LESSON THREE: THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

3.1 Introduction
In this lesson, electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) and electromagnetic (EMR), with properties of EMR related
to wavelength broadly outlined. Emphasis is given to the visible light, one of the smallest portions of the
EMS. Also discussed in the lesson is the interaction of energy with the matter, and uses of remote sensors to
collect radiation. In particular, the interaction of EMR with the atmospheric constituents is extensively
covered. The lesson is concluded with a description of photographic films.

3.2 Objectives
By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:

a) Define Electromagnetic Spectrum

b) Describe the visible spectrum
c) Describe the types of interaction between energy and
matter
d) Discuss the effects of atmospheric constituents on radiation.
e) Describe two main types of photographic film.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

3.3.1 Introduction to Electromagnetic Spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) a wavelength continuum of electromagnetic radiation

as shown in figure 3.0. Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) the means by which
electromagnetic energy is propagated in the form of waves. EMR is a force field with
electric and magnetic properties, which can be generated or detected either naturally or
with special equipment. Visible light is EMR and constituents a very small portion of the
EMS, which also includes cosmic rays, gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet light, ____, infrared
light, thermal infrared, microwaves (radar), television waves, radio, and audio waves, in
that order (figure 3.0). Properties of EMR related to wavelength are:
  The shorter the wavelength the greater the energy,
 The shorter the wavelength, the greater the scatter and absorption, and
 The higher the temperature of an object the greater the total energy emitted.
 The interaction of energy with matter is wavelength dependent.

Visible light falls in the mid-portion of the spectrum and is detectable by most animals with their eyes. But it

can also be detected with cameras and other instruments. Generally, either special instruments or film are

necessary to detector or record the EMR in other portions of the spectrum, which most animals cannot

naturally see. However, some animals, notably certain poisonous snakes can sense infrared thermal energy

Naturally, the sun is the most obvious source of EMR in all wavelengths with the greatest
amount in visible range. In nuclear reactions and all the bodies with temperature above
absolute zero (0=-273C) do also generate EMR. Further, man has learned to generate
radiation artificially in almost all regions of the spectrum. Therefore, in this way, terrestrial
(ground) objects constitute important source of radiation, although in considerably
different spectral composition and magnitude from that of the sun.

3.3.2 The Visible Spectrum

This is the most widely used band/region of the EMS. This region is extremely small
because the spectral sensitively of human eye extends only between 0.4m and 0.7m
(figure 3.0). Although it is tiny portion of the EMS, the visible region does not only allow our
eyes as sensors, but do also let a variety of photographic imagery devices to record the
radiations.

The energy radiated through the visible light portion of the spectrum is known as white
light. It is a blend and can be physically separated by a prism into discrete components,
each with its own wavelength and color. Color results from the interaction of white light
with an object. More specifically, the color of an object is produced by the absorption and
reflection of different wavelength in the visible spectrum. A combination of various
amounts of blue, green and red light can form any color in the spectrum. These primary
colors are defined by a continuum, which run from 0.4 to 0.7 microns. For example:

 The color blue ranges from 0.4 to 0.5m.

 The color green ranges from 0.5 to 0.6m.
 The color red ranges from 0.6 to 0.7m.

Thus the key to creating color pigments is to obtain materials that reflect the desired wavelengths of the

visible light. The parts of the spectrum that man cannot see are at the extremes-UV “above” violet and near-

IR “below” red. IR means below.

The radiation adjoins the blue end of the visible of the EMS. Adjoining the red end of the
visible portion of the EMS is the infrared wave. At much longer wavelengths in the range
between 1mm to 1m is the microwave portion of the EMS.

