ABSTRACT
Remotely sensed thermal imagery has been used to understand the characteristics and processes defining Earth’s surface since the 1970s. This data is fundamental for the study of agriculture and water management, terrestrial and aquatic habitats, and human health and comfort. Since the first thermal imagers, instruments have developed from single-band, low frequency data, to constellations with high spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions that provide highly accurate estimates of surface temperature. New instruments unlock advances for precision agriculture, habitat risk mapping, hazard response, urban planning, and many other applications. However, all of these advances stem from the very first thermal imagers. In this chapter, we will discuss the history and development of global thermal imagers.
