Remote Sensing Hydrosphere - North Carolina Science Olympiad

October 8, 2011 

DIVISION C 

NC Science Olympiad 

Oct 2011-12 Coaches Institute 

Remote Sensing 

Hydrosphere 

Remote sensing is the 

collection of information 

about the surface of the 

Earth and its atmosphere 

by detecting reflected or 

emitted electromagnetic 

radiation from sensors 

aboard airplanes and 

satellites. 

rshighberg@bellsouth.net


Remote Sensing-Hydrospere 

2011-12 

event rules 

NC Science Olympiad Oct 2011 Coaches Institute 



DIVISION C 



2011-12 Remote Sensing 

WHAT THE 2011-12 EVENT WILL NOT BE ABOUT 

In North Carolina Tournaments, students are not expected to study all the 

science related to the Earth’s Hydrosphere. 

For instance, for impacts to coral reefs, students are not expected to 

know marine biology. That is left to the Oceanography event. For changes in 

ice caps & glaciers, students are not expected to know the science behind 

glaciers. That is left to the Dynamic Planet event. 

WHAT THE 2011-12 EVENT WILL BE ABOUT 

The North Carolina remote sensing event will focus on how remote 

sensing satellites and sensors help scientists and planners to gather and 

analyze data related to their particular specialties related to Earth’s 

Hydrosphere. Such specialties include; oceanography, meteorology, 

agriculture, hydrology, flood control, glaciology, etc. 

Remote sensing is particularly good at detecting (1) changes over time, 

(2) Ice, snow, and/or cloud cover for vast areas at the same time, (3) data 

on Inaccessible areas, and using wavelengths beyond the visible light 

that our eyes cannot see. 

The event is about the WHAT, the HOW, and the WHY for information 

obtained by remote sensors related to the Earth’s Hydrosphere. 

Slide 3 



DIVISION C 



TECHNICAL STUFF ... the BLACK MAGIC part 

2011-12 Remote Sensing 

WHERE ON THE EARTH IS THAT Students should be familiar with various 

geographic coordinate systems used to locate images, how to translate these into 

distances, how to determine and use image scales 

HOW IN SPACE DID WE OBTAIN THAT Students should be familiar with NASA’s 

earth resources satellites, basic science objectives, orbits, sensor systems used to detect 

and observe the hydrosphere, and electro-magnetic spectrum’s interaction with the 

atmosphere and earth surface. 

HOW ON EARTH DID THAT PRETTY IMAGE COME FROM ONES AND ZEROS 

Students should be familiar with the basics of digital image processing. 

APPLICATION STUFF ... the SCIENCE part 

OBSERVABLE CHANGES (IMPACTS) 

IN THE ENVIRONMENT 

FLOOD EVENTS; TSUNAMIS; STORM EVENTS 

AGRICULTURAL USE OF WATER 

DAM BUILDING - RESERVOIRS 

SHRINKING LAKES; CHANGING SEA LEVEL 

ICECAP THICKNESSES, GLACIAL RETREAT AND 

CALVING; SNOW COVER; CLOUD COVER 

OCEAN PRODUCTIVITY, TEMPERATURE, HEIGHT 

HUMAN ACTIONS & 

REACTIONS 

CITIES IN THE DESERT 

AGRICULTURE 

OCEAN POLLUTION, 

CLIMATE CHANGE – SEVERE STORMS 

DAMMING RIVERS, 

WATER DIVERSIONS 

Slide 4 


DIVISION C 


OCT 2011-12 Coaches Institute 


Remote Sensing of Earth’s Hydrosphere 

∙ Earth Resource missions (currently operational) 

∙ Sensor systems and characteristics applicable to water on earth’s 

surface and atmosphere 

∙ Internet-accessible satellite images and scientific studies 

•Student understanding of the science … 

Water in all its states (solid, liquid and gas) can be observed 

directly and/or indirectly from orbital platforms 

Mapping and Remote Sensing Basics 

∙ Examples of Remote Sensing 

∙ Maps, coordinates, scales, measurements and proportions 

∙ Aerial Photography ... focal length and altitude ratios 

∙ Electromagnetic spectrum ... capturing and counting photons 

∙ Converting data to visual images (RGB) 