In remote sensing, we deal with visible light, ultraviolet, infrared and microwave wavelengths of the EMS.
(A wavelength is the distance between two successive waves). Although an individual wavelength can be
sensed, the most common practice is to sense energy from a range wavelengths referred to as a band. The
wavelengths associated with a particular band share similar band share similar characteristics: for example,
all infrared band/wavelengths travel are reflected and are absorbed in a similar fashion. Therefore acquiring
information from a band requires:

 Developing a sensor that “reads” or gathers information exclusively from the band.
 Displaying the information in a form that can be interpreted.

3.3.3 Energy/Matter Interaction

When energy strikes an object, five types of interaction are possible (figure 3.1). The energy
is:

a) Transmitted, energy passes through with a change in velocity as determined by the

index of refraction for the two media in question.
 b) Absorbed, energy is given up to the object, generally in the form of heat although
other forms of energy such as light are possible.
c) Reflected, energy is returned unchanged with the angle of incidence equal to the
angle of reflection. Reflectance’s is the ration of reflected energy to the incident
energy on the body. The wavelength reflected determines the color of an object.
d) Scattered, the energy undergoes random change of direction.

e) Emitted, the energy is first absorbed and then re-radiated.

3.3.4 Sensors and The Spectrum

All remote sensors collect raw data in analog form and transform the data into a
more usable format. Figure 3.2 depicts the four basic components of any remote sensors
(system), which are:

 The collector, for example, lens and antennae.

 Detectors, for example, the photographic film.
 Signal processor, for example, the amplifier.
 Output, for example, the contact prints-photographs and strip charts.

Figure 3/1 Interactions of Electromagnetic Radiation and Matter.

3.5 Interaction of Electromagnetic Radiation with the Atmospheric Constituents

The same laws guide interaction of EMR with the atmosphere as EMR interaction
with a target, that is, reflection, absorption, scattering, or re-emission.

 The interaction of EMR and the atmosphere is wavelength dependent.

 Complete absorption takes place in the x-ray region because of the interaction of the
high-energy radiation and atmospheric matter.
 Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is strongly-often completely absorbed by atmospheric
gases, mainly by nitrogen, oxygen, and ozone. The breakdown of ozone layer (O)
poses possibly serious consequences.
ii) Mic Scattering exists when atmospheric particles diameter essentially equals the
wavelengths of the energy being sensed. Water vapor and dust particles are major
sources of Mic scattering.

iii) Non- Selective Scattering occurs when diameter of the scatter causing particles are
much larger than the energy wavelengths being sensed. Water droplets, which
commonly have diameters in the range of 5 to 100 microns, are major cause of non-
selective scattering. They scatter all the visible light and IR radiations about equally. In
the visible wavelengths, equal quantities of blue, green and red light are often scattered
indiscriminately, which results in fog and clouds appearing white in color.

b) Absorption. Absorption results in the effective loss of energy to atmospheric

constituents. This normally involves absorption of energy at given wavelengths (Figure
3.3) and thus resulting in certain wavelengths of radiation being affected far more by
absorption than by scattering. Radiation absorption is particularly common with regard
to infrared radiation and energy wavelengths, which are shorter than visible energy. The
most efficient absorbers of solar radiations are water vapor, carbon dioxide and ozone:
because these gases tend to absorb EM energy in specific wavelength bands, they
strongly influence “where we look” spectrally, when using any given image recording
system. These atmospheric regions through which energy of the desired wavelengths
can travel without significant absorption interference are commonly referred to as
atmospheric widows.

In other words, windows are places within the atmosphere where specific wavelengths pass through
virtually unimpeded. One of principal windows for transmission of data is located between 0.4 and 0.7
micrometer, which is the visible part of the spectrum. The window at 1 to 3 microns is used to explore
reflected IR energy. Another wavelength used window is located between 8 and 14 microns. It is used to
examine emitted IR energy, which is proportion to the heat of an object. Other lesser windows, which
are not transparent to energy transmission, are found scattered about the spectrum between the major
windows.
Although the atmosphere is a barrier to data transmission in the shorter wavelengths, its blocking effect does
benefits man/woman kind. If the shorter wavelengths, most living organisms would be adversely affected by
strong of UV, X-ray and gamma radiations.

