Electromagnetic Radiation Basics for Remote Sensing

This course covers the basics of remote sensing and describes the components and advantages of remote sensing technology. We lay out the characteristics of electromagnetic radiation and identify the part of the electromagnetic spectrum utilized in remote sensing. We go through the historical development of remote sensing technology to provide a broader context to its use while examining its contemporary applications.

Are you curious to find out how electromagnetic radiation interacts with the atmosphere before reaching remote sensors? This course explains how atmospheric scattering and absorption affect electromagnetic radiation and breaks down how electromagnetic radiation interacts with vegetation and water. We also show you how spectral response curves are generated for better analysis of satellite data. Finally, the course introduces you to four basic laws governing the type and amount of electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by an object and establishes the impact of those laws on remote sensing.

Gathering the basic knowledge of electromagnetic radiation and spectrum is a crucial step to understanding how remote sensing works. This course lays out the basics of electromagnetic radiation and describes how it interacts with the Earth's surface to allow remote sensing. We go through the laws governing electromagnetic radiation emitted from objects and outline their impact on remote sensing. If you are interested in the ability of remote sensing to map objects and inaccessible landscapes, from forest fires to distant planets, this course is for you.