Understanding and Using Remote Sensing Data
 

What Is Remote Sensing?

 
 What is remote sensing and why was it developed? Read this article then ... 
  • Define remote sensing. 
  • Explain how remote sensing developed. 
  • Tell what motivated people to look at the Earth from a different perspective. 
  • Explain how the process of obtaining remotely sensed information evolved from aerial photography to satellite imagery.
For a more comprehensive introduction, see Goddard Space Flight Center's Remote Sensing Tutorial. 

Seeing With New Eyes

Infrared
 Read NASA's "Use of Color Composites in Landsat TM Data" then answer the following questions: 
  • What is infrared radiation and how are infrared images formed? 
  • What role does color play in infrared images? 
  • What sort of information do infrared images convey?
  • How do scientists use this information?
 
Radar
 Read the Online Remote Sensing Guide then answer the following questions: 
  • What is radar and how are radar images formed? 
  • What role does color play in radar images?
  • What sort of information do radar images convey?
  • How do scientists use this information?

Applications of Remote Sensing

 
 Weather Forecasting 
Try out the Weather Visualizer 
        Examine the different visible, infrared, and radar images available at this site. 
        What do these satellite images tell you about the weather in Montana? 
 
 
 Monitoring the Environment from Space 
Review the Environmental Treaties and Resource Indicators' (ESRI) Image Color Primer then answer the following questions: 
  • Why are some satellite images printed using false colors? 
  • What advantages does the use of false colors provide over the use of true colors? 
Review ESRI's Remote Sensing Image Gallery  then answer the following question: 
  • How is remote sensing used to detect seasonal and long-term changes in the environment? 
ESRI is focused on  nine global environmental issues shown below. Which of these issues interest you the most?  Which have the strongest local impact where you live? 
  • Land use/land cover change and desertification 
  • Global climate change 
  • Stratospheric ozone depletion 
  • Transboundary air pollution 
  • Conservation of biological diversity 
  • Deforestation 
  • Oceans and their living resources 
  • Trade and the environment 
  • Population 
Review ESRI's The Use Of Satellite Remote Sensing To Study The Human Dimnsions Of Global Environmental Change.  Answer the following questions: 
  • How is scientific data gathered, analyzed, and made available to the public? 
  • What human activities are most closely associated with environmental change? 
  • How is remote sensing being used to shape public policy related to environmental issues ad monitor compliance? 

On-line Data & Information

 
 Sources of Satellite Image Data 
  • Which data sets interest you the most?  Why? 
On-line Resources for Landscape/Terrain Rendering 
  • Which rendering program interests you the most?  Why? 
Remote Sensing Organizations & Associations 
Visit each of the WWW sites listed.  Which interest you the most?  Why? 
  • CIESIN Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network 
  • WRI World Resources Institute 
  • UNEP United Nations Environment Programme 
  • GCRIO Global Change Research Information Office 
    		•
     
    Understanding and Using 
    Maps
    Understanding and Using 
    Models 
    Understanding and Using 
    Remote Sensing Data 
    Montana Is My Home 
     
    Moscow Is My Home
     
    On-line  Educational Resources
     
     

        Top Level