∙ Atmospheric Windows ... absorption and scattering effects 

∙ Passive and Active systems 

∙ Sensor Resolution ... spatial, spectral and temporal 

∙ Getting the most from the data ... digital signal enhancement 


Slide5 


DIVISION C 




What’s the next part of this presentation 

NASA / ESA Earth Resources Satellite Missions 

Where to find this information 

Sensor Systems carried onboard 


Images and Science from Internet-accessible NASA collections 


The type of information a student will be expected to determine 

from her/his evaluation of satellite images 


Slide 6 


DIVISION C 




Remote Sensing of Land Use 

INTERNET PORTALS 

NASA Earth Satellite Programs 

Earth Observing Sysem 

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/index.html 

http://mpfwww.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/log/ 

http://nasascience.nasa.gov/earth-science/mission_list 

http://mpfwww.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/ 

Satellites 

IMAGE Collections 

Scientific Feature Articles 

http://nasascience.nasa.gov/missions 

http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/ 

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/ 

NC Science Olympiad Coaches Institute 

This Coaches Institute presentation will be posted on the NCSO webpage 


Slide 7 


DIVISION C 


2011-12 Coaches Institute 


Earth Observing System 

LANDSAT 7 http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 

QuickSCAT 

TERRA http://terra.nasa.gov/ 

JASON-1 

AQUA http://aqua.nasa.gov/ 

SEAWINDS 

ICESat http://icesat.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 

AURA http://aura.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 

OSTM 

TRMM http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov 

EARTH OBSERVING-1 (EO-1) 

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ostm/main/index.html 

http://eo1.gsfc.nasa.gov 

http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 

http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/mission_profiles/show_mission_list.phpid=2 


Slide 8 


ETM+ 

(Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus) 

DIVISION C 




LANDSAT-7 

http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/ http://landsathandbook.gsfc.nasa.gov/handbook/handbook_toc.html 

http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/mission_profiles/show_mission.phpid=33 


Slide 9 


DIVISION C 




TERRA 

ASTER 

(Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) 

CERES 

(Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System) 

MISR 

(Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer) 

MODIS 

(Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) 

MOPITT 

(Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere) 



Slide 10 


DIVISION C 

AQUA 




AIRS 

(Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) 

AMSR 

(Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer) 

AMSU-A 

(Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A) 

CERES 

(Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System) 

HSB 

(Humidity Sounder for Brazil) 

MODIS 

(Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ) 

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/aqua/index.html 



Slide 11 


DIVISION C 




EARTH OBSERVING – 1 

(EO-1) 

ALI 

(Advanced Land Imager ) 

Hyperion 

(Hyperion Hyperspectral Imager ) 

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/aqua/index.html 



Slide 12 


DIVISION C 




MODIS ... (Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) 

http://modarch.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 

ASTER ... (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) 

http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/ 

CERES ... (Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System) 

http://science.larc.nasa.gov/ceres/index.html 

MISR ... (Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer) 

http://www-misr.jpl.nasa.gov/ 

MOPITT ... (Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere) 

http://mopitt.eos.ucar.edu/mopitt/ 

H2O SENSORS FLOWN ON TERRA 



Slide 13 


DIVISION C 




Satellite Altimetry 

http://www.aviso.oceanobs.com/en/missions/index.html 


Slide 14 


DIVISION C 




TOPEX-POSEIDON 

OSTM-JASON 1 & 2 

http://topex-www.jpl.nasa.gov/overview/overview.html 

http://topex-www.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/mission.html 

http://topex-www.jpl.nasa.gov/technology/instrument.html 


Slide 15 


DIVISION C 




•Precipitation Radar (PR) 

TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) 

•Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) 

•Cloud and Earth Radiant Energy Sensor (CERES) 

•Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) 

http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 


Slide 16 


Slide 17

DIVISION C 




Orbital Information from heavens-above.com 

http://www.heavens-above.com/selectsat.asplat=40.015&lng=-105.270&loc=Boulder&alt=1646&tz=MST 

Orbit: 701 x 703 km, 98.2° 

Polar, Sun-synchronous 


Slide 18 


DIVISION C 




Image Collection Portal ... 

http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/ 


Slide 19 


DIVISION C 


2011 Coaches Institute 


Earth Observatory Features ... http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/ 


Slide 20 


DIVISION C 




Earth Observatory Features ... 


