563
Synonymy Multiple scientific names are applied to the same taxon; this can happen when multiple taxonomists describe the same taxon or when phylogenetic
relationships are newly resolved. When a scientific name is updated, the prior
names are called synonyms.
Surface emissivity The effectiveness of the surface of a body in emitting energy
as electromagnetic radiation. Ranges from 0 to 1 (blackbody that emits perfectly).
Swath The width of Earth surface that an airborne or satellite sensor samples as
it moves.
Tachymeter, geodetic Terrestrial surveying instrument providing locations with
millimeter precision.
Taxon (plural taxa) A general term for a named set of organisms. The term typically applies to a species (e.g., Quercus alba) or a higher group, such as a genus
(e.g., Quercus), family (e.g., Fagaceae), or major lineage (e.g., angiosperms).
Taxonomic diversity Measurements that incorporate the number of distinct species or higher-level taxa and/or abundances of those taxa. The variability in species or taxonomic groups present. See also species richness.
Taxonomic group A named clade: a set of organisms all descended from one
ancestor.
Taxonomy A system of naming; typically in this volume, the way organisms are
named. Much of biology uses a taxonomy derived from the system developed
by Linnaeus that groups organisms hierarchically according to species, genera,
families, and higher-order classifications.
Temporal domain related to time or timing of a process or measurement. See
also temporal scale.
Temporal scale refers to data or measurement in the time domain and characterized by properties such as the timespan, duration, period, or repeat frequency of
a measurement.
Terra/aqua NASA’s Earth-observing satellites launched in 1999 and 2002 that
carry a variety of instruments and having different equatorial crossing times
(morning and afternoon, respectively). For example, the MODIS instrument on
each satellite platform images the entire Earth every 1–2 days and is the basis
for long-term records of vegetation process at broad scales (250–1000 m pixels).
Texture Smoothness or roughness of the surface of an object.
Thematic classification The process of assigning discrete categories, types, or
classes to each pixel in a continuous raster image.
Thermal remote sensing Remote sensing of temperature effects carried out by
sensing radiation emitted from materials in the thermal infrared region of the
spectrum. Most thermal sensing of solids and liquids occurs in two atmospheric
windows where absorption is a minimum. The windows normally used are in
the 3–5 μm (middle infrared, important for detection of fire) and 8–14 μm wavelength regions.
TIMESAT A software package for analyzing time series of satellite data.
Tomography Imaging by sections or sectioning through an object or scene by the
use of any kind of penetrating wave.
Glossary
Synonymy Multiple scientific names are applied to the same taxon; this can happen when multiple taxonomists describe the same taxon or when phylogenetic
relationships are newly resolved. When a scientific name is updated, the prior
names are called synonyms.
Surface emissivity The effectiveness of the surface of a body in emitting energy
as electromagnetic radiation. Ranges from 0 to 1 (blackbody that emits perfectly).
Swath The width of Earth surface that an airborne or satellite sensor samples as
it moves.
Tachymeter, geodetic Terrestrial surveying instrument providing locations with
millimeter precision.
Taxon (plural taxa) A general term for a named set of organisms. The term typically applies to a species (e.g., Quercus alba) or a higher group, such as a genus
(e.g., Quercus), family (e.g., Fagaceae), or major lineage (e.g., angiosperms).
Taxonomic diversity Measurements that incorporate the number of distinct species or higher-level taxa and/or abundances of those taxa. The variability in species or taxonomic groups present. See also species richness.
Taxonomic group A named clade: a set of organisms all descended from one
ancestor.
Taxonomy A system of naming; typically in this volume, the way organisms are
named. Much of biology uses a taxonomy derived from the system developed
by Linnaeus that groups organisms hierarchically according to species, genera,
families, and higher-order classifications.
Temporal domain related to time or timing of a process or measurement. See
also temporal scale.
Temporal scale refers to data or measurement in the time domain and characterized by properties such as the timespan, duration, period, or repeat frequency of
a measurement.
Terra/aqua NASA’s Earth-observing satellites launched in 1999 and 2002 that
carry a variety of instruments and having different equatorial crossing times
(morning and afternoon, respectively). For example, the MODIS instrument on
each satellite platform images the entire Earth every 1–2 days and is the basis
for long-term records of vegetation process at broad scales (250–1000 m pixels).
Texture Smoothness or roughness of the surface of an object.
Thematic classification The process of assigning discrete categories, types, or
classes to each pixel in a continuous raster image.
Thermal remote sensing Remote sensing of temperature effects carried out by
sensing radiation emitted from materials in the thermal infrared region of the
spectrum. Most thermal sensing of solids and liquids occurs in two atmospheric
windows where absorption is a minimum. The windows normally used are in
the 3–5 μm (middle infrared, important for detection of fire) and 8–14 μm wavelength regions.
TIMESAT A software package for analyzing time series of satellite data.
Tomography Imaging by sections or sectioning through an object or scene by the
use of any kind of penetrating wave.
Glossary