Thermal Imaging from Space: New Ways of ‘Seeing’ the Environment
- Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe
- Jun 14
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
How Airborne and Space-Based Imaging Technologies Inform Conservation, Climate Mitigation
Space-based and other remote imaging technologies are a powerful, out-of-this-world tool in the fight to protect Earth’s ecosystems. Thanks to the latest developments in remote imaging, distance from an object on the planet’s surface is no longer a hindrance to monitoring its status.
Airborne thermal imaging is a type of remote sensing used to monitor various types of environments—from forests to cities to oceans—to record and understand the thermal properties of both objects and surfaces. The data collected gives scientists and policymakers more pieces to the puzzle of climate change and better insights into ecosystem health.
The rise of this application is no accident. Pressing ecological challenges such as the acceleration of climate change, the destruction of natural landscapes, and the growth of densely populated urban environments, have been the drivers of thermal imaging advancements.
A New Way of ‘Seeing’
Remote sensing enables users to “see” in a way that human eyes cannot and to extract and understand information that would otherwise be hidden. “This allows us to work in completely new ways and to better understand the systems around us,” Tereza Pohankova, PhD candidate, Department of Geoinformatics at Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic, told The Earth & I.
Infrared and thermal images, acquired from both airborne and hand-held devices, are the most prominent remote sensing tools used today for environmental monitoring. Infrared light (heat) is detected by sensors mounted on a satellite or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), allowing scientists to monitor surface temperatures of city streets, for instance, or a body of water.
How Thermal Imagery Works
Thermal imagery is based on the premise that all objects with a temperature above absolute zero (-273.15 °C) emit radiation. The specific wavelength and amount of radiation depend on the object’s temperature. Researchers can detect a broad spectrum of radiation, including visible and infrared.
Thermal imagery is based on the premise that all objects with a temperature above absolute zero (-273.15 °C) emit radiation.
Thermal imaging typically requires calibration and atmospheric correction to remove atmospheric influence. Using this method enables researchers to compare images. After the calibration and correction, lighter (brighter) and darker spots are visible. Light spots indicate areas with a higher amount of emitted radiation, indicating warmer regions, while darker areas show cooler ones.
How Thermal Imagery Is Being Applied
One way scientists are using thermal imagery is to identify the presence of wildfires, particularly early-stage fires that humans have yet to detect. In June 2024, using thermal imagery, researchers examined the lifecycle of wildfires, from evaluating pre-fire fuel conditions to understanding active fire locations and emissions, and assessing after-fire effects on air quality, vegetation, and the broader climate.
Researchers are also applying drone-based thermal imaging to identify wildlife carcasses, which can spread diseases to human and domestic animal populations. For instance, in Africa, people routinely search for wild boar carcasses because if they are infected with African swine fever, even their dead bodies can spread the disease. In a 2023 research study, scientists showed how and why a drone-based thermal camera could successfully locate 42 of these carcasses, plus analyze their state of decomposition and assist with ground searches to collect them.
Depending on thermal images’ pixel size, they can reveal to researchers the precise locations where temperatures are higher. Due to long-running space satellite missions, such as Sentinel by the European Space Agency or Landsat by NASA and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), scientists can create temporal maps and comparisons. Local decision-makers can then utilize these insights to adapt their strategies and adjust for thermal comfort.
The AVUELO Project
NASA’s AVUELO (Airborne Validation Unified Experiment: Land to Ocean) project, a collaboration with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and the Costa Rican Fisheries Federation, along with universities and institutes in the US and Panama, is undertaking groundbreaking work in airborne thermal imaging. AVUELO’s goal is to “calibrate a new class of space-borne imagers for tropical vegetation and oceans research.” According to STRI, this is achieved by combining data collected via fieldwork with “airborne imaging spectroscopy” collected aboard a small airplane for sites in Panama and Costa Rica.
AVUELO’s goal is to “calibrate a new class of space-borne imagers for tropical vegetation and oceans research.”
With a specific focus on rainforests in Panama and Costa Rica, the project aims to use data to help researchers understand how “thousands of tree species and marine organisms create unique ecosystems.” Other goals are to understand the effects of habitat fragmentation, species interactions, and biodiversity threats, particularly in the context of nocturnal species and their conservation.
On February 6, 2025, the AVUELO team initiated its first tropical survey, which involved scientists collecting and measuring leaves from a 50-mile core study site within the rainforest. Additional ground crews analyzed samples in the laboratory while an aircraft carrying NASA’s AVIRIS imager collected data from above.
