Sub‐pixel reflectance unmixing in estimating vegetation water content and dry biomass of corn and soybeans cropland using normalized difference water index (NDWI) from satellites

Estimating vegetation cover, water content, and dry biomass from space plays a significant role in a variety of scientific fields including drought monitoring, climate modelling, and agricultural prediction. However, getting accurate and consistent measurements of vegetation is complicated very often by the contamination of the remote sensing signal by the atmosphere and soil reflectance variations at the surface. This study used Landsat TM/ETM+ and MODIS data to investigate how sub‐pixel atmospheric and soil reflectance contamination can be removed from the remotely sensed vegetation growth signals. The sensitivity of spectral bands and vegetation indices to such contamination was evaluated. Combining the strengths of atmospheric models and empirical approaches, a hybrid atmospheric correction scheme was proposed. With simplicity, it can achieve reasonable accuracy in comparison with the 6S model. Insufficient vegetation coverage information and poor evaluation of fractional sub‐pixel bare soil reflectance are major difficulties in sub‐pixel soil reflectance unmixing. Vegetation coverage was estimated by the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI). Sub‐pixel soil reflectance was approximated from the nearest bare soil pixel. A linear reflectance mixture model was employed to unmix sub‐pixel soil reflectance from vegetation reflectance. Without sub‐pixel reflectance contamination, results demonstrate the true linkage between the growth of sub‐pixel vegetation and the corresponding change in satellite spectral signals. Results suggest that the sub‐pixel soil reflectance contamination is particularly high when vegetation coverage is low. After unmixing, the visible and shortwave infrared reflectances decrease and the near‐infrared reflectances increase. Vegetation water content and dry biomass were estimated using the unmixed vegetation indices. Superior to the NDVI and the other NDWIs, the SWIR (1650 nm) band‐based NDWI showed the best overall performance. The use of the NIR (1240 nm), which is a unique band of MODIS, was also discussed.     

Wavelet decomposition of hyperspectral data: a novel approach to quantifying pigment concentrations in vegetation

This paper reports a new approach for quantifying vegetation pigment concentrations through wavelet decomposition of hyperspectral remotely sensed data. Wavelets are a group of functions that vary in complexity and mathematical properties, that are used to dissect data into different frequency components and then characterize each component with a resolution appropriate to its scale. Wavelet analysis of a reflectance spectrum is performed by scaling and shifting the wavelet function to produce wavelet coefficients that are assigned to different frequency components. By selecting appropriate wavelet coefficients, a spectral model can be established between the coefficients and biochemical concentrations. Hence, wavelet analysis has the potential to capture much more of the information contained within high‐resolution spectra than previous approaches and offers the prospect of developing robust, generic methods for pigment determinations. The capabilities of the wavelet‐based technique were examined using reflectance spectra and pigment data collected for a range of plant species at leaf and canopy scales. For the combined data set and all of the individual vegetation types, methods based on wavelet decomposition appreciably outperformed narrowband spectral indices and stepwise selection of narrowband reflectance. However, there was variation between vegetation types in the relative performance of the three different feature extraction techniques employed for selecting the wavelet coefficients for use in predictive models. There was also considerable variability in the performance of predictive models according to the wavelet function used for spectral decomposition and the optimum wavelet functions differed between vegetation types and between individual pigments within the same vegetation type. The research indicates that wavelet analysis holds promise for the accurate determination of chlorophyll a and b and the carotenoids, but further work is needed to refine the approach.     

Relationships between percent vegetation cover and vegetation indices

In this paper, percent vegetation cover is estimated from vegetation indices using simulated Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data derived from in situ spectral reflectance data. Spectral reflectance measurements were conducted on grasslands in Mongolia and Japan. Vegetation indices such as the normalized difference, soil-adjusted, modified soil-adjusted and transformed soil-adjusted vegetation indices (NDVI, SAVI, MSAVI and TSAVI) were calculated from the spectral reflectance of various vegetation covers. Percent vegetation cover was estimated using pixel values of red, green and blue bands of digitized colour photographs. Relationships between various vegetation indices and percent vegetation cover were compared using a second-order polynomial regression. TSAVI and NDVI gave the best estimates of vegetation cover for a wide range of grass densities.     