Irrigation in Turkey 

There are many feature articles 

on the Earth Observatory site 

dealing with satellite remote 

sensing related to the Earth’s 

Hydrosphere and the potential 

relationships with … carbon 

cycle, global climate change, 

dams and diversions, 

agriculture, land use changes, 

urbanization, resource 

extraction, polar ice cover, 

yearly snowpack, severe storm 

events (hurricanes), etc. 


Slide 21 


DIVISION C 


2011 Coaches Institute 


Earth Observatory Features ... http://terra.nasa.gov/ 

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/IceMoving/ 

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/ArcticReflector/ 


http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/HighWater/ 

Slide 22 


DIVISION C 




Earth Observatory Features ... 



Slide 23 


Temporal 

Comparisons 

DIVISION C 




Amazon Deforestation … 2000 to 2009 

Students may (1) determine image scales (2) measure distances and areas 

(km, square km), (3) make quantitative and qualitative assessments, 

(4) comment on technologies used to obtain and calibrate the images, etc. 

City Lights 

Bolivian Agriculture 

City Lights 


Slide 24 


DIVISION C 

NC Science Olympiad 2011-12 Coaches Institute 


Remote Sensing Image Scale Tutorial 

… see NCSO Resource Page 

Using PROPORTIONS to determine the unknown 

scale of an enlarged or reduced image from an 

original image with a known scale 

ORIGINAL IMAGE 

Scale 1 : 296,000 

(Step 1) Set up equivalence between original and reduced 

images 

(12.5 cm) x (296,000) = (7 cm) X (unknown scale) 

(Step 2) Solve for the unknown scale 

(unknown scale = (12.5 cm X 296,000) / (7 cm) 

(Step 3) Solve for the unknown scale 

unknown scale = 528,571 

(Step 4) The non-dimensional scale of the reduced image is ... 

1 : 528,571 

(Step 5) Is the computed scale logical YES 

37 KM 

Real World 

12.5 cm 

in image 

7 cm 

in image 


51 KM 

Real World 

NOTE: measurements in this sample calculation will not match those from your printout due the size of paper you’ve printed, or automatic 

shrinking/stretching accomplished by your software and/or printer. Original was 11x17. Presentation is 8-1/2x11. 

Slide 25 

REDUCED IMAGE 


DIVISION C 





∙ Examples of Remote Sensing – discuss differences between in situ 

and remote “sensing” ... at a distance 

electromagmetic radiation (sight) 

physical vibrations (sound) 

∙ Instruments used for Remote Sensing – discuss how we “capture” 

and interpret remotely sensed data 

instruments used 

means for transmitting data 

interpretation of data 


Slide 26 


DIVISION C 


Oct 201112 Coaches Institute 



∙ Maps, coordinates, scales, measurements and proportions 

Discussion of maps, coordinate systems and scales 

English and metric scales 

Coordinate grids ... Cartesian, Geographic, UTM 

Problem: determine coordinates of a feature on a map. 

Problem: determine dimensionless map scale 

Problem: convert a map measurement to a real distance 

Problem: proportion measurements from map to image 


Slide 27 


DIVISION C 





Geographic Coordinate System 

Familiar Latitude and Longitude 

LATITUDE ... 0-90 degrees north and south of Equator 

Latitude - distance per degree is constant globally 

LONGITUDE ... 0-180 degrees east and west of Prime Meridian 

Longitude - distance per degree is NOT constant globally 

Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) 

Distances in METERS north of Equator and north of South Pole 

Southern Hemisphere starts at 10,000,000 m 

Distances in METERS east of “false” baseline 

500,000 m EASTING at center of ZONE 

60 Zones worldwide, each 6-degrees wide 

Right-angle system allows direct computation of distances in zone 


Slide 28 


DIVISION C 





∙ Aerial Photography ... focal length and altitude ratios 

Discussion of focal length, film/sensor dimensions and relationship to 

distances on the ground 

Diagram showing focal ratios. 

