Question

What is the difference between Landsat and MODIS imagery compared to RADAR and LIDAR for looking at snow?

Answer 1

- Landsat and MODIS imagery: Capture visible and near-infrared light, provide high-resolution data for assessing snow cover extent and properties like grain size and impurities.

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- RADAR: Uses microwave pulses to measure backscattering, can penetrate clouds, and estimate snow depth, detect buried layers, and identify wet snow or ice below the surface.

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- LIDAR: Utilizes laser pulses, provides high-resolution data for surface roughness, precise snow depth measurements, and vertical snow profiles, but has limited penetration capability.

Answer 2

Landsat and MODIS imagery are satellite-based remote sensing technologies used to observe the Earth's surface, while RADAR and LIDAR are active remote sensing technologies. Landsat and MODIS are used to monitor snow cover on a large scale, while RADAR and LIDAR provide more detailed information on snow depth and structure.

Step-by-step explanation:

Landsat and MODIS imagery are both satellite-based remote sensing technologies used to observe and analyze the Earth's surface. However, there are some key differences when it comes to looking at snow.

Landsat imagery provides high-resolution images of the Earth's surface, capturing visible and infrared light. It can help identify the extent of snow cover and changes over time. MODIS imagery, on the other hand, has a lower resolution but provides global coverage. It can be used to monitor large-scale snow cover and other environmental variables.

On the other hand, RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging) and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) are active remote sensing technologies that use different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to gather information about the Earth's surface. RADAR can penetrate clouds and vegetation, allowing it to detect the depth and density of snow. LIDAR, on the other hand, uses laser pulses to measure the distance to the Earth's surface and can provide detailed information about the vertical structure of snowpack.