Determination of leaf pigment content in Calluna vulgaris shoots from spectral reflectance

Leaf pigment concentrations are indicative of a range of plant physiological properties and processes. The measurement of leaf spectral reflectance is a rapid, non-destructive method for determining pigment content, and a large number of spectral indices have been developed for the estimation of leaf pigment content. Despite their ‘applicability’ across many species types, some ecologically important species remain to be explored. The objective of this paper was to investigate a wide range of hyperspectral indices for determining the chlorophyll and carotenoid content in a microphyllous and sclerophyllous species, Calluna vulgaris. We carried out spectral measurements on individual heather shoots with a handheld GER-1500 spectroradiometer, and sampled each measured shoot for biochemical analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We found that several previously published indices performed relatively poorly and yielded coefficients of determination (R²) for chlorophyll ranging from 0.34 to 0.66, with the first derivative of reflectance at the red edge yielding the highest correlation with chlorophyll content (R² = 0.66). Only one of the carotenoid indices we tested (the Photochemical Reflectance Index, PRI) provided a strong correlation with the de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle (R² = 0.78). The other previously published carotenoid indices performed poorly within our data set. We concluded that only a few of the so-called ‘widely applicable’ indices were applicable to use with this data set, which would present limitations when working with remotely sensed data at a larger scale where a mix of species, including Calluna vulgaris, is present.     

基于地表参数真实性的GF-1和SPOT-7多光谱影像质量评价

目的 遥感影像中地表信息表达真实程度决定了影像信息提取和定量化应用水平,传统的从像素灰度和视觉特性角度的影像质量评价方法难以评价影像对地表信息表达能力,本文从地表反射率和NDVI（normalized difference vegetation index）两种地表参数真实性角度评价GF-1和SPOT-7多光谱影像质量。方法 提出了一种基于地表参数真实性的多光谱影像质量评价方法,完成GF-1和SPOT-7卫星对实验区同步成像,地面同步测量大气光学特性和典型地物样区光谱,获取同步观测数据并对多光谱影像进行辐射误差处理,计算地物样区在影像上的反射率和NDVI,通过与地面实测光谱数据比较分析了地表参数真实性,评价GF-1和SPOT-7多光谱影像质量。结果 人工靶标中GF-1影像在4个波段反射率误差均在5%内,精度优于SPOT-7;植被地物中SPOT-7影像在蓝绿红波段反射率误差在4%内,近红外波段误差在15%内,NDVI误差在16%内,反射率和NDVI精度均优于GF-1;硬地地物中GF-1影像在4个波段反射率误差在6%内,精度优于SPOT-7;评价结果表明SPOT-7多光谱影像对植被类地物光谱表达真实度更高,GF-1对硬地类地物光谱表达真实度更高。结论 提出的基于地表参数真实性的遥感影像质量评价方法,能够有效地从地物光谱信息表达精度的角度评价影像质量。     

Study of vegetation spectral anomaly behaviour in a porphyry copper mine area based on hyperspectral indices

ABSTRACT

Hyperspectral remote sensing is economical and fast, and it can reveal detailed spectral information of plants. Hence, hyperspectral data are used in this study to analyse the spectral anomaly behaviours of vegetation in porphyry copper mine areas. This analytical method is used to compare the leaf spectra and relative differences among the vegetation indices; then, the correlation coefficients were computed between the soil copper content and vegetation index of Quercus spinosa leaves at both the leaf scale and the canopy scale in the Chundu mine area with different geological backgrounds. Lastly, this study adopts hyperspectral data for the level slicing of vegetation anomalies in the Chundu mine area. The results showed that leaf spectra in the orebody and background area differed greatly, especially in the infrared band (750 nm – 1300 nm); moreover, some indices like the normalized water index (NWI) and normalized difference water index (NDWI) of Quercus spinosa and Lamellosa leaves are sensitive to changes in the geological background. Compared with the canopy, the leaf hyperspectral indices of Quercus spinosa in Chundu can better reflect soil cuprum (Cu) anomaly. In addition, the NWI and NDWI of Quercus spinosa are significantly correlated with the soil Cu content at both the canopy scale and the leaf scale. Consequently, the results of the vegetation anomaly level slicing can adequately reflect the plant anomalies from ore bodies and nearby areas, thereby providing a new ore-finding method for areas with a high degree of vegetation coverage.     

