Chapter 6 — Exam Question 1

List three major differences between optical and microwave remote sensing.

Answer

1. Optical RS is based mainly on passive sensors. Microwave RS is based

mainly on active sensors.

2. Microwaves can penetrate clouds and optical wave do not.

3. Microwave RS can be applied in darkness and optical RS not (except in the

thermal infra red bands of the spectrum).

4. Longer microwaves can penetrate vegetation and dry soil and optical wa-

ves can not.

5. Microwave images are distorted by speckle and optical images not.

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