What type of scanning technology is used by satellites to measure heat?

The correct answer is infrared scanners, as these devices are specifically designed to detect and measure thermal radiation emitted by objects. Infrared scanners recognize wavelengths in the infrared spectrum, which include thermal radiation produced by heat. This ability enables them to gather temperature data and analyze heat patterns on Earth, making them essential tools in climate studies, vegetation analysis, and monitoring natural disasters like wildfires.

Infrared technology is particularly effective because all objects emit thermal radiation based on their temperature. By capturing this radiation, infrared scanners can provide critical information about ground conditions, atmospheric temperatures, and even the health of vegetation by indicating moisture levels.

While optical sensors focus on visible light to capture images and data, and ultraviolet detectors operate in the UV spectrum to observe different properties of materials or atmospheres, they do not excel in measuring heat levels like infrared scanners do. Thermal cameras, although similar, are typically considered a subset of infrared technology and may not encapsulate the broader range of measurements and functionalities that infrared scanners can provide for remote sensing applications.