The Physics Behind Remote Sensing :: Physics

Remote Sensing is the science of acquiring, processing and interpreting images that record the fundamental interaction between the electromagnetic energy and matter (Sabins, 1997). Remote perceive offers extensive applications in almost every area of science from monitoring woodwind fires to geologic mapping . Although many aspects of remote sensing are involved and difficult to understand the basic theory behind remote sensing is simple physics.There are four major stops of remote sensing. The runner stage is the source of energy, usually the sun, which sends energy to a target. The second stage is the interactions that the energy will go through as it passes through a vacuum and the hide outs atmosphere. There is then interactions that occurs with the torso on earths surface. The energy again, goes through the atmosphere and finally the demodulator is able to detect and record the electromagnetic energy.electromagnetic Energyelectromagnetic energy is a dynamic form of ene rgy that is caused by the acceleration or oscillation of a charged particle. All substances above direct zero (0 Kelvin) emit a range of electromagnetic energy. The sun emits electromagnetic energy and practically all of the natural electromagnetic energy injected into the earth is produced by the sun (Prakush, 2002).Electromagnetic RadiationElectromagnetic Radiation is the streams of mass-less particles, locomotion in a harmonic, sinusoidal fusion at the velocity of joyous each possessing a specific amount of energy. The distance from one handbill to the next is the wavelength and the number of peaks passing through a fixed bakshis per unit time is the wave frequency (Lillesand and Kiefer, 1994). Electromagnetic radiation is Electromagnetic energy in motion and can be described by the basic wave theory.Electromagnetic SpectrumElectromagnetic waves are characterized by their wavelength status within the electromagnetic spectrum which is most commonly measured in micrometers. n ame calling are often assigned to regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, but there is no clear cut dividing lines from one region to the next (Lillesand and Kiefer, 1994).Stefan - Boltzmann LawHow ofttimes energy any objects radiates is a function of its surface temperature.The Stefan - Boltzmann equations tells one that as a temperature of a body increase the total radiance of the body will also increase. (Sabins, 1997).InteractionsThe way electromagnetic radation interacts with matter can be detected with different sensors. How the radation interacts depends upon the properties of the medium, the wavelength of the incedent radation and the incident angle. There are four major types of interactions that occur transmission, reflection, scattering and absorption (Lillesand and Kiefer, 1994).