Coupled atmosphere/canopy model for remote sensing of plant reflectance features
Solar radiative transfer through a coupled system of atmosphere and plant canopy is modeled as a multiple-scattering problem through a layered medium of random scatterers. The radiative transfer equation is solved by the discrete-ordinates finite-element method. Analytic expressions are derived that allow the calculation of scattering and absorption cross sections for any plant canopy layer from measurable biophysical parameters such as the leaf area index, leaf angle distribution, and individual leaf reflectance and transmittance data. An expression for a canopy scattering phase function is also given. Computational results are in good agreement with spectral reflectance measurements directly above a soybean canopy, and the concept of greenness- and brightness-transforms of Landsat MSS data is reconfirmed with our computed results. A sensitivity analysis with the coupled atmosphere/canopy model quantifies how satellite-sensed spectral radiances are affected by increased atmospheric aerosols, by varying leaf area index, by anisotropic leaf scattering, and by non-Lambertian soil boundary conditions. Possible extensions to a 2-D model are also discussed.
- Research Organization:
- University of California, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
- OSTI ID:
- 5989404
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Opt.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Opt.; (United States) Vol. 24:1; ISSN APOPA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
510100 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
657005* -- Theoretical Physics-- Optics
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
BRIGHTNESS
CROSS SECTIONS
DIFFERENTIAL CROSS SECTIONS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
DISTURBANCES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENERGY TRANSFER
FUNCTIONS
GROUND COVER
HEAT TRANSFER
LIGHT SCATTERING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANTS
RADIANT HEAT TRANSFER
REMOTE SENSING
SCATTERING
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SPECTRAL REFLECTANCE