What is remote sensing?

Remote sensing refers to the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon without making physical contact with it. This is typically achieved through the use of various technologies such as satellites and aerial sensors, which collect data across different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. By analyzing this collected data, researchers can gather valuable insights into geographical, environmental, and atmospheric conditions.

The ability to gather information remotely allows for large-scale monitoring and mapping that would be impractical or impossible through direct contact methods. For instance, remote sensing is critical in applications such as meteorology, land-use planning, and environmental monitoring.

In contrast, the other options provided pertain to methods that involve direct interaction with the subject being studied, such as physical contact, sample collection, or measurements made in direct contact with the environment, which do not align with the essence of remote sensing as a non-invasive data collection technique.