Long-Wave Infrared Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Chemical Clouds: A focus on signal processing approaches

Many military and civilian applications depend on the ability to remotely sense chemical agent (CA) clouds, from detecting small but lethal concentrations of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) to mapping plumes in the aftermath of natural disasters. Hyperspectral imaging sensors, in the long-wave infrared (IR) (LWIR) part of the spectrum, are particularly well suited for these gas-sensing tasks. Their wide fields of view allow many square kilometers to be imaged almost simultaneously, and their high spectral resolutions often allow the detection of chemical clouds even when they are optically thin (or nearly transparent).