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2017 REMOTE SENSING

EVENT TRAINING STRATEGIES


2016 SCIENCE OLYMPIAD SUMMER INSTITUTE
PHOENIX, AZ
ACTIVITY 1:
Complete the Pixel Drawing Worksheet using a pencil and
the red/blue pencils at your seat. Use the Key provided on
the worksheet.
PRESENTED BY:
Mark A. Van Hecke
East China, Michigan
Remote Sensing National Event Supervisor
2001-2011

mvanhecke@comcast.net
www.vanheckescience.com
DISCLAIMER:
This presentation was prepared using draft rules. There may be
some changes in the final copy of the rules. The rules which will
be in your 2017 Coaches Manual and Student Manuals will be the
official rules
2017 REMOTE SENSING
EVENT OVERVIEW
2017 EVENT OVERVIEW

Participants will use remote sensing


imagery, data, and computational
process skills to complete tasks
related to climate change processes
in the Earth system.
2017 EVENT OVERVIEW
Specific topics include:

Remote sensing instrumentation and physics


Interpretation of remote sensing images and data
sets from NASA A-Train satellites
Climate processes and climate change
Using, applying and interpreting the output of small-
scale models of planetary energy budget
YOU WILL NEED TO:
Teach students the basics of understanding how
satellite images are acquired, processed and interpreted

Learn what the A-train satellites are and how they work

Locate and acquire available resources


THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
2017 REMOTE SENSING
HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED
HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED
Satellite images are not photographs

Photograph Satellite Image


HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED
Photographs are taken from the visual portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum and are chemically registered on a sheet
of paper.
HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED
Satellite images are also acquired from the visual portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum- but may also be created from other
portions of the electromagnetic spectrum that are not visible to the
human eye.
HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED

Quite simply put,


remote sensing images
are acquired by the
reflection of
electromagnetic energy
from objects on the
surface of the Earth
onto sensors carried
aboard orbiting
satellites.
HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED
Differences in the reflectivity of objects viewed from Earths
surface are used to identify objects using remote sensing
techniques.

Sample Reflectance of Materials in Visible and Infrared Bands


HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED

Satellites are the vehicles used to carry the sensors that record
data into space.

Satellite Orbiting Earth Sensor Aboard Satellite


HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED
The sensor of a satellite observes just a small portion of the Earth
at a time in a square shaped area called a pixel.
HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED
Pixel sizes may vary from 5 meters to 1 Kilometer
HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED
For example, in the area of a given 20 meter pixel, different levels of
one or more bands of electromagnetic energy might be acquired.
HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED

For each pixel, the sensor


records the amount of
electromagnetic energy that
exists in one or more bands in
that location. This is the Digital
Number of the Pixel.
HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED
Satellites must scan large areas of the Earths surface within a
short period of time. The thousands of pixels that they acquire are
organized into rows.
HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED

These rows of pixels


with an electromagnetic
energy reading of each
are then transmitted to
a receiving station on
Earth.
HOW SATELLITE IMAGES ARE CREATED
Once received, these thousands of row of pixels are then organized
into a representation of an area of the Earth that is termed a scene.
ACTIVITY 2
Calculate the area of the lake in Drawing 2. Assume each pixel is 100
square meters. What percentage of the area of Drawing 2 is the
lake?
2017 REMOTE SENSING
IMAGE PROCESSING
IMAGE PROCESSING
Image processing refers to the activities
related to the manipulation of remote sensing
data into images that can be understood and
interpreted by end users.
IMAGE PROCESSING
Satellite images are processed by software similar to Adobe
Photoshop and Corel Paint in that they manipulate color and other
aspects of the image.
IMAGE PROCESSING
Monochromatic or black and white images are formed by assigning
white to pixels with the highest reflectance and black to pixels
having the lowest reflectance.
IMAGE PROCESSING
Shades of gray are used to portray different levels of reflectance
between black and white.
IMAGE PROCESSING
False-Color Composites (FCCs) may also be created by image
processors. In False-Color Composites, colors are assigned to
specific pixels.
IMAGE PROCESSING
In a False-Color Composite, the image processor may want to change
the color of the vegetation to green- which is what a particular end-
user would likely associate with plant life.