Angular sensitivity analysis of vegetation indices derived from CHRIS/PROBA data

View angle effects present in spectral vegetation indices can either be regarded as an added source of uncertainty for variable retrieval or as a source of additional information, enhancing the variable retrieval; however, the magnitude of these angular effects remains for most indices unknown or unquantified. We use the ESA-mission CHRIS-PROBA (Compact High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer onboard the Project for On-board Autonomy) providing spaceborne imaging spectrometer and multiangular data to assess the reflectance anisotropy of broadband as well as recently developed narrowband indices. Multiangular variability of Hemispherical Directional Reflectance Factor (HDRF) is a prime factor determining the indices´ angular response. Two contrasting structural vegetation types, pine forest and meadow, were selected to study the effect of reflectance anisotropy on the angular response. Calculated indices were standardized and statistically evaluated for their varying HDRF. Additionally we employ a coupled radiative transfer model (PROSPECT/FLIGHT) to quantify and substantiate the findings beyond an incidental case study. Nearly all tested indices manifested a prominent anisotropic behaviour. Apart from the conventional broadband greenness indices [e.g. Simple Ratio Index (SRI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)], light use efficiency and leaf pigment indices [e.g. Structure Insensitive Pigment Index (SIPI), Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI) and Anthocyanin Reflectance Index (ARI)] did express significant different angular responses depending on the vegetation type. Following the quantification of the impact, we conclude that the angular-dependent fraction of non-photosynthetic material is of critical importance shaping the angular signature of these VIs. This work highlights the influence of viewing geometry and surface reflectance anisotropy, particularly when using light use efficiency and leaf pigment indices.     

南京冬季典型植被光谱特征分析

利用FieldSpec4便携式地物光谱仪和ASD积分球,于2014年7月和12月对研究区6种典型植被进行光谱数据采集与处理,分析植被冠层和落叶的光谱特征及其变化规律,同时分析坡度因素、测量方法对植被光谱反射率的影响。结果表明:不同季节常绿植被光谱存在差异,不同植被光谱反射率的季节变化也不同。冬季常绿植被具有相似的光谱特征,但是不同植被类型之间也存在明显的差异。冬季植被冠层光谱呈现出先降低后稳定的特点;植被落叶层光谱由于受叶片色素、含水量、土壤背景等因素的影响,在衰老腐化的过程中并未出现明显的规律性变化。一定坡度范围内,植被光谱反射率随坡度的增大而升高。不同的测量方法获取的植被光谱反射率不同,但是光谱变化规律相同。     

Understanding burn severity sensing in Arctic tundra: exploring vegetation indices,suboptimal assessment timing and the impact of increasing pixel size

Little is known about how satellite imagery can be used to describe burn severity in tundra landscapes. The Anaktuvuk River Fire (ARF) in 2007 burned over 1000 km² of tundra on the North Slope of Alaska, creating a mosaic of small (1 m²) to large (>100 m²) patches that differed in burn severity. The ARF scar provided us with an ideal landscape to determine if a single-date spectral vegetation index can be used once vegetation recovery began and to independently determine how pixel size influences burn severity assessment. We determine and explore the sensitivity of several commonly used vegetation indices to variation in burn severity across the ARF scar and the influence of pixel size on the assessment and classification of tundra burn severity. We conducted field surveys of spectral reflectance at the peak of the first growing season post-fire (extended assessment period) at 18 field sites that ranged from high to low burn severity. In comparing single-date indices, we found that the two-band enhanced vegetation index (EVI2) was highly correlated with normalized burn ratio (NBR) and better distinguished among three burn severity classes than both the NBR and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). We also show clear evidence that shortwave infrared (SWIR) reflectivity does not vary as a function of burn severity. By comparing a Quickbird scene (2.4 m pixels) to simulated 30 and 250 m pixel scenes, we are able to confirm that while the moderate spatial resolution of the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor (30 m) is sufficient for mapping tundra burn severity, the coarser resolution of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor (250 m) is not well matched to the fine scale of spatial heterogeneity in the ARF burn scar.     

