Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 20
Remote Sensing of Leaf, Canopy, and Vegetation
Water Contents for Satellite Environmental
Data Records
E. Raymond Hunt Jr., Susan L. Ustin, and David Ria˜o
Abstract
The absorption features of liquid water in plant leaves are readily
detectable, and the amount of leaf water content may be determined by spectros-
copy. Spectral reflectances at about 1240 and 1650 nm are the basis of numerous
remote-sensing indices that could be used to estimate liquid water content of leaves
and canopies. Two applications of remotely sensed water content are estimation of
fuel moisture content for wildfire potential and estimation of vegetation water
content for improving retrievals of soil moisture content from microwave sensors.
The temporal record of MODIS, SPOT Vegetation, and AVHRR/3 sensors and the
future record from VIIRS will create a global environmental data record of canopy
water content for climate change studies.
Keywords
Drought • Soil moisture content • Plant water stress • Wildfire poten-
tial • Fuel moisture content • Spectroscopy • Vegetation indices • Model inversion
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