Geoscience Reference
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of the spectral properties of different environments. This personal experience was
used to develop, test, and put into practice truly multi-spectral remote-sensing
technologies providing state-of-the art information by means of an optimum set of
sensors, such as those installed on board of the Dutch/U.S./Russia Miramap aircraft
equipped with the above mentioned multi-spectral passive/radiometric microwave,
thermal infrared, color digital orthophoto cameras, and lidar (laser 3-D scanner
working in the near-infrared band).
2.4 Monitoring of the Soil-Plant Formations
Land cover change is an important environmental process. Studying and monitoring
this change are signi
cant when assessing the variations and dynamics of the global
biogeochemical cycles of greenhouse gases. One of effective satellite instruments
that gives a possibility to detect the disturbances of the globe
'
is land surface is the
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
(MODIS) of NASA
'
s Earth
Observing System (EOS).
MODIS is a key instrument aboard the Terra (EOS AM) and Aqua (EOS PM)
satellites. Terra
'
is orbit around the Earth is timed so that it passes from north to
south across the equator in the morning, while Aqua passes south to north over the
equator in the afternoon. Terra MODIS and Aqua MODIS are viewing the entire
Earth
2 days, acquiring data in 36 spectral bands, or groups of
wavelengths. These data will improve our understanding of global dynamics and
processes occurring on the land, in the oceans, and in the lower atmosphere.
MODIS is playing a vital role in the development of validated, global, interactive
Earth system models able to predict global change accurately enough to assist
policy makers in making sound decisions concerning the protection of our
environment.
Understanding Earth system processes and their interdependencies through
observation, theory, and modeling, is the objective of many international programs
such as the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), the Interna-
tional Human Dimensions Programme (IHDP), the World Climate Research Pro-
gramme (WCRP), and the Global Carbon Project (GCP). However, this is only
possible if reliable and operative information about the land covers is available.
Undoubtedly, the use of this information demands the creation of algorithms and
models to improve the quality of environmental monitoring.
A remote monitoring of the soil-plant formations is aimed at assessing biological
productivity, understanding interactions inside the soil-vegetation-atmosphere
system, evaluating biome dynamics, modeling biogeochemical cycles paying par-
ticular attention to the role played by vegetation, and controlling vegetation
resources.
Land covers are characterized by high landscape diversity having various soil
and plant types, water-salt and temperature regimes, the cultivating of surface layer,
and macrorelief. The soil includes solid particles, water (soil mixture) and air. Solid
'
s surface every 1
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