Hyperspectral. Hyperspectral measurements allow us to look beyond what human eyes
can see to peer through cosmic dust clouds or monitor the health of our ocean.
Electromagnetic energy travels in waves that we perceive in different ways
-- from very long radio waves to very short
X- and gamma ray waves with visible light somewhere in the middle.
Hyperspectral analysis combines
measurements taken over a wide range of that electromagnetic spectrum.
The upcoming Plankton Aerosol Cloud ocean Ecosystem
satellite -- PACE -- will help us study Earth's ocean in new ways,
using hyperspectral measurements of light emitted from Earth's surface.
Using ultraviolet
light, we'll see tiny particles suspended in our ocean and atmosphere,
which helps us understand the impact of human activities on our planet.
Meanwhile, measurements in visible light -- what our eyes see -- help us monitor
the concentration of phytoplankton,
tiny organisms that make up the base of the ocean food web.
Using even longer infrared measurements will allow space
to monitor atmospheric conditions above and near the ocean.
Bring all these data together and we'll have a very full picture of Earth's ocean.
Courtesy of hyperspectral measurements.