Electromagn Etic Radiations: Lecture #8

LECTURE #8
ELECTROMAGN
ETIC
RADIATIONS
ENGR. ZAHOOR KHAN
LECTURER, DCE ABASYN UNIVERSITY PESHAWAR
LECTURE CONTENTS
 Electromagnetic Radiations
 Electromagnetic Spectrum.
 EMR Interaction with Atmosphere

ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION AND
THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
 EMR is a dynamic form of energy that propagates as wave motion at a velocity of c = 3 x 10 10
cm/sec. The parameters that characterize a wave motion are wavelength (λ), frequency (ν) and
velocity (c) (Fig. 1).
 The relationship between the above is
c = νλ.
Fig-01: Electromagnetic wave. It has two components, Electric field E and Magnetic field M, both
perpendicular to the direction of propagation
EMR & THE
ELECTROMAGNETIC
SPECTRUM
 Electromagnetic energy radiates in accordance with the basic wave theory.
 This theory describes the EM energy as travelling in a harmonic sinusoidal fashion at the
velocity of light.
 Although many characteristics of EM energy are easily described by wave theory, another theory
known as particle theory offers insight into how electromagnetic energy interacts with matter.
 It suggests that EMR is composed of many discrete units called photons/quanta.
 The energy of photon is
Q = hc / λ = h ν
Where
Q is the energy of quantum,
h = Planck’s constant
PRINCIPAL DIVISIONS OF THE
EM SPECTRUM
EM SPECTRUM
EM SPECTRUM
EMR INTERACTIONS WITH THE
ATMOSPHERE
 The sun is the source of radiation, and electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from the sun that is
reflected by the earth and detected by the satellite or aircraft-borne sensor must pass through
the atmosphere twice, once on its journey from the sun to the earth and second after being
reflected by the surface of the earth back to the sensor.
 Interactions of the direct solar radiation and reflected radiation from the target with the
atmospheric constituents interfere with the process of remote sensing and are called as
“Atmospheric Effects”.
ATMOSPHERE
 The interaction of EMR with the atmosphere is important to remote sensing for two
main reasons.
 First, information carried by EMR reflected/emitted by the earth’s surface is modified
while traversing through the atmosphere. Second, the interaction of EMR with the
atmosphere can be used to obtain useful information about the atmosphere itself.
 The atmospheric constituents scatter and absorb the radiation modulating the radiation
reflected from the target by attenuating it, changing its spatial distribution
 Both scattering and absorption vary in their effect from one part of the spectrum to the
other.
ATMOSPHERE
 The solar energy is subjected to modification by several physical processes as it passes the
atmosphere, viz.
1) Scattering;
2) Absorption, and
3) Refraction
1. ATMOSPHERIC
SCATTERING
 Scattering is the redirection of EMR by particles suspended in the atmosphere or by
large molecules of atmospheric gases. Scattering not only reduces the image contrast
but also changes the spectral signature of ground objects as seen by the sensor.
 The amount of scattering depends upon the size of the particles, their abundance, the
wavelength of radiation, depth of the atmosphere through which the energy is
traveling and the concentration of the particles.
 The concentration of particulate matter varies both in time and over season. Thus the
effects of scattering will be uneven spatially and will vary from time to time.
1. ATMOSPHERIC
SCATTERING
 Theoretically scattering can be divided into three categories depending upon
the wavelength of radiation being scattered and the size of the particles causing
the scattering.
 The three different types of scattering from particles of different sizes are
summarized below:
RAYLEIGH SCATTERING
 Rayleigh scattering predominates where electromagnetic radiation interacts with particles that
are smaller than the wavelength of the incoming light.
 The effect of the Rayleigh scattering is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the
wavelength.
 Shorter wavelengths are scattered more than longer wavelengths. In the absence of these
particles and scattering the sky would appear black.
 In the context of remote sensing, the Rayleigh scattering is the most important type of
scattering.
 It causes a distortion of spectral characteristics of the reflected light when compared to
measurements taken on the ground.
MIE SCATTERING
 Mie scattering occurs when the wavelength of the incoming radiation is similar
in size to the atmospheric particles.
 These are caused by aerosols: a mixture of gases, water vapor and dust. It is
generally restricted to the lower atmosphere where the larger particles are
abundant and dominates under overcast cloud conditions.
 It influences the entire spectral region from ultra violet to near infrared
regions.
NON-SELECTIVE SCATTERING
 This type of scattering occurs when the particle size is much larger than the wavelength of
the incoming radiation.
 Particles responsible for this effect are water droplets and larger dust particles.
 The scattering is independent of the wavelength, all the wavelength are scattered equally.
 The most common example of non-selective scattering is the appearance of clouds as
white.
 As cloud consist of water droplet particles and the wavelengths are scattered in equal
amount, the cloud appears as white.
 Occurrence of this scattering mechanism gives a clue to the existence of large particulate
matter in the atmosphere above the scene of interest which itself is a useful data.
2. ATMOSPHERIC
ABSORPTION
 The gas molecules present in the atmosphere strongly absorb the EMR passing through the
atmosphere in certain spectral bands.
 Mainly three gases are responsible for most of absorption of solar radiation, viz. ozone, carbon
dioxide and water vapour.
 Ozone absorbs the high energy, short wavelength portions of the ultraviolet spectrum (λ < 0.24
μm) thereby preventing the transmission of this radiation to the lower atmosphere.
 Carbon dioxide is important in remote sensing as it effectively absorbs the radiation in mid
and far infrared regions of the spectrum.
 It strongly absorbs in the region from about 13-17.5 μm, whereas two most important regions
of water vapour absorption are in bands 5.5 - 7.0 μm and above 27 μm.
 Absorption relatively reduces the amount of light that reaches our eye making the scene look
relatively duller.
3. REFRACTION
 The phenomenon of refraction, that is bending of light at the contact between
two media, also occurs in the atmosphere as the light passes through the
atmospheric layers of varied clarity, humidity and temperature.
 These variations influence the density of atmospheric layers, which in turn,

causes the bending of light rays as they pass from one layer to another.
 The most common phenomena are the mirage like apparitions sometimes
visible in the distance on hot summer days.

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LECTURE #8

 EMR Interaction with Atmosphere

 These variations influence the density of atmospheric layers, which in turn,

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