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Surveying earth resources by remote sensing from satellites

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Abstract

This paper reviews the techniques and recent results of orbital remote sensing, with emphasis on Landsat and Skylab imagery. Landsat (formerly ERTS) uses electronic sensors (scanners and television) for repetitive observations with moderate ground resolution. The Skylab flights used a wider range of electro-optical sensors and returned film cameras with moderate and high ground resolution. Data from these programs have been used successfully in many fields. For mineral resources, satellite observations have proven valuable in geologic mapping and in exploration for metal, oil, and gas deposits, generally as a guide for other (conventional) techniques. Water resource monitoring with satellite data has included hydrologic mapping, soil moisture studies, and snow surveys. Marine resources have been studied, with applications in the fishing industry and in ocean transportation. Agricultural applications, benefiting from the repetitive coverage possible with satellites, have been especially promising. Crop inventories are being conducted, as well as inventories of timber and rangeland. Overgrazing has been monitored in several areas. Finally, environmental quality has also proven susceptible to orbital remote sensing; several types of water pollution have been successfully monitored. The effects of mining and other activities on the land can also be studied. The future of orbital remote sensing in global monitoring of the Earth's resources seems assured. However, efforts to extend spectral range, increase resolution, and solve cloud-cover problems must be continued. Broad applications of computer analysis techniques are vital to handle the immense amount of information produced by satellite sensors.

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Abbreviations

SSRERTS:

Symposium on Significant Results Obtained from the Earth Resources Technology Satellite

TERTSS:

Third Earth Resources Technology Satellite-1 Symposium

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA, 20771, Greenbelt, Md, USA

    J. Otterman, P. D. Lowman (Applications Directorate) & V. V. Salomonson (Applications Directotate)

  2. Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel

    J. Otterman

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  1. J. Otterman
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  2. P. D. Lowman
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  3. V. V. Salomonson
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National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council Research Associate at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 1974/75.

Goddard Space Flight Center

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Otterman, J., Lowman, P.D. & Salomonson, V.V. Surveying earth resources by remote sensing from satellites. Geophysical Surveys 2, 431–467 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01454194

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