The main goal of this work is the analysis of new approaches in order to study the properties of astronomical sites. The objective is to calibrate the atmospheric extinction provided by in situ techniques through remote sensing data retrieved from satellite-platforms. We have explored the usefulness of data provided by different spectrographs onboard NASA and ESA satellites with better spatial and temporal resolutions than TOMS and centered on channels of astronomical interest as a possible tool for site characterization. In addition, from these satellite data is possible to go back at the cloud coverage, the climatic trend or the atmospheric turbulence from troposphere winds. The main problem to use these values is their interpretation and their quantitative calibration. Data analysis need to be complemented with those provided by in situ instruments (telescopes, airborne particles counters, ground meteorological stations, etc.).