The AVUELO project showcases the use of state-of-the-art technology to help overcome human limitations in studying and conserving large ecosystems. The difficulties involved in land-based research were evident as AVUELO researchers on the ground navigated dense rainforests, coastal mangroves, rivers, and lakes. Fortunately, despite cloudy skies, most of the collection sites were clear, allowing researchers to obtain relevant data.
The application of remote sensing technology can differ per ecosystem. For instance, maintaining data continuity is a challenge for infrared and thermal imagery during a rainy season in a rainforest, as no images will be available. That’s because infrared and thermal imagery are types of what is known as optical remote sensing. Unlike radar satellite remote sensing, optical remote sensing cannot see through clouds or fog, as infrared radiation is affected by clouds. “The main difference for the usage of thermal imagery is the presence of clouds,” Pohankova explained.
Climate Protection Linked to IT Progress
Vast amounts of data are generated daily worldwide from imaging. In 2020, reports indicate that commercial satellite imaging companies were gathering 100-plus terabytes of data every day. “The potential for the amount of information we receive is basically infinite,” said Pohankova.
The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has helped accelerate the thermal imaging evaluation process. “Remote sensing is tightly connected to IT progress.”
The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has helped accelerate the thermal imaging evaluation process. “Remote sensing is tightly connected to IT progress,” Pohankova added.
With the development of AI, scientists can classify large amounts of images more efficiently, identifying surface types and progressing to the next research stage more quickly. The problem is that most of the data is not publicly available, as it is produced by commercial companies that require payment for sharing their data. “And it is, of course, not cheap to buy,” said Pohankova.
Researchers can, however, access satellite images, a universally accessible data source. From a single image, they can make multiple calculations, deducing information about the surface or atmosphere, thereby maximizing the applications associated with these images.
Urban Applications of Thermal Imaging
Remote sensing technology and the data it produces also support urban climate research. Urban applications of thermal imaging typically target Urban Heat Islands (UHI). The term refers to the warmer temperatures that urban environments often experience compared to surrounding rural areas.
UHIs are typically found in cities and areas with prolonged exposure to high temperatures, often due to the use of impervious (not allowing liquid to pass through) materials that absorb large amounts of heat, such as asphalt and concrete. Major metro areas like New York, London, and Delhi, with large populations and extensive transportation, are hotspots for UHIs.
Researchers use thermal imagery to measure the cooling effects of specific surfaces within UHIs, such as vegetation cover in parks, or urban forests and water bodies.
Use in Weapons Detection
Airborne thermal imaging also has the potential to enhance the detection and destruction of contaminated, man-made weapons.
In a 2020 study in the Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, researchers highlighted the challenges associated with sensing and detecting these weapons. New technologies targeting weapons detection will need to overcome challenging terrains, dense vegetation, and metal and plastic materials routinely encountered in what is called humanitarian mine action (HMA).
Urban Case Study: Remote Sensing in the Czech Republic
The European Space Agency has used images of European cities—including the Czech Republic’s capital, Prague—captured aboard the International Space Station by NASA’s thermal infrared ECOSTRESS technology, to better understand temperature extremes.
Researchers in 2019 reviewed a high-resolution thermal mosaic of Olomouc, Czech Republic, using low-altitude airborne remote sensing, and analyzed urban climate research data. In their paper, published in the European Journal of Remote Sensing, a 5°C (9 °F) temperature increase was found during the day at the city’s building canopy layer compared to its ground level. Researchers also concluded that natural materials heat at a lower rate than artificial ones.
In her studies, Pohankova has focused on the evapotranspiration of vegetation connected to urban climates. Since 2019, when she began studying the topic for her master’s thesis, she noted a limited understanding of this technology within the Czech Republic. “Even today, detailed studies for the Czech Republic are scarce,” said Pohankova. “I wanted to show that this topic matters and should be addressed,” she added.
Pohankova has been involved in several academic projects that were delivered to various organizations in the Czech Republic, including the Ministry of the Environment and the town of Černovice.“ The outputs were used to enable better decision-making policy regarding water management,” Pohankova said.
*Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe is a freelance journalist and editor. Over the past 10 years, Natasha has reported for a host of publications, exploring the wider world and industries from environmental, scientific, business, legal, and sociological perspectives. Natasha has also been interviewed as an insight provider for research institutes and conferences.
Source:
Interview with Tereza Pohankova, PhD candidate, Department of Geoinformatics, Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic.
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