In 2016, roughly a hundred civil remote sensing satellites observe the Earth from space.
These satellites collect data, usually in the form of images, on the entire surface of our
planet including the most remote and inaccessible areas. They accomplish this at a
reasonable cost and on a regular basis, allowing us to measure, model, and follow the
evolution of our environment on different spatial and temporal scales. Remote sensing
(the ensemble of technology and techniques that produce satellite or aerial images) has a
wide variety of applications in fields such as meteorology, the environment, and urbanism.
In a desertification context, remote sensing provides critical support for the effort to
understand evolutions in land degradation. The vast amount of information produced—
from local to global—enables scientists to identify the effects of desertification, and
measure the evolution of its extension, stabilization or regression over time. Early alert
systems and the assimilation of data in models can even enable the anticipation of these
evolutions. This information is essential for the development of scenarios and forecasts
for various periods of time, which in turn facilitate short-term decision making as well as
the formulation of medium and long-term strategies aimed at sustainable development.
This Dossier begins with the presentation of certain physical concepts indispensable to
the understanding of remote sensing and a description of the main parameters that are
observable by satellite. We then look at several recent examples which demonstrate the
variety of possible uses for satellite images in combatting desertification. In conclusion
we suggest possibilities for advancing the use of remote sensing by taking advantage of
open software and free access to images provided by French, European, and American
space agencies.
ESCADAFAL Richard;
BÉGNI Gérard;
CHERLET Michael;
SOMMER Stefan;
2017-01-19
Comité Scientifique Français de la désertification
JRC105368
1772-6964,
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC105368,
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