an indicator of the health of oceans. | The "colour" of the ocean is determined by the impact of light with the water and any colored particles or dissolved chemicals in the water. Colour is the light reflected by the water and the substances present in it. When light hits a water molecule or a coloured substrate in it, the different colours (wavelengths) can be absorbed or scattered in differing intensities. The colour we see results from the colours that are reflected. The substances in seawater which most affect the water colour are: phytoplankton, inorganic particles, dissolved organic chemicals, and the water molecules themselves. Phytoplankton contains chlorophyll, which absorbs red and blue light and reflects green light. Particles can reflect and absorb light, which increases turbidity of the water. Dissolved organic matter only absorbs, mainly blue light, and its presence can interfere with measurements of chlorophyll. The main reason to measure ocean colour is to study phytoplankton, the microscopic algae which are at the base of the oceanic food web. Phytoplankton produce organic carbon using light and carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. This is possible because plants contain chlorophyll, green-coloured compounds. The ocean colour is also an indicator of the health of oceans. | ||
| − | === Remote sensing and algal blooms=== | + | ==== Remote sensing and algal blooms==== |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 12:18, 30 October 2013
Contents
Introduction
There is an increasing demand for accurate, timely information on environmental and natural resources, including spatial relationships and temporal changes and trends, local to global. In the broadest sense, remote sensing is the measurement or acquisition of information of an object or phenomenon, by a recording device that is not in physical or intimate contact with the object. In practice, remote sensing is the utilization at a distance (as from aircraft, spacecraft, satellite, or ship) of any device for gathering information about the environment. Advantages of this technology are:
- Observation of a large geographical area
- Long-term and fast collection of data
- Lower collecting costs
- "Inaccessible" regions become accessible (e.g. Antarctica)
- Object is not being destroyed
Disadvantages are:
- Lower spatial resolution (depending on the type of sensor)
- Need for the installation of complex systems (which have a long testing phase)
- Captured data need to be calibrated via in-situ data
- Noise caused by another source than the desired one
- Atmospheric effects degrade the quality of the images and need to be corrected
General principles of remote sensing
Remote sensors are devices that measure and record specific types of energy. In remote sensing this energy is electromagnetic radiation which is reflected or emitted by all natural and synthetic objects on Earth. The electromagnetic spectrum is the continuous range of electromagnetic radiation. The spectrum can be divided in the following regions: gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, microwaves and radio waves. Remote sensing involves measurement of energy in many parts in the EM spectrum and takes place in spectral bands.A spectral band is defined as a discrete interval of the EM spectrum. Satellite sensors for example have been designed to measure responses within particular spectral bands to enable the discrimination of the major Earth surface materials. Scientist choose a particular spectral band for data collection depending on what they wish to examine. The data captured and recorded by the sensors must be analyzed by interpretive and measurement techniques in order to provide useful information about their subjects. The technique varies from simple traditional methods of visual interpretation to complicated methods using computer processing. The output is usually an image.
Types of sensors
Remote sensing systems can be divided into 2 categories: active or passive sensors. In active sensors (e.g. radar) energy is transmitted from the sensor so they provide their own energy source for illumination. The sensor emits radiation which is directed toward the object or surface to be investigated. The radiation reflected from that target is detected and measured by the sensor. Passive systems (e.g. photographic camera) measure energy that is naturally available or depend on an external energy source (for example the sunlight).
Atmospheric effects
When the Earth is observed remote sensors are looking through the atmosphere. The atmospheric constituents (particles and gases) can affect the incoming light and radiation by causing wavelength dependent absorption and scattering. Scattering occurs when particles or large gas molecules present in the atmosphere interact with and cause the electromagnetic radiation to be redirected from its original path. Absorption causes molecules in the atmosphere to absorb energy at various wavelengths. Ozone, carbon dioxide and water vapor are the most important to absorb radiation. These atmospheric effects degrade the quality of the images. Some of them can be corrected before the images are subjected to further analysis and interpretation.
Remote sensing applications
- Agriculture
- Environmental monitoring and risks
- Geology
- Oceanography
- Climatology
- Ecology
Ocean colour
Introduction
The "colour" of the ocean is determined by the impact of light with the water and any colored particles or dissolved chemicals in the water. Colour is the light reflected by the water and the substances present in it. When light hits a water molecule or a coloured substrate in it, the different colours (wavelengths) can be absorbed or scattered in differing intensities. The colour we see results from the colours that are reflected. The substances in seawater which most affect the water colour are: phytoplankton, inorganic particles, dissolved organic chemicals, and the water molecules themselves. Phytoplankton contains chlorophyll, which absorbs red and blue light and reflects green light. Particles can reflect and absorb light, which increases turbidity of the water. Dissolved organic matter only absorbs, mainly blue light, and its presence can interfere with measurements of chlorophyll. The main reason to measure ocean colour is to study phytoplankton, the microscopic algae which are at the base of the oceanic food web. Phytoplankton produce organic carbon using light and carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. This is possible because plants contain chlorophyll, green-coloured compounds. The ocean colour is also an indicator of the health of oceans.
