Remote sensing uses sensors on satellites or aircraft to detect and record electromagnetic radiation from the Earth's surface in order to gather information about it without direct contact. There are six main elements of remote sensing: an energy source, radiation and the atmosphere, interaction with the target, recording by the sensor, transmission and processing, and interpretation and analysis. Applications of remote sensing include space exploration, environmental monitoring, land cover mapping, and studying the effects of deforestation. New technologies are allowing remote sensing instruments to become smaller, use more powerful computing, and observe different frequencies of light.
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