Question

Which of the following types of resolution corresponds to the smallest difference in radiant energy detected by a sensor?
1. Spectral resolution
2. Radiometric resolution
3. Temporal resolution
4. Spatial resolution

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : Radiometric resolution

Concept:-

1. Radiometric Resolution:-

• The radiometric resolution of an imaging system describes its ability to discriminate very slight differences in energy.
• The finer the radiometric resolution of a sensor, the more sensitive it is to detect small differences in reflected or emitted energy.
• It refers to the sensitivity of sensor to incoming radiance.

 

2 Spatial Resolution:-

• Measurement of the minimum distance between two objects that will allow them to differentiate from one another in an image.
• Spatial resolution of the sensor refers to the size of the smallest possible feature that can be detected.
• Spatial resolution is a measure of smallest object that can be resolved by the sensor, or the size of area on the ground represented by each pixel. Pixel size is used to determine resolution quality.

3. Spectral Resolution:-

• Spectral resolution describes the ability of a sensor to define fine wavelength intervals. The finer the spectral resolution, the narrower the wavelength range for a particular channel or band.
• Spectral resolution refers to the specific wavelength intervals in electromagnetic spectrum that a sensor can record.
• Narrow bands have higher spectral resolution.

4. Temporal Resolution:-

• Each satellite has its own unique revisit schedule for obtaining image of a particular area.
• The frequency at which the sensor revisits an area is known as temporal resolution.
• For example, if a satellite images the same area every 10 days, then its temporal resolution would be 10 days.
• Temporal resolution is an important factor to consider in change detection studies i.e. crop growth etc.
• Hence, temporal resolution is the amount of time taken by sensor to return to a previously recorded location.

           Examples – Landsat, GOES and NOAA