Roughness-reflectance relationship of bare desert terrain: An empirical study

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Ohio Journal of Science; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-4257(93)90078-C· OSTI ID:6292962

Shoshany, M ^[1]

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1. Bar Ilan Univ., Ramat Gan (Israel)

A study of the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) in relation to surface roughness properties was conducted in arid land near Fowlers Gap Research Station, New South Wales, Australia. Such empirical study is necessary for investigating the possibility of determining terrain geomorphological parameters from bidirectional reflectance data. A new apparatus was developed to take accurate hemispherical directions radiance measurements (HDRM). A digitizer for three-dimensional in situ roughness measurements was also developed. More than 70 hemispherical data sets were collected for various illumination conditions and surface types of desert stony pavements and rocky terrain slopes. In general, it was found that most of the surfaces exhibited an anisotropic reflection, combining a major component of backscattering. The BRDF of different surface types in relation to their roughness properties as determined by the field digitizer were then examined. Results showed that sites that are considered to differ significantly from a geomorphological point of view would not necessarily form a different BRDF.

• OSTI ID: 6292962
• Journal Information: Ohio Journal of Science; (United States), Journal Name: Ohio Journal of Science; (United States) Vol. 93:3; ISSN 0030-0950; ISSN OJSCA9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290301 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
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& Safety-- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects-- (1992-)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
ARID LANDS
AUSTRALASIA
AUSTRALIA
CLIMATIC CHANGE
COMPLEX TERRAIN
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
FORECASTING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
REFLECTION
REMOTE SENSING
TOPOGRAPHY