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Thermal Remote Sensing

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12 views19 pages

Thermal Remote Sensing

Uploaded by

Marian
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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THERMAL REMOTE SENSING

Ankit Gupta
M.Tech GI & RS
is the branch of remote sensing
that deals with the acquisition, processing and interpretation of
data acquired primarily in the Thermal Infra Red (TIR) region of
the Electromagnetic (EM) spectrum.

In Thermal Remote Sensing we measure the radiations


from the surface of the target, as opposed to Optical Remote
Sensing where we measure the radiations by the
target under consideration.
All objects on the earth surface, emit some
.
In remote sensing the spectral region of 3 to 15 µm is popularly
called Thermal-Infrared.

Within the thermal infrared an excellent atmospheric window lies


between 8-14 µm wavelength.
Thus has been of greatest interest for
.

The Earth behaves overall as a blackbody with peak energy


emission at about wavelength.
How much energy is radiated, and at which wavelengths, depends
on the of the surface and on its
.

is the emitting ability of a real material compared to


that of a black body and also it is a spectral property that varies
with composition of material and geometric configuration of the
surface.

Emissivity denoted by epsilon (ε) is a ratio and varies between 0


and 1. For most natural materials, it ranges between 0.7 and 0.95.
Black body is a theoretical object that absorbs
and then emits all incident energy at all
wavelengths.

Needless to say, such an object is only


imaginary and no natural substance is an ideal
black body.
is the surface temperature of a
body/ground and is a measure of the amount of heat energy
contained in it.

It is measured in different units, such as in Kelvin (K); degrees


Centigrade (°C); degrees Fahrenheit (°F).

Factors Affecting the Kinetic Temperature:-

1. Heat energy includes factors such as solar heating, longwave


radiations, heat transfer at the earth-atmosphere interface
and active thermal sources such as fires, volcanoes etc.

2. Thermal properties of material include factors such as


thermal conductivity, specific heat, density, heat capacity,
thermal diffusivity and thermal inertia of the material
THERMAL SENSORS
 AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer), 1.1
and 4 km TIR bands.
 TIMS (Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner), Airborne, 6
bands.

1. Six discrete channels in the 8.2 to 12.2 micron region


2. Used to detect mineral signatures that permit the
discrimination of silicate and carbonate.
3. Extensively used in volcanology research in the western
United States, Hawaiian islands and Europe.
 ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and
Reflection Radiometer) on Terra, 5 bands 8.125-11.65 micron
range (14 total)
 LANDSAT

 Landsat 4 & 5 ; Band 6


10.4 – 12.5 µm
120 m

 Landsat 7 ; Band 6
10.4 – 12.5 µm
60 m

 Landsat 8 ; Band 10 (TIRS – 1)


10.6 – 11.19 µm
100m
; Band 11 (TIRS – 2)
11.50 m – 12.51 µm
100m
 Thermal imagers are typically across-track scanners that detect
emitted radiation in only the thermal portion of the spectrum.

 The data are generally recorded on film and/or magnetic tape


and the temperature of current sensors can reach 0.1 °C.

 For analysis, an image of relative radiant temperatures is


depicted in grey levels, with warmer temperatures shown in
light tones, and cooler temperatures in dark tones.

 Absolute temperature may be calculated but require accurate


calibration, measurement of the temperature references and
detailed knowledge of the thermal properties of the target.
 Thermal sensors generally have large IFOVs to ensure that
enough energy reaches the detector in order to make a
reliable measurement.

 Therefore the spatial resolution of thermal sensors is usually


fairly coarse, relative to the spatial resolution possible in the
visible and reflected infrared.

 Thermal imagery can be acquired during the day or night and


is used for a variety of applications such as military
reconnaissance, disaster management (forest fire mapping),
and heat loss monitoring.
APPLICATION
Thermal remote sensing reserves immense potential for various
applications.

• Identification of geological units and structures


• Soil moisture studies
• Hydrology
• Coastal zones
• Volcanology
• Forest fires
• Coal fires
• Seismology
• Environmental modelling
• Meteorology
• Medical sciences
• Early warming application
• Intelligence / military applications
•
Detecting and monitoring in Urban
areas is an excellent Application of Thermal Remote Sensing.

Thermal imaging in both residential and commercial areas allows


us to identify specific buildings, or parts of buildings, where heat
is escaping. If the amount of heat is significant, these areas can
be easily targeted.
ISSUES
Due to the fundamental difference between remote sensing in
the thermal infrared region and the other regions of the EM
spectrum, there are some peculiar issues for thermal remote
sensing.

Some of these relate to the mode:

1. Acquisition
2. Calibration
3. Level Slicing
4. Mixed group objects.
5. False Colour Composite
6. Moisture absorption in Atmosphere
7. Radiometric and Geometric Correction.
THANK YOU !

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