Introduction to the Physics and Techniques of Remote Sensing

Charles Elachi, Jakob J. van Zyl

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781119523086
• Edition: 3
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications
• Index: Technology & Engineering

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHYSICS AND TECHNIQUES OF REMOTE SENSING

DISCOVER CUTTING EDGE THEORY AND APPLICATIONS OF MODERN REMOTE SENSING IN GEOLOGY, OCEANOGRAPHY, ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE, IONOSPHERIC STUDIES, AND MORE

The thoroughly revised third edition of the Introduction to the Physics and Techniques of Remote Sensing delivers a comprehensive update to the authoritative textbook, offering readers new sections on radar interferometry, radar stereo, and planetary radar. It explores new techniques in imaging spectroscopy and large optics used in Earth orbiting, planetary, and astrophysics missions. It also describes remote sensing instruments on, as well as data acquired with, the most recent Earth and space missions.

Readers will benefit from the brand new and up-to-date concept examples and full-color photography, 50% of which is new to the series. You'll learn about the basic physics of wave/matter interactions, techniques of remote sensing across the electromagnetic spectrum (from ultraviolet to microwave), and the concepts behind the remote sensing techniques used today and those planned for the future.

The book also discusses the applications of remote sensing for a wide variety of earth and planetary atmosphere and surface sciences, like geology, oceanography, resource observation, atmospheric sciences, and ionospheric studies. This new edition also incorporates:

• A fulsome introduction to the nature and properties of electromagnetic waves
• An exploration of sensing solid surfaces in the visible and near infrared spectrums, as well as thermal infrared, microwave, and radio frequencies
• A treatment of ocean surface sensing, including ocean surface imaging and the mapping of ocean topography
• A discussion of the basic principles of atmospheric sensing and radiative transfer, including the radiative transfer equation

Perfect for senior undergraduate and graduate students in the field of remote sensing instrument development, data analysis, and data utilization, Introduction to the Physics and Techniques of Remote Sensing will also earn a place in the libraries of students, faculty, researchers, engineers, and practitioners in fields like aerospace, electrical engineering, and astronomy.

1
Introduction

Remote sensing is defined as the acquisition of information about an object without being in physical contact with it. Information is acquired by detecting and measuring changes that the object imposes on the surrounding field, be it an electromagnetic, acoustic, or potential field. This could include an electromagnetic field emitted or reflected by the object, acoustic waves reflected or perturbed by the object, or perturbations of the surrounding gravity or magnetic potential field due to the presence of the object.

The term “remote sensing” is most commonly used in connection with electromagnetic techniques of information acquisition. These techniques cover the whole electromagnetic spectrum from the low‐frequency radio waves through the microwave, submillimeter, far infrared, near infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x‐ray, and gamma‐ray regions of the spectrum.

The advent of satellites is allowing the acquisition of global and synoptic detailed information about the planets (including the Earth) and their environments. Sensors on Earth‐orbiting satellites provide information about global patterns and dynamics of clouds, surface vegetation cover and its seasonal variations, surface morphologic structures, ocean surface temperature, and near‐surface wind. The rapid wide coverage capability of satellite platforms allows monitoring of rapidly changing phenomena, particularly in the atmosphere. The long duration and repetitive capability allows the observation of seasonal, annual, and longer term changes such as polar ice cover, desert expansion, solid surface motion, and subsidence and tropical deforestation. The wide‐scale synoptic coverage allows the observation and study of regional and continental scale features such as plate boundaries and mountain chains.

Sensors on planetary probes (orbiters, flybys, surface stations, and rovers) are providing similar information about the planets and objects in the solar system. By now all the planets in the solar system have been visited by one or more spacecraft. The comparative study of the properties of the planets is providing new insight into the formation and evolution of the solar system.

1.1 Types and Classes of Remote Sensing Data

The type of remote sensing data acquired is dependent on the type of information being sought, as well as on the size and dynamics of the object or phenomena being studied. The different types of remote sensing data and their characteristics are summarized in Table 1.1. The corresponding sensors and their role in acquiring different types of information are illustrated in Figure 1.1.

Two‐dimensional images are usually required when high‐resolution spatial information is needed, such as in the case of surface cover and structural mapping (Figs. 1.2 and 1.3), or when a global synoptic view is instantaneously required, such as in the case of meteorological and weather observations (Fig. 1.4). Two‐dimensional images can be acquired over wide regions of the electromagnetic spectrum (Fig. 1.5) and with a wide selection of spectral bandwidths. Imaging sensors are available in the microwave, infrared (IR), visible, and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum using electronic and photographic detectors. Images are acquired by using active illumination, such as radars or lasers; solar illumination, such as in the ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared; or emission from the surface, such as in thermal infrared, microwave emission (Fig. 1.6), and x‐ and gamma‐rays.

Table 1.1 Types of remote sensing data.

Important type of information needed	Type of sensor	Examples of sensors
High spatial resolution and wide coverage	Imaging sensors, cameras	Large‐format camera (1984), Seasat imaging radar (1978), Magellan radar mapper (1989), Mars Global Surveyor Camera (1996), Mars Rover Camera (2004 and 2014), Cassini Camera (2006)
High spectral resolution over limited areas or along track lines	Spectrometers, spectroradiometers	Shuttle multispectral imaging radiometer (1981), Hyperion (2000)
Limited spectral resolution with high spatial resolution	Multispectral mappers	Landsat multispectral mapper and thematic mapper (1972–1999), SPOT (1986–2002), Galileo NIMS (1989)
High spectral and spatial resolution	Imaging spectrometer	Spaceborne imaging spectrometer (1991), ASTER (1999), Hyperion (2000)
High accuracy intensity measurement along line tracks or wide swath	Radiometers, scatterometers	Seasat (1978), ERS‐1/2 (1991, 1997), NSCAT (1996), QuikSCAT (1999), SeaWinds (2002) scatterometers
High accuracy intensity measure...