Analytical challenges in remote identification of vegetation species and detection of plant stress

Alexander Dudelzak
Canadian Space Agency, 6767 rue de l'Aéroport, Saint-Hubert, Québec, J3Y 8Y9
alex.dudelzak@space.gc.ca

Sergey Babichenko, Larisa Poryvkina, Alexei Scherbakov
AS Laser Diagnostic Instruments, 113A Kadaka str. 12915 Tallinn, ESTONIA

ABSTRACT

Vegetation - both land and aquatic – is one of the key contributors to the processes controlling major global cycles and changes. Qualitative and quantitative observations make the most essential part of remote sensing of vegetation dealing with such issues as biomass assessment, nomenclature and distribution of species, identification of stress and determining its causes, carbon and other element stocks and exchanges.

Qualitative and quantitative remote identification of species and characterization measurements of Earth vegetation is a very challenging task. Achieving it is affected not only by the extreme complexity and variability of this multi-parametric, living target but also by the constantly changing experimental conditions and environments.

The paper outlines challenges in qualitative and analytical remote sensing of vegetation. Original results on laser-induced three-dimensional spectral fluorescent signatures (SFS) are presented in a juxtaposition with other measurement methods such as spectral and imaging reflections in the optical domain; laser and microwave back-scattering; Fraunhofer-line and other solar-induced fluorescence. Technique complementarities are discussed.

Thorough correlative analyses of vegetation parameters obtained on the ground through in-situ and other fluorescent measurements using controlled sources and multiple excitation lines may help in qualitative and quantitative interpretation of passive remote sensing data such as hyperspectral spectral reflectance and Fraunhofer-line fluorescence.

Last Update: 2005-03-15