Spreading algorithm for efficient vegetation detection in cluttered outdoor environments

This paper investigates the problem of detecting vegetation in unstructured environments for guiding an autonomous robot safely, exploiting its mobility capability in a cluttered outdoor environment. The aim is to create an adaptive learning algorithm which performs a quantitatively accurate detection that is fast enough for a real-time application. Chlorophyll-rich vegetation pixels are selected by thresholding vegetation indices, and then are considered as the seeds of a “spread vegetation”. For each seed pixel, a convex combination of color and texture dissimilarities is used to infer the difference between the pixel and its neighbors. The convex combination, trained via semi-supervised learning, models either the difference of vegetation pixels or the difference between a vegetation pixel and a non-vegetation pixel, and thus allows a greedy decision-making process to expand the spread vegetation, so-called vision-based spreading. To avoid overspreading, especially in the case of noise, a spreading scale is set. On the other hand, another vegetation spreading based on spectral reflectance is carried out in parallel. Finally, the intersection part resulting from both the vision-based and spectral reflectance-based methods is added to the spread vegetation. The approach takes into account both vision and chlorophyll light absorption properties. This enables the algorithm to capture much more detailed vegetation features than does prior art, and also give a much richer experience in the interpretation of vegetation representation, even for scenes with significant overexposure or underexposure as well as with the presence of shadow and sunshine. In all real-world experiments we carried out, our approach yields a detection accuracy of over 90%.     

Simple reflectance indices track heat and water stress-induced changes in steady-state chlorophyll fluorescence at the canopy scale

Non-invasive remote sensing techniques for monitoring plant stress and photosynthetic status have received much attention. The majority of published vegetation indices are not sensitive to rapid changes in plant photosynthetic status brought on by common environmental stressors such as diurnal fluxes in irradiance and heat. This is due to the fact that most vegetation indices have no direct link to photosynthetic functioning beyond their sensitivity to canopy structure and pigment concentration changes. In contrast, this study makes progress on a more direct link between passive reflectance measurements and plant physiological status through an understanding of photochemical quenching (qP) and non-photochemical quenching processes. This is accomplished through the characterization of steady-state fluorescence (Fs) and its influence on apparent reflectance in the red-edge spectral region. A series of experiments were conducted under controlled environmental conditions, linking passive reflectance measurements of a grapevine canopy (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon) to leaf level estimates of CO₂ assimilation (A), stomatal conductance (g), qP, and Fs. Plant stress was induced by imposing a diurnal heat stress and recovery event and by withholding water from the plant canopy over the course of the experiment. We outlined evidence for a link between Fs and photosynthetic status, identified the Fs signal in passive remote sensing reflectance data, and related reflectance-derived estimates of Fs to plant photosynthetic status. These results provide evidence that simple reflectance indices calculated in the red-edge spectral region can track temperature and water-induced changes in Fs and, consequently, provide a rapid assessment of plant stress that is directly linked to plant physiological processes.     

Synthesis of mixed pixel hyperspectral signatures

The general method of analysing mixed pixel spectral response is to decompose the actual spectra into several pure spectral components representing the signatures of the endmembers. This work suggests a reverse engineering of standardizing the mixed pixel spectrum for a certain spatial distribution of endmembers by synthesizing spectral signatures with varying proportions of standard spectral library data and matching them with the experimentally obtained mixed pixel signature. The idea is demonstrated with hyperspectral ultraviolet–visible–near-infrared (UV–vis–NIR) reflectance measurements on laboratory-generated model mixed pixels consisting of different endmember surfaces: concrete, soil, brick and vegetation and hyperspectral signatures derived from Hyperion satellite images consisting of concrete, soil and vegetation in different proportions. The experimental reflectance values were compared with the computationally generated spectral variations assuming linear mixing of pure spectral signatures. Good matching in the nature of spectral variation was obtained in most cases. It is hoped that using the present concept, hyperspectral signatures of mixed pixels can be synthesized from the available spectral libraries and matched with those obtained from satellite images, even with fewer bands. Thus enhancing the computational job in the laboratory can moderate the keen requirement of high accuracy of remote-sensor and band resolution, thereby reducing data volume and transmission bandwidth.     

