Applications of Multi-Instrument Remote Sensing in Climate Change and Sustainability Monitoring

Dear Colleagues,

Satellite missions that combine optical, thermal, radar, microwave, and LiDAR sensors provide a unique, multidimensional view of Earth’s atmosphere, land, and oceans. Integrating data from these instruments enables scientists to monitor climate change—tracking greenhouse gas emissions, surface temperatures, vegetation health, soil moisture, water availability, and extreme climate events—with high spatial and temporal resolution. Such comprehensive observations are essential for assessing carbon budgets, evaluating renewable water resources, and detecting changes in ecosystem services, thereby supporting global climate-mitigation and sustainability goals.

However, challenges still remain that limit the full potential of multi-instrument applications. Harmonizing measurements with different spectral, spatial, and temporal resolutions, calibration standards, and observation schedules is technically complex. Diverse sensor characteristics require rigorous cross-calibration and ground validation to ensure precision. The enormous data volumes demand advanced algorithms, high-performance computing, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Access can be further constrained by costs, licensing, and uneven technical capacity, particularly in developing regions. Addressing these issues will enhance the reliability and global reach of satellite-based climate monitoring and the assessment of a sustainable Earth, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Water–Energy–Food–Health (WEFH) nexus.

This Special Issue highlights applications of multi-instrument remote sensing for climate change  and sustainability monitoring, such as land-cover change, vegetation health, soil moisture, habtiat conditions, and freshwater resources. Optical imagery tracks plant growth and urban expansion, while synthetic aperture radar (SAR) penetrates clouds to provide high-resolution data on deforestation, wetlands, and surface changes. Thermal sensors reveal heat anomalies that are linked to wildfires, droughts, heatwaves, and urban heat islands, and LiDAR maps forest structure and carbon-rich biomass. Beyond terrestrial landscapes, multi-instrument observations strengthen atmospheric and cryospheric monitoring. Data from spectrometers, microwave radiometers, and ground stations improve the detection of greenhouse gases, aerosols, snow cover, and ice-sheet fluctuations—key indicators for evaluating global sustainability goals.

This Special Issue focuses on cutting-edge advances in multi-instrument remote sensing for monitoring climate change and supporting sustainability goals. By integrating data from satellites, airborne platforms, and ground networks—including optical, thermal, radar, microwave, and LiDAR—researchers can capture a detailed, multidimensional view of Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere. We welcome studies on innovative data-fusion techniques, cross-sensor analytics, and real-world applications in ecosystem monitoring, carbon and water cycles, natural hazard detection, and climate change assessment. Emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and emerging tools such as cloud computing and machine learning, this Special Issue highlights state-of-the-art methods and practical insights to advance science-driven environmental management and global sustainability policy. We particularly encourage contributions from graduate students, early-career researchers, and scientists from less-served regions to broaden participation and global impact.

Prof. Dr. John J. Qu
Prof. Dr. Xianjun Hao
Dr. Zhiliang Zhu
Guest Editors

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