Remote sensing and conservation

Since the 1990s, Landsat has become only one example of many sensing technologies. Landsat 7, the most recent Landsat satellite, carries several passive sensors using different wavelengths to decipher Earth’s features from above. A passive optical sensor, for example, is much like a camera, operating off visible light reflected from Earth’s surface. This reliance has its shortcomings—notably it will only take pictures of what it can see. Clouds, smoke, and other factors can interfere with or block its sensing capabilities. Meanwhile, infrared detects the amount of heat emitted from an object at the earth’s surface, making it effective for identifying fires and other sources of heat like cities.

Remote sensing and conservation