A spectral matching quality indicator for material mapping using spectral library search methods

Spectral library search methods are being used increasingly as an efficient approach for exploiting hyperspectral remotely sensed data in material identification and mapping applications. The aim of this study was to develop a quantitative method, using an indicator called the Quality factor (Q-factor), for providing quantitative information on the reliability of spectral identifications in the interpretation (classification) of unknown spectra by library search methods. This was achieved by summing the two main requirements of a typical reflectance spectral library search for material mapping: (1) a reliable correlation between spectral matching scores and material similarity, and (2) a reliable separation ability between the relevant and non-relevant parts of the candidate reference spectra. These form a metric whose values reflect the closeness of the output reference spectra to the input unknown spectra for a chosen library search method. The Q-factor was tested as an indicator of the reliability of the material identifications by the library search for a range of unknown reflectance spectra of various types of vegetation, soils and minerals collected from the US Geological Survey (USGS) Spectral Library and from our in-house spectral database. The results indicate that this approach has the potential to separate correct and incorrect spectral identifications resulting from a particular spectral library search method using a reference similarity logic. The method may be applied to any combination of deterministic spectral matching alternatives using reflectance spectra. Spectrum-level quality information provided by the Q-factor is useful for optimizing a particular search method or for choosing the most appropriate method for distinct identification and classification problems.     

Monitoring drought effects on vegetation water content and fluxes in chaparral with the 970 nm water band index

The goal of this study was to explore the utility of the 970 nm water band index (WBI) in estimating evapotranspiration and vegetation water status for a semiarid shrubland ecosystem. Between 2001 and 2003, spectral reflectance coupled with CO₂ and water flux data were collected at Sky Oaks Biological Field Station, a chaparral-dominated ecosystem in southern California, and one of the sites within the SpecNet network. The reflectance data were collected either by walking along a 100 m transect or by using a semi-automated tram system installed later at the site along the same 100 m transect. CO₂ and water flux data were gathered with an eddy covariance flux tower adjacent to the tram system. The 970 nm WBI and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were derived from the spectral reflectance. The two indices were expressed both as points approximately a meter apart along the transect and as whole-transect averages, where all of the reflectance values along the transect were averaged together, simulating a large pixel. This study encompassed a wet year with normal precipitation (2001), a 100-year record drought (2002), and a recovery year (2003), allowing for comparison over time and between precipitation regimes. Species-specific responses to wet and dry periods were evident in the reflectance spectra, providing a basis for separating species based on their optical properties. The WBI was significantly correlated with the NDVI revealing a strong link between canopy water content and green canopy structure; however this relationship varied with species and water status, providing evidence for the independence of these two optical indices. The WBI was also strongly linked to surface-atmosphere fluxes, explaining 49% of the variance in the water vapor flux, and 24% of the carbon dioxide fluxes. These results suggest that WBI or other similar water status indices may be useful variables in modeling CO₂ and water fluxes when combined with other physiological, environmental, and atmospheric factors.     

Effect of leaf and spike morphological traits on the relationship between spectral reflectance indices and yield in wheat

While certain spectral reflectance indices have been shown to be sensitive to the expression of a range of performance-related traits in crops, knowledge of the potentially confounding effects associated with plant anatomy could help improve their application in phenotyping. Morphological traits (leaf and spike wax content, leaf and spike orientation, and awns on spikes) were studied in 20 contrasting advanced wheat lines to determine their influence on spectral indices and in their association with grain yield under well-irrigated conditions. Canopy reflectance (400–1100 nm) was determined at heading and grain filling during two growing seasons and three vegetation indices (VIs; red normalized difference vegetation index (RNDVI), green normalized difference vegetation index (GNDVI), and simple ratio (SR)), and five water indices (WIs; one simple WI and four normalized WIs (NWI-1, NWI-2, NWI-3, and NWI-4)) were calculated. The major reflectance fluctuations caused by the differences in leaf and spike morphology mainly occurred in the infrared region (700–1100 nm) and little variation in the visible region (400–700 nm). The NWI-3 ((R₉₇₀ – R₈₈₀)/(R₉₇₀ + R₈₈₀)) consistently showed a stronger association with yield than the RNDVI by using uncorrected canopy reflectance (original raw data) and data adjusted by scattering and smoothing. When canopy reflectance was corrected by a scattering method, the NWI-3 and a modified RNDVI with 958 nm showed the strongest correlations with grain yield by grouping lines for waxy leaves and spikes, curved leaves, and erect and awnless spikes. The results showed that the relationship between the spectral indices and grain yield can be improved (higher correlations) by correcting canopy reflectance for confounding effects associated with differences in leaf and spike morphology.     

