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Natural Resources Canada > Earth Sciences Sector > Priorities > Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
Tour Canada from space Calgary, Alberta
 The city of Calgary is located at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers. The main downtown core of the city is clearly seen in this SPOT panchromatic 10 metre image. Although the image consists of only one band of imagery, the high resolution (detail) allows us to identify many of the major and well known features of this cityscape. Near a meander in the Elbow River the Stampede Grounds are easy to locate due to their size and unique shape. Many recreational areas can be identified such as golf courses and a reservoir. Roads and bridges, industrial sections and even a sewage treatment plant are clearly visible. The high-rise office buildings in Calgary's downtown core as well as large apartment complexes can be identified.
Question: Can you tell (approximately) from which direction the sun was shining when this image was acquired? [ Answer ]
About this Image
| Location: |
Calgary, Alberta |
| NTS map(s): |
82 O/1 (1:50,000) |
 Location Map: |
See a detailed map (1:1M) of the region |
| Image Date: |
September 5, 1991 |
| Satellites/Sensors: |
SPOT Panchromatic mode (PLA) |
| Resolution: |
10 m pixels |
| Image Area: |
10km by 10km for overview image (7km by 7km for more detailed image) |
| Image Features: |
Stampede/rodeo grounds, downtown core, light industry, water sewage treatment plant, apartment buildings, lake and dam site, golf course, rivers, bridges, effect of shadows |
| Related Tour Images: |
Toronto, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; Vancouver, British Columbia; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Ottawa, Ontario; Québec City, Québec |
| Related Glossary Terms: |
These terms from the CCRS Glossary may help you to understand this image and its interpretation:
image texture, tone, brightness, contrast, contrast enhancement, contrast stretch |
| Related Tutorial Sections: |
These sections of the "Fundamentals of Remote Sensing" tutorial by CCRS will help you to better understand this image and its interpretation:
2.3 2.8 2.12 5.7.1
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| Image Credits: |
Received by Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
Processed by and provided courtesy of RADARSAT International Inc.
© CNES 1991 |
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Additional
Information: | The SPOT panchromatic sensor, while collecting one channel of information (therefore displayed only as black and white), actually collects information from throughout the green, red and near-infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Information about vegetation is not as easy to determine with panchromatic data as it is with "multispectral", which represent information independently from several bands. However, in this image, the areas with the greatest amount of vegetation (i.e. treed landscapes) are still distinct due to a noticeably darker tone. The golf courses and parks are therefore represented in darker tones. Interpretation of panchromatic images relies more on shape, texture, location and context for successful visual analysis. Some of Calgary's fame comes from the Calgary Stampede, a rodeo held every summer. It is one of the largest "festivals" in North America. Calgary is also known for hosting the 1988 winter Olympics. |
| Question: |
Can you tell (approximately) from which direction the sun was shining when this image was acquired? |
| Answer: |
The sun was shining from the south, or more precisely, slightly east of south. How was this determined? Take a good look at the downtown (business) section of town (top of the image). The tall buildings are casting shadows that can be detected even on this satellite image. For a clearer view of the shadows see a close-up of the downtown core. |
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