Study Questions
ERS 186, Lecture 1
Winter 2005
1) Draw the reflectance spectrum of a green leaf, a bright yellow sand beach, dark
brown soil, clean clear water, white snow, black coal. Label the axes and place tic
marks, numbers and dimensions on the horizontal axis.
2) What is wavelength range to which our eyes are sensitive?
3) What is the approximate speed of light in miles per second? (Hint: what is the
number of this course?) In meters per second?
4) What does ‘EMR’ stand for?
5) What is the frequency of visible light having a wavelength of 500 nanometers? What
is the color of this light? (Hint: use the equation discussed in lecture: frequency
equals speed divided by wavelength) How does this frequency and wavelength
compare with the frequency and wavelength of your favorite AM and FM radio
stations?
6) Remote sensing technology is a tool applicable in many areas of science. What were
the areas discussed in class?
7) How might remote sensing technology be employed to test if the Arctic ice cap has
shrunk during the last 30 years?
8) When was the first NASA civilian remote sensing satellite launched? Initially the
name of this satellite was the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS). Later
‘ERTS’ was changed to what? What was the name of the first French civilian remote
sensing satellite and when was it launched?
9) What color is light having a wavelength of 0.42, 0.55 and 0.65 micrometers?