Remote Sensing Science Olympiad

What is remote sensing?

Collection and interpretation of information about an object without being in direct contact with the object.

Does sea ice reflect more or less than the surrounding ocean?

More

Does clear water have a high or low reflectance?

Low

Due to clear waters low reflectance, how does it come up on a remote sensing image?

Dark

What color is vegetation on a remote sensing image?

Red

What are the resolutions of remote sensing?

1. Spatial (what area, how detailed)

2. Spectral (what colors, bands)

3. Temporal (time of day/ season/ year)

4. Radiometric (Color/ depth)

Radiation that cannot be used by Remote sensors is ________.

Gamma Ray

Define Active Sensors

Remote sensing methods that provide their own source of electromagnetic radiation to illuminate the terrain. Ex: RADAR, LIDAR, and SONAR.

Define Passive Sensors

Remote sensing of energy naturally reflected or radiated from the terrain.

λ means ______?

Wavelength

μ means ______?

Micron

A micron is the same as a _________

Micrometre

The lowest Earth-observing satellite takes about _______ minutes to travel around the earth.

90

Do satellites orbit pole to pole? Or around the equator?

Pole to pole

What are some examples of atmospheric aerosols?

Desert dust, volcano emissions, smoke from wood and fossil fuels, and pollen.

How many LANDSAT satellites are there?

Currently 8, one more, making 9, will be joining in 2023.

What is Rayleigh Scattering?

Refers to the scattering of light off of the molecules of the air, and can be extended to scattering from particles up to about a tenth of the wavelength of the light. It is Rayleigh scattering off the molecules of the air which gives us the blue sky.

What does the acronym RADAR stand for?

Radio Detection and Ranging

Does water with sediments suspended in it have a higher or lower reflectance?

Higher

What is the most abundant green house gas?

CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)

Do radio waves have a longer or shorter wavelength?

Longer

What is a composite?

Images where multiple individual satellite images have been combined to produce a new image.

Straight objects are usually ______.

Man made

Irregular shaped objects are usually _________.

Formed naturally.

Determine size by_______.

Finding common objects (roads, trees, etc.)

Example of association.

It may help to identify what the image is by seeing what else is in the image (Ex: boats on a lake).

NDVI stands for _______.

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index

NDVI is used to ______.

Describe various land types, usually to determine whether or not the image contains vegetation.

EVI stands for _____.

Enhanced Vegetation Index

Relationship between Wavelength and Frequency?

The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength

Define reflectivity

The ability of a surface to reflect incident energy.

Define Albedo

How much a substance reflects light from the sun