Two types of technological devices used to obtain data from remote regions of earths biosphere are what?

Experts use two types of remote sensing instruments to monitor or measure phenomena found in the Earth's lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

The two primary types include active sensors and passive sensors.

Active Sensors

The majority of active sensors operate in the microwave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, which makes them able to penetrate the atmosphere under most conditions. An active technique views the target from either end of a baseline of known length. The change in apparent view direction (parallax) is related to the absolute distance between the instrument and target.

Examples:

Laser altimeter

Lidar

Radar

Ranging Instrument

Scatterometer

Sounder

Passive Sensors

Passive sensors include different types of radiometers and spectrometers. Most passive systems used in remote sensing applications operate in the visible, infrared, thermal infrared, and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Passive remote sensors include the following:

Accelerometer

Hyperspectral radiometer

Imaging radiometer

Radiometer

Sounder

Spectrometer

Spectroradiometer

For further reading, see links below:

earthdata.nasa.gov

www.physicalgeography.net

earthobservatory.nasa.gov

Tags: earthbiosphereremote 
Tuesday, June 21 2016
Source: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/2e.html