How Infrared Sensors Can Help Track Global Warming Trends

For nearly 20 years, more and more infrared detectors have been taken to the skies and beyond as more and more countries integrate these devices into their satellites to power their wide-ranging space missions. A new generation of detectors and their increasingly sophisticated capabilities has fueled an exponential increase in the number of infrared sensors orbiting the Earth.

This observation technique now plays an important role in the real-time analysis of natural and man-made phenomena on Earth. This explains why infrared detectors have received attention for their ability to monitor changes in global warming patterns and monitor impacts.

Trends in water resources and water stress on plant life can be analyzed against a number of criteria, including water temperature, land temperature, and evapotranspiration rates. These standards can be observed and scrutinized at scale by utilizing cutting-edge infrared detectors embedded in Earth-orbiting satellites.

Infrared detectors also enable accurate and sophisticated analyzes of the composition of Earth's water to determine the quantities present. These parameters are based on the amount of infrared radiation absorbed by water and this information can be used to evaluate and measure a specific and identifiable heat signature that is easy to analyze.

Europe's Copernicus program for observing and monitoring the environment features different satellites with dedicated infrared detectors for observing Earth's water.

IT probes are invaluable for keeping a close eye on Earth's water resources from space because they are able to observe large swathes of land at repeated and closely spaced frequencies, improving measurement quality, producing superior results, and simplifying decision-making.

In addition, they can also provide intelligence on large bodies of water due to the lack of on-site hydrological data, as they are often located in developing countries without the necessary equipment to analyze water resources.

Scientists and researchers use imaging spectroscopy to examine the chemical composition of the atmosphere. The technique is key to observing and assessing the presence of gases such as methane in the atmosphere, which is known to be responsible for rising global temperatures and global warming.

We can also use today's IR sensors to measure the presence of CO2, which has been hailed as the main man-made greenhouse gas on Earth and one of the main culprits in rising global temperatures.

These observations are mainly made in the SWIR spectral band between 0.7 and 2.5μm and the VLWIR spectral band between 10 and 15μm. A new generation of infrared detectors built into the system enables observation and definition of the chemical composition of the atmosphere, providing best-in-class performance in terms of resolution, number of spectral bands, and sensitivity.

Infrared sensors installed on Earth-orbiting satellites are able to observe and measure land and ocean temperatures.

They can also observe and analyze the composition (especially the water content) of the different layers of the Earth's atmosphere.

Finally, satellites with embedded infrared detectors can collect data and keep an eye on key climate phenomena, including dust storms, fires, and volcanic eruptions.

The infrared detector has clearly cemented its reputation as an important link in the chain of observing Earth from space and keeping tabs on the changes sweeping through our environment. As the challenges posed by global warming intensify and attract widespread attention, the ability to observe Earth plays an increasingly important role in missions.

In the meantime, future generations of infrared detectors are currently under development. Efforts will be focused in particular on the digitization of infrared sensor functions. Research is gaining momentum as space market models change, particularly with the emergence of new types of space markets known as "new spaces." The high level of growth in the industry is driven by external players. Most of them initially focused on new technologies and digital businesses, but are now pouring money into space research and orbital flights. There is still a long way to go from the finish line, and many innovations still need to be developed.

The above has introduced how infrared sensors can help track global warming trends. If you want to buy infrared cameras or components, please contact us.

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