Search results
There are three main components to opacity in the Earth's atmosphere at visible wavelengths. These are: Rayleigh scattering of light by atoms and molecules. This affects light of all wavelengths, but has a $\lambda^{-4}$ dependence, so is strongest in the blue/UV. Aerosol scattering caused by particulates and dust in the atmosphere. This ...
- Overview
- Electromagnetic Energy
- Sun & Atmosphere
- Beyond our Atmosphere
This article is about the Electromagnetic energy and its uses. It explains how electromagnetic energy travels in waves, spans a broad spectrum from radio waves to gamma rays, and how NASA's scientific instruments use it to study the Earth, solar system and universe beyond. The article also mentions that our atmosphere protects us from exposure to h...
Electromagnetic energy travels in waves and spans a broad spectrum from very long radio waves to very short gamma rays. When you tune your radio, watch TV, send a text message, or pop popcorn in a microwave oven, you are using electromagnetic energy. You depend on this energy every hour of every day. Without it, the world you know could not exist.
The Earth's atmosphere protects us from exposure to harmful higher-energy waves that can be ionizing and cause damage to cells in organic matter but is not helpful when studying sources of high-energy radiation in space as instruments have to be positioned above Earth's atmosphere.
NASAspacecraft provide scientists with a unique vantage point helping them "see" at higher-energy wavelengths that are blocked by the Earth's protective atmosphere while some microwaves can even pass through clouds making them best for transmitting satellite communication signals.
The last important thing that happens to electromagnetic radiation as it passes through the atmosphere is that it is partially absorbed by atmospheric gasses (mostly H 2 O, CO 2 and O 3). While the energy absorbed is ultimately re-emitted by these gas molecules, the re-emission happens at wavelengths typically outside the spectrum considered in optical remote sensing (but which may be ...
The last important thing that happens to electromagnetic radiation as it passes through the atmosphere is that it is partially absorbed by atmospheric gasses (mostly H 2 O, CO 2 and O 3). While the energy absorbed is ultimately re-emitted by these gas molecules, the re-emission happens at wavelengths typically outside the spectrum considered in optical remote sensing (but which may be ...
Interactions with the Atmosphere. Before radiation used for remote sensing reaches the Earth's surface it has to travel through some distance of the Earth's atmosphere. Particles and gases in the atmosphere can affect the incoming light and radiation. These effects are caused by the mechanisms of scattering and absorption.
The atmospheric window applies to wavelengths of light at which electromagnetic radiation from the sun will penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere. Remote sensing not only takes advantage of the visible spectrum (red, green, and blue) but also non-visible light. This is why engineers keep in mind the atmospheric windows in the design process.
An atmospheric window is a region of the electromagnetic spectrum that can pass through the atmosphere of Earth. The optical, infrared and radio windows comprise the three main atmospheric windows. [2] The windows provide direct channels for Earth's surface to receive electromagnetic energy from the Sun, and for thermal radiation from the ...