Problem: determine ground frame width of an aerial photo 

(use examples of 9x9 negatives) 

Problem: determine altitude needed for a scaled photo 

(use examples of 9x9 negatives) 

Discussion of proportionality relationships and scale ratios for digital sensor 

systems with the PIXEL as the smallest unit of data capture 


Slide 29 


DIVISION C 




http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect10/Sect10_1.html 


Slide 30 


DIVISION C 





∙ Electromagnetic spectrum ... capturing and counting photons 

Discussion of energy versus wavelength; gamma, x-ray, UV, visible, IR, and 

radio waves. 

E-M Spectrum Diagrams 

Discussion of analog (film) and digital data collection; multi-spectral versus 

frequency-specific data capture 

Discussion of “visualizations” of data, and false color images 

Color Infrared RGB (red, green, blue) assignments 


Slide 30 


DIVISION C 





Slide 31 


DIVISION C 





▪ Absorption and scattering effects ... 

http://ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/resource/tutor/fundam/chapter1/04_e.php 

Mie scattering, Raleigh scattering, non-selective scattering 

absorption 

Relationship between wavelength and particle/molecule size 

∙ Atmospheric Windows ... 

Restricts wavelengths available for remote sensing use 

Visible, Near IR, Short Wave IR, Far (thermal IR), Radio 

Function of atmospheric composition and density 


Slide 32 


DIVISION C 





Slide 33 


DIVISION C 





▪ Passive Sensor Systems ... 

Discuss energy sources for passive systems 

Discuss energy levels (radiometric resolution) 

Affects time available for data acquisition 

Affected by atmospheric effects (moisture, cloud cover) 

∙ Active Sensor Systems ... 

RADAR 

LIDAR 

Can choose penetrating wavelengths to see through clouds 

Requires higher power level onboard sensor platform 

Can “see” during the dark side of polar orbits 



Slide 34 


DIVISION C 





▪ Sensor Resolutions ... Big tradeoff in mission design. 

Increasing one usual decreases another 

“Juggling” diagram 

Discuss the various sensor resolutions and how they vary 

Spatial ... Limiting object size 

Spectral ... Frequency discrimination 

Radiometric ... range of values, gray levels 

Temporal ... Revisit frequency 

Diagrams with digital sensor arrays and pixels 

▪ Scanner Systems ... Cross Track ... Along Track 

Diagram with scanner types 

▪ Orbits and Swaths ... Cross Track ... Along Track 

Diagram with orbital paths 



Slide 35 


DIVISION C 





Slide 36 


DIVISION C 




Pixels detect light intensity as shades of gray. 

Filters limit the wavelengths coming in to each detector 

Panchromatic 

Visible Light 

http://hosting.soonet.ca/eliris/remotesensing/bl130lec10.html 


Slide 37 


DIVISION C 




Image 

Type 

8-bit 

image 

16-bit 

image 

Pixel Value 

2 8 = 256 0-255 

Color 

Levels 

2 16 = 65536 0-65535 

24-bit 

image 

2 24 = 

16777216 

0- 

16777215 

2-bit image 

4 gray levels 

8-bit image 

256 gray levels 



Slide 38 


DIVISION C 




Whiskbroom Scanner 

Pushbroom Scanner 


Slide 39 


DIVISION C 




Near-polar, Sun Synchronous Orbit 



Slide 40 


DIVISION C 





▪ Getting the most from the data ... digital signal enhancement 

Diagrams and Images for “stretch” example and false color 

Problem: determine min and max values for 2-bit and 8-bit 

processors 

Problem: determine gray levels for 6-bit processor 

Problem: what wavelengths are usually combined for 

“Color Infra-Red” images 

Discuss comparison with Ansel Adams’ ZONE SYSTEM for black and 

white film photography 



Slide 41 


DIVISION C 




Linear Contrast Stretch 

R-G-B 

False 

Color 

Image 

Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 


Slide 42 


DIVISION C 





Canada Center For Remote Sensing 

Fundamentals of Remote Sensing Tutorial 


Digital Images and Digital Analysis Techniques Tutorial 

http://ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/resource/tutor/digitech/index_e.php 

Glossary of Remote Sensing Terms 

http://ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/glossary/index_e.php 

NASA Remote Sensing Tutorial 

http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Front/tofc.html 

http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Intro/Part2_1.html 


http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Intro/Part2_5a.html 






Slide 43

Remote Sensing Hydrosphere - North Carolina Science Olympiad

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