Natural NIR/SWIR NIR


2017 REMOTE SENSING
A-TRAIN SATELLITES
A-TRAIN SATELLITES
The A-Train or Afternoon Train of satellites crosses the Equator
in a northbound direction in formation around 1:30pm each day
A-TRAIN SATELLITES
In a False-Color Composite, the image processor may want to change
the color of the vegetation to green- which is what a particular end-
user would likely associate with plant life.
OCO (1:15 PM)
ORBITING CARBON OBSERVATORY
Studies carbon sources and sinks of carbon dioxide globally
AQUA (1:30 PM)
Studies information related to earths water cycle

Sensors include:

MODIS
Moderate Resolution Imaging
Spectrometer

AIRS
Atmospheric Infrared Sounder

HSB
Humidity Sounder for Brazil
CLOUD-SAT (1:31 PM)
Surveys cloud profiles and properties

Sensors include:

CPR
Cloud Profiling Radar
CALIPSO (1:31:15 PM)
Studies clouds and atmospheric aerosols

Sensors include:

CALIOP
Cloud Aerosol Lidar with
Orthogonal Polarization

IIR
Imaging Infrared Radiometer
PARASOL (1:33 PM)
Studies the radiative budget of the Earth

Sensors include:

POLDER
Polarization and Directionality
of the Earths Reflectances
AURA (1:38 PM)
Studies atmospheric changes

Sensors include:

HIRDLS
High Resolution Dynamics Limb
Sounder

MLS
Microwave Limb Sounder

OMI
Ozone Monitoring Instrument
A-TRAIN DATA
Sample A-Train data Hurricane Debbie 2006
2017 REMOTE SENSING
INTERPRETING SATELLITE IMAGES
INTERPRETING SATELLITE IMAGES
Interpretation of remote sensing images refers to the
identification and/or measurement of one or more Targets
(features) shown on an image
INTERPRETING SATELLITE IMAGES
Targets may be a point, line or area features.
INTERPRETING SATELLITE IMAGES
Targets may be natural or man-made (human) features
INTERPRETING SATELLITE IMAGES
Targets should be distinguishable from other features- that is in
contrast with other features in the image
INTERPRETING SATELLITE IMAGES
The characteristics of Targets that allow us to interpret them
include:
Tone
Texture
Shape
Size
Pattern
Association
INTERPRETING SATELLITE IMAGES

Tone is the fundamental element for


distinguishing between different
targets. Tone refers to the relative
color or brightness of a feature.
INTERPRETING SATELLITE IMAGES

Texture refers to the


arrangement and frequency of
tonal variations in particular
regions of a scene.
INTERPRETING SATELLITE IMAGES

Smooth textures show little


tonal variation.

Rough textures show a high


degree of tonal variation.
INTERPRETING SATELLITE IMAGES

Shape refers to the


general form, structure
or outline of a feature.
ACTIVITY 3:
DETERMINING SCALE AND DISTANCE

The size of an object


is a function of scale.
It is important to
assess the size of a
target relative to that
of others in a scene.
ACTIVITY 3:
DETERMINING SCALE AND DISTANCE

Use clues on your


Google Earth Image
of Richmond, Michigan
to determine the
distance from Point A
to Point B
INTERPRETING SATELLITE IMAGES
Pattern refers to the spatial arrangement of objects- often
indicated by an orderly repetition of certain tones and textures.

Farmland Reese MI French Long Lots East China, MI


INTERPRETING SATELLITE IMAGES

Association refers to
the relationship of the
target with other
features in the image.
CHANGE DETECTION
Forest/Agricultural

Brazil 1975 Brazil 1986 Brazil 2015


CHANGE DETECTION
Urban

Detroit LANDSAT/GIS 1975-1992 Detroit Vacant Land 2009


CHANGE DETECTION

Physical Landscape

Mt. St. Helens 1973 Mt. St. Helens 1983


CHANGE DETECTION
Meteorological

Tropical Storm Formation 2015


CHANGE DETECTION
Military
ACTIVITY 4:
Interpreting Weather Satellite Images
Much of the imagery that you will study in the Remote Sensing
Event will be from weather satellites
ACTIVITY 4:
Interpreting Weather Satellite Images
Use the scale shown below and on your Interpreting Weather
Satellite Image Worksheet to identify different cloud types
ACTIVITY 4:
Interpreting Weather Satellite Images
Briefly describe the weather found within the area of the Red,
Orange and yellow Circles
ACTIVITY 4:
Interpreting Weather Satellite Images
Next, identify the cold front and squall line according to the
directions given on your worksheet.
2017 REMOTE SENSING
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
The remote sensing event of 2017 will emphasize the use
of satellite and other forms of data associated with
weather and climate

Students should have a rudimentary understanding of how


remote sensing images are acquired and processed

Students should be able to identify and know the


capabilities of A-Train satellites

Students should have a proficient understanding of


how to read and interpret satellite imagery and other
remote sensing data
2017 REMOTE SENSING
RESOURCES
RESOURCES
2017 Remote Sensing Online Library
NASA Satellite Directory
2017 Science Olympiad Remote Sensing CD

Science Olympiad Wikis

My Remote Sensing
Pinterest Board
https://www.pinterest.co
m/markvanhecke/remote-
sensing/

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