Chapter 11
Thermal and Radar Overview
Scott F. Heron, Malcolm L. Heron and William G. Pichel
Abstract This chapter presents an overview of the remote sensing technologies
that measure sea surface temperature (SST) based on emitted radiation (passive
sensors), as well as the suite of properties that are measured using transmitting
radar systems (active sensors). Remote sensing of these parameters is undertaken
using the infrared, microwave and radio-wave regions of the electromagnetic
spectrum. The overview describes the underlying physics for each remote sensing
technique, presents issues that influence the acquisition of various parameters, and
describes the environmental variables that can be monitored. Chapters 12 and 13
then describe the applications for coral reefs of thermal and radar remote sensing,
respectively.
S. F. Heron (&)
Coral Reef Watch, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
675 Ross River Rd, Townsville, Queensland 4817, Australia
e-mail: scott.heron@noaa.gov
S. F. Heron
Marine Geophysical Laboratory, Physics Department, School of Engineering and Physical
Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
M. L. Heron
Marine Geophysical Laboratory, School of Environmental and Earth Sciences,
James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
e-mail: mal.heron@ieee.org
M. L. Heron
Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
W. G. Pichel
Center for Satellite Applications and Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, NCWCP, E/RA3, Room 3229, 5830 University Research Ct,
College Park, MD 30740-3818, USA
e-mail: william.g.pichel@noaa.gov
J. A. Goodman et al. (eds.), Coral Reef Remote Sensing,
DOI: 10.1007/978-90-481-9292-2_11,
Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
285
Thermal and Radar Overview
Scott F. Heron, Malcolm L. Heron and William G. Pichel
Abstract This chapter presents an overview of the remote sensing technologies
that measure sea surface temperature (SST) based on emitted radiation (passive
sensors), as well as the suite of properties that are measured using transmitting
radar systems (active sensors). Remote sensing of these parameters is undertaken
using the infrared, microwave and radio-wave regions of the electromagnetic
spectrum. The overview describes the underlying physics for each remote sensing
technique, presents issues that influence the acquisition of various parameters, and
describes the environmental variables that can be monitored. Chapters 12 and 13
then describe the applications for coral reefs of thermal and radar remote sensing,
respectively.
S. F. Heron (&)
Coral Reef Watch, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
675 Ross River Rd, Townsville, Queensland 4817, Australia
e-mail: scott.heron@noaa.gov
S. F. Heron
Marine Geophysical Laboratory, Physics Department, School of Engineering and Physical
Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
M. L. Heron
Marine Geophysical Laboratory, School of Environmental and Earth Sciences,
James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
e-mail: mal.heron@ieee.org
M. L. Heron
Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
W. G. Pichel
Center for Satellite Applications and Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, NCWCP, E/RA3, Room 3229, 5830 University Research Ct,
College Park, MD 30740-3818, USA
e-mail: william.g.pichel@noaa.gov
J. A. Goodman et al. (eds.), Coral Reef Remote Sensing,
DOI: 10.1007/978-90-481-9292-2_11,
Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
285