Estimation of foliar pigment concentration in floating macrophytes using hyperspectral vegetation indices

Foliar pigment concentrations of chlorophylls and cartenoids are important indicators of plant physiological status, photosynthesis rate, and net primary productivity. Although the utility of hyperspectral derived vegetation indices for estimating foliar pigment concentration has been documented for many vegetation types, floating macrophytes have not been assessed despite their ecological importance. This study surveyed 39 wetland species (12 floating macrophytes (FM), 8 grasses/sedges/rushes (GSR), and 19 herbs/wildflowers (HWF)) to determine whether foliar pigment concentrations could be estimated from hyperspectral reflectance. Hyperspectral reflectance of samples was recorded using an ASD FieldSpec3 Max portable spectroradiometer with the plant probe attachment or via a typical laboratory set-up. A semi-empirical relationship was established using either a linear, second-degree polynomial or logarithmic function between 13 candidate vegetation indices and chl-a, chl-b, Car, and chl-a + b pigment concentrations. Vegetation indices R-M, CI-Red, and MTCI were strongly correlated with foliar pigment concentrations using a linear fitting function. Chl-a + b and chl-b concentrations for all samples were reasonably estimated by the R-M index (R² = 0.66 and 0.64), although Chl-a and Car concentration estimates using CI-Red were weaker (R² = 0.63 and 0.51). Regression results indicate that pooled samples to estimate individual foliar pigments were less correlated than when each type of vegetation type was treated separately. For instance, chl-a + b was best estimated by CI-Red for FM (R² = 0.80), MTCI for HWF (R² = 0.77), and R-M for GSR (R² = 0.67). Although floating macrophytes feature unique adaptions to their aquatic environment, their foliar pigment concentrations and spectral signatures were comparable to other wetland vegetation types. Overall, vegetation indices that exploit the red-edge region were a reasonable compromise, having good explanatory power for estimation of foliar pigments across the sampled wetland vegetation types and with CI-Red the best suited index for floating macrophytes.     

小波包信息熵特征矢量光谱角高光谱影像分类

目的 针对高光谱数据波段多、数据存在冗余的特点,将小波包信息熵特征引入到高光谱遥感分类中。方法 通过对光谱曲线进行小波包分解变换,定义了小波包信息熵特征矢量光谱角分类方法(WPE-SAM),基于USGS光谱库中4种矿物光谱数据的分析表明,WPE-SAM可增大类间地物的可区分性。在特征矢量空间对Salina高光谱影像进行分类计算,并讨论了小波包最佳分解层的确定,分析了WPE-SAM与光谱角制图(SAM)方法的分类精度。结果 Salina数据实例计算表明：小波包信息熵矢量能较好地描述原始光谱特征,WPE-SAM分类方法可行,总体分类精度(OA)由SAM的78.62%提高到WPE-SAM的78.66%,Kappa系数由0.769 0增加到0.769 5,平均分类精度(AA)由83.14%提高到84.18%。此外,通过Pavia数据验证了WPE-SAM分类方法具有较强的普适性。结论 小波包信息熵特征可较好地表示原始光谱波峰、波谷等特征信息,定义的小波包信息熵特征矢量光谱角分类方法(WPE-SAM)可增大类间地物可区分性,有利于分类。实验结果表明,WPE-SAM分类方法技术可行,总体精度及Kappa系数较SAM有一定的提高,且有较强的普适性。但WPE-SAM方法精度与效率有待进一步提高。     

Estimating live fuel moisture content from remotely sensed reflectance

Fuel moisture content (FMC) is used in forest fire danger models to characterise the moisture status of the foliage. FMC expresses the amount of water in a leaf relative to the amount of dry matter and differs from measures of leaf water content which express the amount of water in a leaf relative to its area. FMC is related to both leaf water content and leaf dry matter content, and the relationships between FMC and remotely sensed reflectance will therefore be affected by variation in both leaf biophysical properties. This paper uses spectral reflectance data from the Leaf Optical Properties EXperiment (LOPEX) and modelled data from the Prospect leaf reflectance model to examine the relationships between FMC, leaf equivalent water thickness (EWT) and a range of spectral vegetation indices (VI) designed to estimate leaf and canopy water content. Significant correlations were found between FMC and all of the selected vegetation indices for both modelled and measured data, but statistically stronger relationships were found with leaf EWT; overall, the water index (WI) was found to be most strongly correlated with FMC. The accuracy of FMC estimation was very low when the global range of FMC was examined, but for a restricted range of 0-100%, FMC was estimated with a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 15% in the model simulations and 51% with the measured data. The paper shows that the estimation of live FMC from remotely sensed vegetation indices is likely to be problematic when there is variability in both leaf water content and leaf dry matter content in the target leaves. Estimating FMC from remotely sensed data at the canopy level is likely to be further complicated by spatial and temporal variations in leaf area index (LAI). Further research is required to assess the potential of canopy reflectance model inversion to estimate live fuel moisture content where a priori information on vegetation properties may be used to constrain the inversion process.     

