Final answer:
Remote sensing technology aids scientists in studying the Earth's surface and is used to map landscapes, understand geographic phenomena, and assess land use. Adaptive optics improve ground-based telescopic images by compensating for atmospheric distortion, particularly in the infrared spectrum. Elevation through airplanes or satellites significantly enhances infrared observations by reducing atmospheric interference.
Step-by-step explanation:
Remote sensing technology is highly effective at allowing scientists to monitor and study the Earth's surface. This technology acquires data through aerial photographs and satellite imagery, which can be utilized for a variety of applications. Remote sensing is particularly useful for geographers to identify, understand, and explain landscapes, assess land use, and map out the earth's surface.
To counteract the blurring effects caused by Earth's atmosphere on images taken from ground-based telescopes, astronomers have developed adaptive optics. This technology uses a flexible mirror that can change shape to compensate for atmospheric distortion, improving image resolution significantly. Adaptive optics is especially effective in the infrared region of the spectrum.
Since atmospheric interference, such as water vapor, impairs infrared observations, placing telescopes on airplanes or in space enhances the ability to observe in the infrared spectrum. This elevation above the Earth's lower atmosphere, where water vapor is concentrated, is critical for reducing interference and improving the quality of observations.