What can the technology known as LIDAR primarily detect and monitor?

LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing technology that primarily detects and monitors environmental features. It uses laser light to measure distances to objects on the Earth's surface, allowing it to create highly detailed three-dimensional maps. These maps can be used for various applications, including assessing vegetation patterns, monitoring changes in land use, studying topography, and analyzing forest structure.

LIDAR can collect data on terrain, vegetation height, and other environmental characteristics with great precision, making it a powerful tool for environmental studies and management. This capability is particularly important in fields like geography, forestry, agriculture, and urban planning, where understanding the environment plays a critical role in decision-making and resource management.

In contrast, while LIDAR may indirectly inform aspects of the weather or human activity, its primary function and strength lie in environmental detection and monitoring, making it a vital component of many scientific and engineering applications centered on understanding and managing our natural world.