Introduction and Basic Concepts: (Ii) EMR Spectrum
Introduction and Basic Concepts: (Ii) EMR Spectrum
Introduction and Basic Concepts: (Ii) EMR Spectrum
What is meant by
Electromagnetic energy
Electromagnetic energy: All energy moving in a harmonic sinusoidal wave pattern with a
• Wavelength (λ)
– Distance from any point of one wave to the same position on the next wave
– The wavelengths commonly used in remote sensing are very small
– It is normally expressed in micrometers (1 μm =1×10 -6 m)
– In remote sensing EM waves are categorized in terms of their wavelength location
in the EMR spectrum
• Frequency (f)
– Number of waves passing a fixed point per unit time. It is expressed in Hertz (Hz).
c=λf
x 1014 s-1.
9
7 10 nm
8.52 10 m 852 nm
m
Copyright McGraw-Hill 2009
EMR Spectrum
13
frequency)
Divided into regions or intervals
‒ Mostly absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere and hence not used in remote sensing
Most of the remote sensing systems operate in visible, infrared (IR) and microwave
regions
Some systems use the long wave portion of the UV spectrum
Gamma rays < 3×10-5 Not available for remote sensing. Incoming radiation is
absorbed by the atmosphere
X-ray 3×10-5 - 3×10-3
Ultraviolet (UV) 0.03 - 0.4 Wavelengths < 0.3 are absorbed by the ozone layer.
rays Wavelengths between 0.3- 0.4 μm are transmitted and
termed as “Photographic UV band”.
Visible 0.4 - 0.7 Detectable with film and photodetectors.
Infrared (IR) 0.7 - 100 Specific atmospheric windows allows maximum
transmission. Photographic IR band (0.7-0.9 μm) is
detectable with film. Principal atmospheric windows exist
in the thermal IR region (3 - 5 μm and 8 - 14 μm)
Microwave 103 - 106 Can penetrate rain, fog and clouds. Both active and
passive remote sensing is possible. Radar uses
wavelength in this range.
Radio > 106 Have the longest wavelength. Used for remote sensing
by some radars.
‒ Ultraviolet (UV) region adjoins the blue end (2) Photographic IR (0.7 - 0.9 μm)
Microwave region
‒ Longer wavelength intervals
‒ Ranges from 0.1 to 100 cm
‒ Includes all the intervals used by radar
systems.
body)
•Plank’s Law (Emissive power of a black body)
•Wien’s Law (Maximum radiant intensity)
Kirchhoff’s law:
Stefan-Boltzmann law
‒ The amount of radiation from such objects is a function of the temperature of the object
‒ Applicable for objects that behave as a blackbody
λm = A / T
A = 2898 μm K, a constant
Solar radiation
Spectral energy distribution of blackbody
- Sun’s temperature is around 6000 K at various temperatures
Atmospheric windows