FUTA/ARCSSTE-E MSc Program

Dr. O. O. Alabi
African Regional Centre for Space Science & Technology Education in English
(Affiliated with the United Nations)
Obafemi Awolowo University Campus
Ile-Ife, NIGERIA
 (A) (D)
Energy Source Recording of Energy by the Sensor
or Illumination

(E)
Transmission, (G)
Reception, and Application
(B) Processing
Radiation and the
Atmosphere

(C) (F)
Interaction with Interpretation and Analysis
the Target Canada Centre for Remote Sensing

The PROCESS of remote sensing involves an interaction between the incident

radiation and the targets of interest
These 7 elements comprise the remote sensing process for an imaging system.
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Two important physical principles concerning the
emission of electromagnetic radiation:
Hot objects radiate more energy than cooler
objects
A hot object emits radiation with short
wavelengths; a cool object emits radiation with
long wavelengths
Schematics of a warm
body radiating at
shorter wavelength
and higher energy
than a cool body
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Stefan-Boltzmann Law
The amount of energy emitted increases with the
temperature

E= T4
Where:
E = The blackbody irradiance (in Wm-2),
T = Temperature of the radiating body (in K)
= Stefan Boltzmann constant (5.67 x 10-8 Wm-2K-4)

Tsun~5800K so the Sun emits a lot of energy

Tearth~255K so the Earth emits less energy
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E = hf = T 4

Hot objects radiate more energy than cooler
objects
A hot object emits radiation with short
wavelengths; a cool object emits radiation with
long wavelengths
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Plancks Curve
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Wiens Displacement Law
The wavelength of maximum emission (max ) for a body at a
particular temperature is inversely proportional to the
temperature

max = 2897/T
Where:
max = The wavelength of peak emission (in m),
T = The temperature of the radiating body (in K)

An inverse relationship between the wavelength of peak

emission and temperature
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Application of Wiens Displacement Law:
For the Sun: max ~ 0.5 m

For the Earth: max ~ 10 m (microns)

Higher temperature means shorter wavelengths

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Plancks Law
For a given temperature, a radiating body has a unique,
characteristic spectrum

Planck Curves
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About half of incoming solar radiation is
absorbed by the surface of the Earth.
The absorption of solar radiation leads to
heating which, in turn, leads to the
emission of long-wave radiation by the
Earths surface
 Long-wave outgoing
Short-wave incoming solar
terrestrial radiation radiation

The Earth radiates mostly in The Sun radiates mostly in

the infrared band the visible band
 CLASS ASSIGNMENT
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Given that the radiative temperature of the surface of the sun is
approximately 54970C, and the Earths atmospheric temperature
averaged vertically is about -180C.
Applying the following radiation laws (where appropriate):
Stefan-Boltzmann Law: E = T4 (where = 5.67 x 10-8 Wm-2K-4)
Wiens Displacement Law: max = 2897/T
(where max is expressed in m)

(i) Calculate the theoretical emissive power of the Sun (in Wm-2).
(ii) Calculate the wavelength of peak emission of the Earth.
(iii)What is the primary type of radiation emitted by the Earth?
Quiz