Remote sensing: environmental change

Abstract

Among the advantages of satellite imagery for geographical research is the ability tocapture in an instant a synoptic view of a large part of the Earth’s surface and to acquirerepeated measurements of the same area on a regular basis. It is precisely theseproperties that make satellite remote sensing such an important source of data forstudies of the dynamics of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere. International researchprogrammes such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), theInternational Geosphere– Biosphere Programme (IGBP), the World Climate ResearchProgram and the International Human Dimensions Programme on GlobalEnvironmental Change (IHDP) make extensive use of satellite observations because itis possible to derive quantitative measurements of the dynamics of many atmospheric,oceanographic and land surface characteristics. Humans are changing the natural rateof carbon exchange between the Earth’s atmosphere and the terrestrial biospherethrough land use change. Remote sensing can provide an effective tool to examinecarbon stocks and their response to human interference through deforestation, refor-estation, afforestation and other forms of land use change. These data are helping toinform the IPCC to formulate policy responses to climate change (for example theKyoto Protocol) and to monitor policies introduced to mitigate the increased levels ofCO