Transparent Earth-Observing: Exploring the new generation of Earth observation technology

Earth is a complex giant system. The spheres of earth, such as the Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, and Lithosphere, are interconnected and interact on each other as subsystems of the giant system. However, achieving a comprehensive and profound understanding of the spatial-temporal processes and interaction mechanisms within Earth system remains an imposing scientific endeavor. One significant obstacle is the limited availability of fine and interior data of spheres that can support groundbreaking researches on critical Earth system science topics and applications of remote sensing observation to the earth. Thus, there is an urgent need for systematic, multidimensional, and multi-scale observation information of the interior of the earth’s spheres to effectively address these concerns. Utilizing multiple observing means—including satellites, aircraft, and ground-based systems, along with advanced remote sensing detecting technologies that cover a spectrum from electromagnetic to microwave, laser, and gravity, the physical elements, internal structure, and evolution processes of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere can be finely and comprehensively measured. Integration on diverse observing means will greatly enhance the ability to acquire highly accurate and deeply detailed insights into the earth and its subsystems. This paper proposed the concept of Transparent Earth-Observing (TEO) and its composition,which refers to the integration of new transparent-detecting model and advanced remote sensing technologies to acquire comprehensive, dynamic, and multi-dimensional interior information of Earth spheres. Transparent Earth-Observing helps to overcome the limitations of traditional Earth observation methods that primarily focus on the Earth’s surface, facilitating multi-dimensional, penetrative, high-resolution sensing of internal structures and process variation within the atmosphere, forests, oceans, and solid Earth. Transparent Earth-Observing, to a certain extent, symbolizes a new era in earth observation. This paper also put forwards a scheme to establish prototype system of Transparent Earth-Observing, which primarily focuses on design and implementation of airborne transparent observing platform, a novel remote sensing flying laboratory. The system follows a methodology that includes transparent-detecting methods, payload integration, field experiments, parameter retrieval, and validation and assessment. The prototype system of Transparent Earth-Observing enables the integration of multidimensional remote sensing technologies and the consolidation of diverse interior detecting information of the Earth sphere, thereby enhancing the dimension, scale, and density of observation information regarding various physical quantities and broadening our cognitive horizons. In summary, as an exploration research and development direction of the next generation of Earth observation, the Transparent Earth-Observing will support the quantitative understanding of internal structures within Earth spheres and then promote the advancement of Earth System Science. At the same time, it will also stimulate innovation in core areas such as aerospace technology, enhance humanity’s ability to develop and utilize resources, predict and respond to extreme weather events and global environmental changes. © 2024 Science Press. All rights reserved.