Application of airborne and spaceborne hyperspectral imaging techniques for atmospheric research: past, present, and future

Airborne and spaceborne hyperspectral imaging techniques are topics of great interest in the remote sensing field due to their ability to provide rich spatial and spectral information, which are paramount for a better characterization of the Earth's surface and atmosphere. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the current state-of-the-art in the applications of airborne and spaceborne hyperspectral imaging for atmospheric research. Main hyperspectral imaging systems, data analysis methods and their applications in some atmosphere research areas, including the estimation of aerosol and water vapor content for a deeper understanding of atmospheric phenomena, cloud characterization for better prediction of weather phenomena, and gas emissions detection for air quality control, were discussed. Many studies have shown very promising results, but as hyperspectral imaging is in a continuous dynamic, there are several challenges that need to be addressed in future studies so that it can become one of the most important tools for atmosphere research. The answer to some questions on this topic is provided and directions for future research are outlined.