<p>Immediate remote sensing detection and diagnosis of surface anomalies is a critical requirement to ensure the healthy development of China’s social economy and national security in the new era. However, this emerging frontier field is still in its infancy. Current researches lack not only a clear definition and analysis of concepts related to surface anomalies, but also a systematic examination of research approaches and development prospects. This study systematically summarizes the concepts and manifestation characteristics of anomaly, surface anomaly, and potential surface anomaly, and analyzes the connections and differences between them. Based on the temporal incongruence, spatial incongruence, and spatiotemporal incongruence characteristics of potential surface anomalies, three research frameworks for immediate remote sensing detection of potential surface anomalies are proposed, and the key issues and development prospects under these three research frameworks are pointed out. This study can provide research approaches and theoretical basis for immediate remote sensing detection of surface anomalies.</p>