EO·Atlas
Methodologies
A methodology is how an Earth observation question gets answered. Most are sensing methods, grouped below by the technology that acquires the signal. A smaller set are analysis methods, applied to the data after acquisition; they sit above the technology tree in their own section.
Optical spectral sensing
11 methodsPassive measurement of reflected-solar and emitted-thermal radiation resolved by wavelength; the umbrella for multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal IR, SIF and atmospheric sounding.
Radar
5 methodsActive microwave sensing measuring backscatter and ranging.
Lidar
4 methodsActive optical sensing using laser ranging and backscatter.
Microwave radiometry
3 methodsPassive measurement of naturally emitted microwave radiation (brightness temperature).
GNSS signal sensing
2 methodsOpportunistic sensing of L-band GNSS signals via radio occultation and reflectometry.
Gravimetry
2 methodsMeasurement of Earth's gravity field and mass change (a potential-field technique, not radiation sensing).
Magnetometry
1 methodMeasurement of the geomagnetic field (a potential-field technique, not radiation sensing).
Analysis
15 methodsMethods applied to the data after acquisition — fusion, change detection, spectral analysis — sitting above the technology tree rather than under any single technology.