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 selected data provided by different spectrographs on board NASA and ESA satelites 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 satelite measurements it is possible to derive data related to the cloud coverage and climatic trends, or about 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.).