Abstract
During the last decades, remote sensing has changed the way humans observe and understand the Earth system. The repeated and increasingly detailed observations made from satelliteSatellite platforms and other remote sensing procedures have revolutionized research, particularly in the atmospheric and oceanographic sciences but also in the biophysical sciences. This chapter presents a systematic literature review of the different ways in which remote sensing has been applied in Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada, SpainSpain. Studies ranged from basic research to how remote sensing is actually contributing to management in this mountain biosphere reserve. The chapter is structured using the ecosystem servicesEcosystem service cascade as a framework, i.e., from studies on abiotic (i.e., geophysical, atmospheric, cryospheric, and hydrological) processes to research on biodiversityBiodiversity and ecosystem functions and services. The number of remote sensing studies in Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada is quickly growing but still relatively scarce (only 65 records). Most of this research was either applied or use-oriented research and found to be potentially useful to assess Biodiversity Conservation status and ecosystem servicesEcosystem service, indeed it frequently contained recommendations for the management of the protected area. Hence, there is an expected increase in the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary application of remote sensing to research in Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada.
Keywords: Earth observation, Satellite, Drone, Unmanned aerial vehicle, Manned aerial vehicle, Airborne sensors, Radiometer, Multispectral, Spain