Knowra Satellite remote sensing Satellite remote sensing Satellite remote sensing collects information about Earth using instruments aboard orbiting spacecraft. Sensors measure reflected or emitted energy to map land, oceans, atmosphere, and change over time.
Electromagnetic spectrum : The full range of electromagnetic radiation, ordered by frequency or wavelength. Satellite sensors sample selected wavelengths to distinguish surface materials and atmospheric conditions.
Land cover : The physical material present at Earth's surface, such as forest, water, cropland, or built surfaces. Multispectral satellite data are classified into land-cover maps for regional and global monitoring.
Remote sensing : The acquisition of information about an object or area without making physical contact with it. Satellite remote sensing is the space-based branch of this broader measurement approach.
Aerial photography : The capture of photographs from aircraft or other airborne platforms. Aircraft can collect detailed local imagery, while satellites offer repeated coverage over much larger regions.
Cloud cover : The fraction of the sky obscured by clouds at a given time and place. Clouds block many optical observations, leaving gaps precisely when conditions change rapidly.
Passive sensor : A sensor that records naturally available radiation, such as sunlight reflected by Earth or thermal emission. Most satellite imaging depends on reflected sunlight or heat emitted by the observed surface.
Agricultural remote sensing : The use of remote sensing to observe crops, soils, and agricultural activity. Satellite imagery tracks crop condition, planting patterns, and drought stress across fields.
Image classification : The assignment of image pixels or regions to classes based on their measured properties. Classification turns satellite measurements into thematic maps such as forest, water, and urban area.
Airborne laser scanning : The use of aircraft-mounted laser pulses to measure three-dimensional surface structure. Airborne lidar supplies detailed elevation and vegetation structure that ordinary satellite imagery may not resolve.
Mixed pixel : An image pixel whose footprint contains more than one surface type. Mixed pixels make small or fragmented features difficult to classify reliably.
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