What does atmospheric correction entail in remote sensing?

Atmospheric correction is a crucial step in remote sensing that involves removing the effects of the atmosphere on satellite images. When satellite sensors capture images, the data can be significantly affected by atmospheric particles, gases, and water vapor. These factors can scatter and absorb the light that reaches the satellite, leading to distortions in the reflected light from the Earth's surface.

By performing atmospheric correction, analysts can retrieve more accurate surface reflectance values, which represent the true colors and properties of the land features. This process ensures that the data is more reliable for applications such as vegetation monitoring, land use classification, and change detection. It allows researchers and scientists to make better assessments based on the data collected from satellite imagery, leading to more informed decisions in environmental monitoring, agriculture, and urban planning, among other fields.

The other options do not correctly define atmospheric correction. Adjusting satellite orbits focuses on optimizing imaging capabilities rather than correcting atmospheric interference. Enhancing brightness and increasing image resolution deal with image processing techniques that do not specifically address atmospheric distortions. Therefore, removing atmospheric effects from satellite images accurately describes the purpose and significance of atmospheric correction in remote sensing.