Remote Sensing & Satellites Quiz
Land use monitoring (10 questions).
Remote Sensing & Satellites Quiz: Quick Study Notes
Remote sensing is the science of obtaining information about objects or areas from a distance, typically from aircraft or satellites. In land use monitoring, it provides crucial data for urban planning, agriculture, and environmental conservation by analyzing how electromagnetic radiation interacts with the Earth’s surface.
Key Takeaways
- Remote Sensing: collecting data without physical contact.
- Land Cover: physical material (forest, water, concrete).
- Land Use: how people utilize the land (agriculture, residential).
- Spectral Signature: different materials reflect light differently across bands.
- Change Detection: comparing images from different dates to identify alterations.
- Geostationary vs. Polar Orbit: Geostationary stays fixed (weather); Polar scans the whole globe (mapping).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Land Use and Land Cover?
Land Cover refers to the physical material on the surface (e.g., grass, asphalt, water), while Land Use refers to how humans utilize that area (e.g., parks, roads, agriculture).
Why is Near-Infrared (NIR) important?
NIR is crucial because healthy vegetation reflects it strongly while absorbing visible red light. This contrast helps scientists measure plant density and health.
What is the Landsat program?
Landsat is a joint NASA/USGS program that has provided the longest continuous space-based record of Earth’s land in existence, starting in 1972.
What is a False Color Composite?
It is an image that assigns invisible spectral bands (like Infrared) to visible colors (Red, Green, Blue) to reveal features not visible to the naked eye.
What is LiDAR?
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is an active remote sensing method that uses pulsed laser light to measure distances, creating precise 3D models of the Earth’s surface.
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