Atmospheric windows — bands where the atmosphere is mostly transparent to EM radiation. Remote-sensing instruments are designed to fit inside them.

• Visible (0.4 – 0.7 µm)
• Near-infrared (0.7 – 1.3 µm)
• Middle / short-wave infrared (1.3 – 3.0 µm, with gaps)
• Thermal infrared (3.0 – 5.0 µm and 8 – 14 µm — the big thermal window)

• Microwave (1 mm – 1 m) — used by radar; essentially all-weather.

• Blocked regions (opaque) are dominated by H₂O and CO₂ absorption in the IR.