Instructor
Dr. Anthony VodacekVegetation Optical Properties
76/3104
475-7816
vodacek@cis.rit.edu
Optical
Properties of Vegetation and Soils
By Brigitte Leblon for the Remote Sensing Core Curriculum
Vegetation reflectance spectrum
Leaf Area Index (LAI)
The total area of leaves in a plant canopy projected onto a unit ground
area, divided by the unit ground area. The minimum value is zero
(no leaves) and the maximum can be larger than one because of overlapping
leaves.
Photosynthetically Available Radiation (PAR)
The egion of the spectrum that plants are able to use for photosynthesis
(400-700 nm)
Fraction of Photosynthetically Available Radiation (fPAR)
The fraction of PAR that is absorbed by a canopy
Drought monitoring
NOAA Climate Prediction
Center
- Drought
- Ozone
- ENSO conditions
Explanation
of the Crop Moisture Index
A short term moisture index only. For example, an area with a
high CMI may be in a long term drought.
Explanation
of the Palmer Drought Index
A long term index that does not necessarily respond strongly to recent
precipitation.
Crop Condition and Yield
Research at the USDA-ARS
MARIE-C Project in Europe
for estimating crop yields
USGS
link to spectral sensing of species and stress using AVIRIS
Radarsat 1 image of Pasco, Washington
Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
A - early vegetation
B - bare field
C - Columbia River, Pasco, WA
