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Magazine Chapter 28: Problem 72
Assertion Satellite is an ideal platform of remote sensing. Reason Satellite is a polar orbit can provide global converage or continous coverage of fixed area in geostationary configuration.
Short Answer
Expert verified
The reason correctly supports the assertion, affirming satellites' versatility in remote sensing due to their orbit options.
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Assertion
The assertion given is that a satellite is an ideal platform for remote sensing. Remote sensing requires capturing data over large areas, often repeatedly and over consistent intervals. Satellites, positioned far above the Earth, can achieve wide coverage and revisit rates necessary for environmental monitoring, agriculture, and more.
02
Analyzing the Reason
The reason given is that a satellite in a polar orbit can provide global coverage, while in a geostationary orbit, it offers continuous coverage of a fixed area. Polar orbiting satellites traverse from pole to pole, covering the entire Earth as the planet rotates, which allows them to capture global datasets. Geostationary satellites, located above the equator, rotate with the Earth to focus on a specific area continuously.
03
Evaluating the Reason's Relevance
To determine if the reason supports the assertion, we need to see if a satellite's orbital configurations (polar and geostationary) contribute to it being an ideal platform for remote sensing. Given that remote sensing involves consistent data collection and coverage, the ability to have global or fixed-area monitoring makes satellites highly effective for this purpose.
04
Conclusion
The reason effectively illustrates why satellites are ideal for remote sensing. The flexibility of choosing between global reach or focused monitoring supports a variety of remote sensing applications, aligning with the assertion.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Satellite Orbits
Satellite orbits are the paths that satellites follow as they revolve around the Earth. These paths allow satellites to perform specific functions, depending on their altitude, inclination, and period.
- Altitude: This refers to how high the satellite is above Earth's surface. Satellites in higher orbits can cover larger areas. Lower orbits provide high resolution but limited coverage.
- Inclination: The angle between the satellite's orbit plane and the equator. It determines which parts of the Earth the satellite can see. Higher inclinations allow coverage of higher latitudes.
- Period: The time it takes for a satellite to make one complete orbit around the Earth. Some satellites have orbits that take 90 minutes, while others are geostationary, taking 24 hours.
Geostationary Satellites
Geostationary satellites have orbits that allow them to remain fixed relative to a spot on the Earth鈥檚 surface. They orbit in sync with the Earth鈥檚 rotation at an altitude of approximately 35,786 kilometers. This means they take 24 hours to complete one orbit, matching Earth鈥檚 rotation.
- Fixed Position: This quality allows geostationary satellites to continuously monitor a single area, which is ideal for telecommunications and weather forecasting.
- Wide View: Positioned above the equator, geostationary satellites cover large portions of the Earth, including all longitudes but limited to certain latitudes.
- Real-Time Data: They provide real-time data, which can be crucial for applications requiring immediate assessment, like weather prediction and broadcast signals.
Polar Orbiting Satellites
Polar orbiting satellites travel in a north-south direction from pole to pole. They complete orbits roughly every 90 to 100 minutes, sweeping over the entire Earth's surface as the planet rotates beneath them.
- Global Coverage: These satellites cover the entire globe, making them perfect for comprehensive monitoring tasks such as environmental assessment and resource tracking.
- High Detail: They fly at lower altitudes, typically between 700 and 800 kilometers, offering high-resolution imagery, which is critical for scientific observations.
- Varied Observation: Able to observe any part of the Earth, polar orbiting satellites are invaluable for polar regions, where geostationary satellites cannot reach effectively.
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental monitoring involves the repeated collection of data to observe and study the environment. Satellites, especially those equipped with advanced sensors, are key tools in this process.
- Data Collection: Satellites can continuously gather data on temperature, land cover changes, deforestation, ice melting, and ocean patterns.
- Real-Time Monitoring: Remote sensing satellites provide current data, crucial for responding to and managing environmental disasters like hurricanes and fires.
- Trend Analysis: Over time, satellites help identify environmental trends, providing insights into climate change and ecosystem dynamics.
Global Coverage
Global coverage by satellites is crucial for capturing data and images across the entire Earth. Both geostationary and polar orbiting satellites contribute uniquely to this capability.
- Polar Coverage: Polar orbiting satellites offer complete global datasets by covering each area of the Earth during their orbit cycles.
- Equatorial Focus: Geostationary satellites focus on extended observation over the equator and parts of the hemisphere continuously.
- Comprehensive Monitoring: Together, these satellites provide a complex network of observations that can gather everything from short-term events, like severe storms, to long-term phenomena, like climate change.
