Applications of Remote Sensing in Environment

What is Remote Sensing in Environment

Remote sensing in environment is a general term for using various remote sensing technologies to monitor, evaluate, and forecast dynamic changes in natural and social environments. It mainly obtains remote sensing images of environmental pollution through photography and scanning methods. The principle is to use optical, electronic, or electro-optical remote sensing instruments to receive electromagnetic wave signals reflected or radiated by the measured object from high altitude or long distance, process them into identifiable images or computer-readable recording tapes, to reveal the shape, type, properties, and changes of environments such as the atmosphere, land, and ocean. 

The application of remote sensing technology in the environmental field is mainly reflected in macro environmental quality and ecological monitoring over large areas, with relatively extensive applications in atmospheric environmental quality, water body environmental quality, and other aspects.

Applications of Remote Sensing in Environment

Atmospheric Environment

Remote sensing investigations of the atmospheric environment mainly refer to the use of remote sensing methods to investigate the distribution of atmospheric pollution sources, the diffusion conditions around the pollution sources, and the diffusion impact range of pollutants, supplemented by a small amount of ground synchronous monitoring data, to quantitatively analyze the gradient changes in pollutant concentration. Nowadays, it has applications in pollution sources, pollutant quantification, trace gas components, aerosols, and hazardous atmospheric monitoring.

Water Body Environment

In terms of monitoring water environment quality, remote sensing in environment mainly analyzes remote sensing images to obtain information on the distribution of water bodies, sediment, organic matter, chemical pollution, and elements such as water depth and water temperature, thereby evaluating water resources and water environment for an area. This provides decision support for departments such as environment, water conservancy, transportation, and shipping. Using environmental remote sensing technology, the type, location distribution, and pollution range of water body pollution sources can be quickly monitored. The spectral characteristics of water bodies and their pollutants are the basis for using remote sensing information to monitor and evaluate the water environment. It is mainly applied in monitoring water body eutrophication, suspended solids, oil pollution, and thermal pollution.

In summary, with the growth of the population and the development and utilization of resources, natural and social environments are constantly changing. Humans can utilize the features of remote sensing in environment such as multi-temporal, short cycles, macroscopic view, objectivity, and convenience to quickly provide reliable bases for environmental monitoring, evaluation, and forecasting. This promotes sustainable and harmonious development of our planet while saving human, material, and financial resources.