Tropical climates - The Global Climate System: Patterns, Processes, and Teleconnections - page 80

Figure 3.11 LBA-ECO
science working groups and
their interactions.

PHYSICAL CLIMATE SYSTEM:
WATER AND ENERGY

ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY

CARBON STORAGE
AND EXCHANGE

BIOGEOCHEMISTRY:
TRACE GASES AND
NUTRIENTS

LAND SURFACE HYDROLOGY AND
WATER CHEMISTRY

LAND USE/LAND COVER

THE HUMAN DIMENSION

of users, including those concerned with biogeochemistry/trace gases and atmo-
spheric chemistry, and physical climate.

3.5.1 Remote sensing of Amazonia
Introduction
Collectively, a majority of satellite sensors used in LULC research acquire
data in wavelengths from blue light (0.4 mm) through thermal infrared radia-
tion (12.5 mm) with spatial resolutions with pixel sizes ranging from approxi-
mately 1.0 m to 12 km þ . These satellite sensors have several spectral
configurations and spatial resolutions. They are available to provide spectral
data for analysis with: (1) high spatial resolution of 1-5 m (e.g. IKONOS,
Quickbird-2); (2) medium spatial resolution of 10-30 m (e.g. SPOT series,
Landsat TM/ETM þ , and ASTER); (3) low spatial resolution of 200-1100 m
(e.g. MODIS, MISR); and (4) very low spatial resolution of > 1.1-12 km þ
(e.g. GOES, Meteosat series).
A major problem in most types of Amazonia spectral data acquisition is
weather, because most areas are only relatively cloud free 6-12 weeks/year.
Radar sensors have the advantage of acquiring data irrespective of weather or
light conditions, but these data are often costly and somewhat more limited in