Non-photosynthetic vegetation biomass estimation in semiarid Canadian mixed grasslands using ground hyperspectral data,Landsat 8 OLI,and Sentinel-2 images

ABSTRACT

Research on quantifying non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) with optical remote-sensing approaches has been focusing on optically distinguishing NPV from green vegetation and bare soil. With a very similar spectral response curve to NPV, dry moss is a significant component in semiarid mixed grasslands and plays a large role in NPV estimation. However, limited attention has been paid to this role. We investigated the potential of optical remote sensing to distinguish NPV biomass in semiarid grasslands characterized by NPV, biological soil crust dominated by moss and lichen, and bare soil. First, hyperspectral spectral indices were examined to determine the most useful spectral wavelength regions for NPV biomass estimation. Second, multispectral red-edge indices and shortwave infrared (SWIR) indices were simulated based on Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Sentinel-2A MultiSpectral Instrument band reflectance, respectively, to determine the most suitable multispectral indices for NPV estimation. The potential multispectral indices were then applied to Landsat 8 OLI images and Sentinel-2A images acquired in early, middle, peak, and early senescence growing seasons to investigate the potential of satellite images for quantifying NPV biomass. Our results indicated that hyperspectral red-edge indices, modified simple ratio, modified red-edge normalized difference vegetation index (mNDVI₇₀₅), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI₇₀₅) are better than the SWIR hyperspectral indices, including cellulose absorption index for quantifying NPV biomass. The simulated multispectral red-edge spectral indices (NDVI_red-edge and mNDVI_red-edge) demonstrate good and comparable performance on quantifying NPV biomass with SWIR multispectral indices (normalized difference index [NDI5 and NDI7] and soil-adjusted corn residue index). Nevertheless, the multispectral indices derived from Landsat 8 OLI and Sentinel-2 images have limited potential for NPV biomass estimation.     

Spectral mixture analysis of agricultural crops: Endmember validation and biophysical estimation in potato plots

The spectral reflectance of agricultural crops is affected significantly by sub-pixel scale spectral contributions of background soils and shadows as viewed by a remote sensing instrument. This has meant the potential of remote sensing imagery has not been fully realized for extracting biophysical information and assessing ecological stress using methods such as vegetation indices (VIs). In this paper, we address this problem explicitly using spectral mixture analysis (SMA) to quantify the area abundance of plants, soils and shadows at sub-pixel scales with the aim of improving extraction of plant biophysical and structural information from remote sensing data. Different measurement strategies were tested in the field for acquiring reference endmember spectra of crop vegetation, soil and shadows using a field spectroradiometer for a set of potato plots in western Canada. Endmember measurements included sunlit and shadowed spectra of in situ crop targets, optically thick stacks and data from excised leaves, as well as cultivated, rough and compacted soils. All possible combinations of crop, soil and shadow endmember spectra were analysed using SMA to derive sets of sub-pixel scale component fractions from radiometer spectra acquired from a boom truck over replicate plot samples with a sensor field of view of 1.05 m. Digital video image frames captured simultaneously with the radiometer data were used to determine ground proportions of crop, soil and shadow for independent validation of the SMA fractions. Endmember fractions derived from excised leaves, cultivated soil and shadowed vegetation spectra showed the best agreement with ground truth data, with differences of only ±3.3%. These sub-pixel scale fractions were used in regression analyses to predict leaf area index, biomass and plant width with an average r2 value of 0.85 from SMA shadow fraction, which was a substantial improvement over the best VI results from NDVI, NGVI and SR (average r2 = 0.53). Perspectives on SMA at different stages in the growing season and for different crop types are provided with a recommendation that further SMA research is warranted for local to regional scale agricultural crop monitoring programmes.