3.4 Photographic Films

Films are usually made using several types of emulsions. Emulsions are light substances such as silver
chloride and bromide. They are normally used for coating plates, or papers that are sensitive to different
wavelengths of the EMS, each with its own spectral sensitivity.

Two types of films are commonly used in remote sensing:

 Panchromatic, and
 Infrared film

3.4.1 Panchromatic film

This is a film that is sensitive to all color portions of the visible part of the EMS, or simply all the
wavelengths of the visible spectrum. However, most air photographs are acquired by using Pan-minus blue
film. Pan-minus blue film refers to a panchromatic film exposed through green, yellow, orange and red
portions of the visible spectrum. In the process, the blue portion of the EMS is left out because it is scattered
more than the rest: thus blurring distinct impressions on the photographic images.

Color aerial photography is primarily panchromatic in that the entire visible spectrum is
represented and the resulting photography has approximately the same visible colors as it
exists in nature.

3.4.2 Infrared film

This is a film that is sensitive to violet, blue and red light of the visible spectrum in addition
to infrared. Infrared color film is sensitive to green, red, and near infrared wavelengths;
that is, the film is particularly sensitive within the EMS portion between 0.5m and 0.9m.
A major advantage of infrared photography is that fact that it penetrates haze better than
panchromatic photography.

Apart from ordinary infrared color photography, there is also color infrared (CIR)
sometimes referred to as camouflage detection. Unlike the ordinary color infrared, which
consists of three colored layers of blue, green and red, the CIR also consists of three layers,
but the blue sensitive layer is replaced by near infrared layer so that during photo-
processing, the true colors are also replaced by others such as:

 Green is replaced by blue.

 Red is replaced by green.
 Infrared is replaced by red.

In such circumstances, vegetation that normally appears green will appear red on the film.
Unhealthy or disturbed vegetation will appear blue-green (cyan). This constitutes the basis
for camouflage detection property in the CIR film on the principle of which it is commonly
referred to as false color photography, because colors in the final image do not correspond
to the natural colors.

False color photography was developed for military purposes to detect and pierce the
natural camouflage. During World War II, when CIR was developed, targets camouflaged to
appear green in forests could easily be detected because disturbed vegetation could poorly
reflect the infrared energy. Thus objects that were painted green to look like vegetation
would normally have low infrared reflectance and appeared cyan on the film and therefore
easy to locate. For example, shades of cyan in an area of red coloration normally meant a
sign of human disturbance in the form of military camps and equipment.
3.5 Summary

 The electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) is a wavelength continuum of the

electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The EMR is the means by which electromagnetic
energy is propagated in the form of waves.
 The EMS constitutes visible light, x-rays, comic rays, ultraviolet radiation, television
waves, microwaves (radar), infrared waves and audio waves.
 While human and other animals’ eyes can detect the visible light, the other portions
of the EMS can only be sensed by use of special sensors.
 The sun is the most obvious source of EMR, with a small portion being generated by
nuclear reactions and all other bodies with temperatures above absolute zero.
 The visible light is the most widely used band of the EMS. Although it is a tiny portion
of EMS, the visible region not only permits our eyes to sense but do also let a variety
of photographic and imagery devices to record vision.
 The visible light, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation and microwaves are the most
important portions of the EMS used for remote sensing.
 Transmission, absorption, scattering, reflection and emission are five different types
of interaction when energy strikes an object. The atmospheric effects on radiation
are mainly caused by scattering and absorption.
 Three types of scattering: Mic and non-selective are recognized.
 Absorption of energy takes place at certain wavelengths and thus resulting in some
wavelengths of radiation affected far more by absorption than scattering.
 Atmospheric windows are regions through which energy of the desired wavelengths
travel without significant interference.
 Panchromatic and infrared are two types of films commonly used in remote sensing.