Basic research in the field of thermal infrared remote sensing

This overview paper points out that one of the problems impeding further de velopment of remote sensing is that not much attention has been paid to bas ic research. Key contents of basic research in remote sensing, including mo deling, inversion, scaling and scientific experiments, are reviewed. Signif icance of basic research is demonstrated through summarizing the intentions and progress of the project "Quantitative Remote Sensing Research on Land Surface Energy Exchange".