Remote Sensing C

[Sean_Sylvester1]

Awesome!

Describe the difference between along track and across track scanning, and give the more informal names of these types of scanning for an extra point.

Along track (push broom) scanning works like a crop duster, it scans a wide swath of terrain and moves unilaterally

Across track (whisk broom) scanning works like an inkjet printer, it scans a line across using an oscillating mirror, then back, all at a slight skew so that the images overlap and can be stitched into one image.

[hearthstone224]

Awesome!

Describe the difference between along track and across track scanning, and give the more informal names of these types of scanning for an extra point.

Along track (push broom) scanning works like a crop duster, it scans a wide swath of terrain and moves unilaterally

Across track (whisk broom) scanning works like an inkjet printer, it scans a line across using an oscillating mirror, then back, all at a slight skew so that the images overlap and can be stitched into one image.

Sounds right to me! Your turn.

[Sean_Sylvester1]

BREAKING NEWS! A wildfire has been spotted near the Wright State University campus! The fire has spread rapidly and no one is quite sure how big it is. Luckily we have a solution up in space. What instrument, on what vessel would be used to measure the size of this fire? How does this instrument work. If we were to record the images today, then at what time (UTC) would the vessel need to begin scanning to pick up the region around Wright State?

[hearthstone224]

Um, I really don't know any of these although I'll still give it a shot.

Here goes:

You will need MODIS (my logic is that it can measure cloud cover and CO2 concentration) and you can use Terra. You would want it to fly there ASAP, so assuming right now it would be 6:38 PM UTC.

[Sean_Sylvester1]

Um, I really don't know any of these although I'll still give it a shot.

Here goes:

You will need MODIS (my logic is that it can measure cloud cover and CO2 concentration) and you can use Terra. You would want it to fly there ASAP, so assuming right now it would be 6:38 PM UTC.

Yep! Spot on, that was a tough one. So basically to figure out the time you'd need to start scanning at, you look at the predicted flight paths and that gives you a time of 16:09 UTC. Your turn!

[hearthstone224]

I got it? Wow ok, that's awesome.

My question:

What are the A-Train satellites and what do they do?

[Sean_Sylvester1]

I got it? Wow ok, that's awesome.

My question:

What are the A-Train satellites and what do they do?

The A-Train satellites are a series of six (originally seven) remsens that work in conjunction to compile meteorological data. They travel as a group and thus can form composite images between sensors. The satellites are

Aqua - studies the water cycle as well as volcanoes and wildfires

Aura - studies ozone, air quality, and climate

Calipso - high res vertical profiles of clouds and aerosols

Cloud Sat - radar sat which measures cloud altitude and properties

OCO-2 - measures CO2 levels

GCOM-W1 - the water cycle

[Xuax]

No one has posted for a few weeks, so I'll start this back up.

What type of instrument is CERES, and what is CERES used for?

[Ragoat66]

No one has posted for a few weeks, so I'll start this back up.

What type of instrument is CERES, and what is CERES used for?

Ceres is a passive sensor that measures cloud properties and radiative energy flux.

[Xuax]

No one has posted for a few weeks, so I'll start this back up.

What type of instrument is CERES, and what is CERES used for?

Ceres is a passive sensor that measures cloud properties and radiative energy flux.

That's right, but I would include that CERES is a radiometer and has two scanning modes: Cross-track or rotating plane. Your turn.