ABSTRACT
This chapter lays the groundwork for the remainder of the book by explaining the theory behind thermal remote sensing. We describe thermal radiation, thermal properties of materials, and cover physics laws governing thermal energy such as Planck’s law, Wien’s displacement law, and the Stefan–Boltzmann law. Basic concepts such as a description of emissivity, derivation of land surface temperature, and interactions with the atmosphere are also covered. This foundational chapter is accompanied by an interactive notebook to illustrate some of the thermal energy laws.
