Lab #2 - Remote Sensing Basics

Your Name ________________________________ Date ____________ 
Course ____________________________________________________

Instructions: Photocopy this page and turn in a HARDCOPY to your instructor.
For further information contact Robert Ford's ESS Web Resources or see Professional Tutorials.
Contact: Email: rford@univ.llu.edu

Study the online tutorial entitled: Fundamentals of Remote Sensing - from CCRS (Canadian Remote Sensing Center)  then answer the following questions. Some other resources that might help include:

  1. Define remote sensing?
     


     
     
     
     
     
     

  2. What is the difference between these three types of scattering that occurs in the atmosphere and what effects do they produce?:
     
      a) Rayleigh scattering:
       
       

      b) Mie scattering:


     
     
      c) Nonselective scattering:

     
  3. What does the acronym CZCS mean? What does this instrument measure/study?
     


     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

  4. What is the difference between a geo-synchronous vs sun-synchronousorbit of a satellite?
     


     
     
     
     

    Study the tutorials (e.g. "Eyes in the Sky") produced by the NASA Observatorium (or the CCRS - Canadian Remote Sensing Center - Tutorials and - Images of Canada - virtual tour from space)   and then answer the following questions:
     
    1. Are "cosmic rays" part of the electromagnetic spectrum"? Briefly explain your answer.

     
     
     
    1. What is the "spatial resolution" of  a Landsat Multispectral Scanner
    1.  What is meant by the terms:


    Do the tutorial Why Satellite Images have different colors by the Virtual Hawaii site then answer these questions:

    1.  An image that is an 8-bit image can show how many shades of gray?
       


       
       

    2. What wavelength size range (in microns) is covered by Image 12 (page 1 of the tutorial)?
    3. On Page 7 of the tutorial you are asked to experiment with various combinations of bands.  Figure out which combination of colors/bands best reveals the reef off-shore of Waikiki?
       Study the online Remote Sensing gallery by the USGS (Earthshots: Images of Environmental Change) and then calculate/estimate the following for the Great Salt Lake case:

       
    1. Print a copy of the graphic showing the extent of the Great Salt Lake's shoreline in 1963 and 1987 or use a piece of paper (put against the monitor) to trace the Great Salt Lake's  "shoreline".
    2. Then using the very rough scale shown on the image (the 6-mile square block) estimate how many miles in surface area was added to the lake? Note: You will need to get a piece of grided paper (or draw one yourself).  Finish this at home if you need to. Also estimate how much of a percent change(increase/decrease) in area occurred between the two dates (1963 and 1987). Estimate:

                       

     

    Last Revised: June 4, 2004