Remote sensing of Earth's surface commonly exploits multiple atmospheric transmission windows. Which wavelength ranges (μm or cm) are typically used for optical/IR and microwave Earth observation?

Introduction / Context:
Earth observation sensors are designed around atmospheric windows—spectral regions where absorption by gases like water vapour and carbon dioxide is relatively low. Optical and infrared instruments occupy several windows, while microwave (centimetre wavelengths) systems such as radar exploit broader all-weather transmission bands. This question asks you to identify the commonly used bands across these regions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Spectral ranges listed include visible–near IR, shortwave IR, mid–thermal IR, and microwave windows.
• We are considering typical, widely used ranges rather than an exhaustive list.
• Units are micrometres (μm) for optical/IR and centimetres (cm) for microwave.

Concept / Approach:
Window sets include: visible to near-IR (approx. 0.4–1.3 μm), shortwave IR (e.g., 1.5–1.8 μm and 2.2–2.6 μm), mid-IR (around 3–5 μm), thermal IR (about 8–14 μm within the larger 7–15 μm region), plus microwave windows in the centimetre range (for example, 1–30 cm covering L, S, C, X, Ku bands used by SAR and scatterometers). Because each option lists a valid window group, the correct selection is the inclusive one.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Recognize that 0.4–1.3 μm and the two SWIR windows are standard for multispectral imagers.Identify 3–5 μm and 7–15 μm as mid/thermal IR regions where emissive sensing occurs.Note that 1–30 cm corresponds to radar/microwave sensing through clouds and at night.Hence, all listed ranges are used, so “All of these.”

Verification / Alternative check:
Band placements on sensors like Landsat, Sentinel-2/3, MODIS, VIIRS, and SAR missions confirm these window selections.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Any single set alone would omit other widely used windows; therefore only the combined option reflects practice.
• Restricting to a narrow visible band (e.g., only 0.6–0.7 μm) ignores critical IR and microwave capabilities.

Common Pitfalls:
Mixing micrometres and centimetres; forgetting that strong absorption bands (e.g., around 1.4, 1.9 μm) are usually avoided in reflective imaging.

Final Answer:
All of these