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Lesson context: Airborne remote sensing typically involves sensing reflected or emitted electromagnetic (EM) radiation. In addressing the overall problem, students will need to have a basic understanding of the EM Spectrum and various forms of EM radiation, especially infrared and visible. In the "Analyzing data" lesson, students will be analyzing reflected visible and mid-infrared images as well as emitted mid-infrared images of Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.

Key science concepts:

• Interactions of EM radiation with matter
• Reflection, emission, and absorption
• Visible and infrared EM radiation

Links to teacher resources:

• Teacher's notes

• Diagrams

Problem addressed in this lesson:

• When is the best time of day to fly a remote sensing mission to locate active lava flows on Kilauea?

Activity burst:

• Brainstorm ideas on how to test whether the stove top burner is hot or not.
• Write letter to KaAMS mission controller justifying time of day for remote sensing mission.

Links to other resources: