Remote Sensing of the Global Environment
David J. Schneider
Department of Geological Engineering and Sciences
Michigan Technological University
(AVHRR Satellite Composite: 26 Aug 1993)
- (Image from SSEC: UW-Madison)
What is remote sensing?
- Remote sensing is the science and art of obtaining information about
a phenomenoa without being in contact with it. Remote sensing deals with
the detection and measurement of phenomena with devices sensitive to
electromagnetic energy such as:
Light (cameras and scanners)
-
Heat (thermal scanners)
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Radio Waves (radar)
How is remote sensing useful?
-
It provides a unique perspective from which to observe large regions.
-
Sensors can measure energy at wavelengths which are beyond the range of human
vision (ultra-violet, infrared, microwave).
-
Global monitoring is possible from nearly any site on earth.
Background Information
-
Electromagnetic Spectrum
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Energy Interactions
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Digital Imaging
Browse Gallery of Satellite Images
- Lake Superior
- Temperature Maps of the
Great Lakes
- AVHRR Examples
- Keweenaw Peninsula
- SSM/I Imagery of Lake Superior
- Mississippi River Flood
- Yellowstone Fires
- Surface Temperature Map of Lake Superior
- Three Dimensional Images of Guatemalan Volcanoes
Other Satellite Images on the Internet
Note: These sites are not at Michigan Tech. You may have trouble with
network traffic and image availability. If you get impatient, click on
the stop sign at the top of the page. That will cancel your
request. If you go to these sites, you need to use the Back button on the bottom
of the frame to get back to this page.
- SSEC Realtime Data
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Check the Weather
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Global Sea Surface Temperature Map: Updated Weekly
- MODIS Airborne Simulator
- NASA SeasWiFS Project
- DMSP Satellite Data
- Space Shuttle Imaging Radar
Other Interesting Earth Science Sites
- The Michigan Tech Volcanoes Page
- Photographs of the 1992 Eruption of Mt. Spurr Alaska
This document is maintained by Dave Schneider
djschnei@mtu.edu