An introduction to the physical principles underlying Earth remote sensing. The development of spaceborne remote sensing technology has led to a new understanding of the complexity of our planet by allowing us to observe Earth and its environments on spatial and temporal scales that are unavailable to terrestrial sensors. Remote Sensing Physics: An Introduction to Observing Earth from Space is a graduate-level text that examines the underlying physical principles and techniques used to make remote measurements, along with the algorithms used to extract geophysical information from those measurements. Volume highlights include: Basis for Earth remote sensing including ocean, land, and atmosphere Description of satellite orbits relevant for Earth observations Physics of passive sensing, including infrared, optical and microwave imagers Physics of active sensing, including radars and lidars Overview of current and future Earth observation missions Compendium of resources including an extensive bibliography Sample problem sets and answers available to instructors The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.

The science and engineering of remote sensing--theory and applications The Second Edition of this authoritative book offers readers the essential science and engineering foundation needed to understand remote sensing and apply it in real-world situations. Thoroughly updated to reflect the tremendous technological leaps made since the publication of the first edition, this book covers the gamut of knowledge and skills needed to work in this dynamic field, including: * Physics involved in wave-matter interaction, the building blocks for interpreting data * Techniques used to collect data * Remote sensing applications The authors have carefully structured and organized the book to introduce readers to the basics, and then move on to more advanced applications. Following an introduction, Chapter 2 sets forth the basic properties of electromagnetic waves and their interactions with matter. Chapters 3 through 7 cover the use of remote sensing in solid surface studies, including oceans. Each chapter covers one major part of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g., visible/near infrared, thermal infrared, passive microwave, and active microwave). Chapters 8 through 12 then cover remote sensing in the study of atmospheres and ionospheres. Each chapter first presents the basic interaction mechanism, followed by techniques to acquire, measure, and study the information, or waves, emanating from the medium under investigation. In most cases, a specific advanced sensor is used for illustration. The book is generously illustrated with fifty percent new figures. Numerous illustrations are reproduced in a separate section of color plates. Examples of data acquired from spaceborne sensors are included throughout. Finally, a set of exercises, along with a solutions manual, is provided. This book is based on an upper-level undergraduate and first-year graduate course taught by the authors at the California Institute of Technology. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the field and its applications, it is appropriate for students in electrical engineering, applied physics, geology, planetary science, astronomy, and aeronautics. It is also recommended for any engineer or scientist interested in working in this exciting field.

This book elaborates on the physical principles of polarization remote sensing. It explains the reflective characteristics of surface objects and atmosphere separately, including theory, experiment, instrument and application. In addition, it introduces how polarization remote sensing works in advanced research programs as it can be used in aviation, astronomy, disaster risk prevention and navigation fields. This book serves as a fundamental and comprehensive reference for researchers and students.

Active remote sensing is the principal tool used to study and to predict short- and long-term changes in the environment of Earth - the atmosphere, the oceans and the land surfaces - as well as the near space environment of Earth. All of these measurements are essential to understanding terrestrial weather, climate change, space weather hazards, and threats from asteroids. Active remote sensing measurements are of inestimable benefit to society, as we pursue the development of a technological civilization that is economically viable, and seek to maintain the quality of our life. A Strategy for Active Remote Sensing Amid Increased Demand for Spectrum describes the threats, both current and future, to the effective use of the electromagnetic spectrum required for active remote sensing. This report offers specific recommendations for protecting and making effective use of the spectrum required for active remote sensing.

A quantitative yet accessible introduction to remote sensing techniques, this new edition covers a broad spectrum of Earth science applications.

Sea Ice: Physics and Remote Sensing addresses experiences acquired mainly in Canada by researchers in the fields of ice physics and growth history in relation to its polycrystalline structure as well as ice parameters retrieval from remote sensing observations. The volume describes processes operating at the macro- and microscale (e.g., brine entrapment in sea ice, crystallographic texture of ice types, brine drainage mechanisms, etc.). The information is supported by high-quality photographs of ice thin-sections prepared from cores of different ice types, all obtained by leading experts during field experiments in the 1970s through the 1990s, using photographic cameras and scanning microscopy. In addition, this volume presents techniques to retrieve a suite of sea ice parameters (e.g. ice type, concentration, extent, thickness, surface temperature, surface deformation, etc.) from space-borne and airborne sensor data. The breadth of the material on this subject is designed to appeal to researchers and users of remote sensing data who want to develop quick familiarity with the capabilities of this technology or detailed knowledge about major techniques for retrieval of key ice parameters. Volume highlights include: Detailed crystallographic classification of natural sea ice, the key information from which information about ice growth conditions can be inferred. Many examples are presented with material to support qualitative and quantitative interpretation of the data. Methods developed for revealing microstructural characteristics of sea ice and performing forensic investigations. Data sets on radiative properties and satellite observations of sea ice, its snow cover, and surrounding open water. Methods of retrieval of ice surface features and geophysical parameters from remote sensing observations with a focus on critical issues such as the suitability of different sensors for different tasks and data synergism. Sea Ice: Physics and Remote Sensing is intended for a variety of sea ice audiences interested in different aspects of ice related to physics, geophysics, remote sensing, operational monitoring, mechanics, and cryospheric sciences.

A practical and self-contained guide to the principles, techniques, models and tools of imaging spectroscopy. Bringing together material from essential physics and digital signal processing, it covers key topics such as sensor design and calibration, atmospheric inversion and model techniques, and processing and exploitation algorithms. Readers will learn how to apply the main algorithms to practical problems, how to choose the best algorithm for a particular application, and how to process and interpret hyperspectral imaging data. A wealth of additional materials accompany the book online, including example projects and data for students, and problem solutions and viewgraphs for instructors. This is an essential text for senior undergraduate and graduate students looking to learn the fundamentals of imaging spectroscopy, and an invaluable reference for scientists and engineers working in the field.