Remote Sensing
The method of detecting and tracking an area’s physical characteristics by analyzing its reflected and emitted radiation from a distance is known as remote sensing (typically from satellite or aircraft).
Overview Effect: Quotes from Astronauts After Seeing the Earth from Space
The Overview Effect is a shift in awareness by astronauts seeing Earth from outer space as a “tiny, fragile ball of life.”
How Normalized Difference Water Index is Used to Map Flooding
The Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) is a calculation used in remote sensing to monitor and measure the amount of moisture in vegetation and surface water bodies.
Landsat: Longest Running Earth Imagery Program
With satellites in orbit since 1972, the Landsat program is the longest running Earth observation program.
Lidar Explained
Lidar is a technology developed to map the elevation of features on and below the surface of the Earth.
Views of Earth from Space
Over the decades, Earth has been captured from near and far by astronauts and spacecraft from space.
View From Space: Stuck in the Suez Canal
Satellites have captured imagery of the Ever Given which is currently stuck in the Suez Canal.
How to View Animated Satellite Imagery of the California Wildfires
Users can quickly make animations of the California wildfires using imagery from NOAA's GOES-West satellite.
Rebounding Pollution Levels Mark End of Coronavirus Lockdowns
As countries reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in pollution has been detected by NASA and European satellites.
ESA Launches Global Air Pollution Map
The European Space Agency offers an online map that shows global air pollution data collected from its Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite.
Mapping the Entire Surface of the Earth with LiDAR
A project called the Earth Archive plans to use Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) to map the entire surface of the Earth.
Satellites Give Detailed Insights into Climate Sciences
The European Space Agency has recently released a report entitled ‘10 New Insights in Climate Science’.
Artificial Intelligence Was Used to Discover a New Nasca Line
Researchers tested out the use of artificial intelligence to assist with finding new Nasca lines.
Using Satellites to Map Air Pollution from Wildfires
The Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission is designed to monitor pollutants entering the atmosphere because of major forest fires.
Mapping Ground Movement From the 2019 California Earthquake with Satellite Data
Researchers with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have used satellite data to map out surface displacement from the 2019 California earthquakes.
Who Coined the Term ‘Remote Sensing’?
While the origins of remote sensing can be traced to World War II's use of radar, sonar, and thermal detection technologies, the use of the term 'remote sensing' wasn't coined until the late 1950s.
Tracking Ocean Currents With Seabirds
A group of researchers wanted to test if drifting seabirds could offer a novel way of collecting data about sea current velocity and direction.
How This Remote Island Inhabited by Polar Bears Became Known as Landsat Island
Discovered in 1976 in imagery captured by Landsat 1, Landsat Island (60° 10' 37"N, 64° 02' 30"W) is solely populated by polar bears.
![Meandering river in Nyingchi, Tibet, China [view in Timelapse] (Image credit: Landsat / Copernicus*). Via: Google](https://www.geographyrealm.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Timelapse-Tibet_China.gif)
Update Google Earth Time Lapse
Google Earth has released a new time-lapse of the Earth, composed of over 5,000,000 satellite images.