Applying different inversion techniques to retrieve stand variables of summer barley with PROSPECT + SAIL

This study describes the retrieval of state variables (LAI, canopy chlorophyll, water and dry matter contents) for summer barley from airborne HyMap data by means of a canopy reflectance model (PROSPECT + SAIL). Three different inversion techniques were applied to explore the impact of the employed method on estimation accuracies: numerical optimization (downhill simplex method), a look-up table (LUT) and an artificial neural network (ANN) approach. By numerical optimization (Num Opt), reliable estimates were obtained for LAI and canopy chlorophyll contents (LAI × C_ab) with r² of 0.85 and 0.94 and RDP values of 1.81 and 2.65, respectively. Accuracies dropped for canopy water (LAI × C_w) and dry matter contents (LAI × C_m). Nevertheless, the range of leaf water contents (C_w) was very narrow in the studied plant material. Prediction accuracies generally decreased in the order Num Opt > LUT > ANN. This decrease in accuracy mainly resulted from an increase in offset in the obtained values, as the retrievals from the different approaches were highly correlated. The same decreasing order in accuracy was found for the difference between the measured spectra and those reconstructed from the retrieved variable values. The parallel application of the different inversion techniques to one collective data set was helpful to identify modelling uncertainties, as shortcomings of the retrieval algorithms themselves could be separated from uncertainties in model structure and parameterisation schemes.     

Comparing methods for mapping canopy chlorophyll content in a mixed mountain forest using Sentinel-2 data

The Sentinel-2 Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI) has three spectral bands centered at 705, 740, and 783 nm wavelengths that exploit the red-edge information useful for quantifying plant biochemical traits. This sensor configuration is expected to improve the prediction accuracy of vegetation chlorophyll content. In this work, we assessed the performance of several statistical and physical-based methods in retrieving canopy chlorophyll content (CCC) from Sentinel-2 in a heterogeneous mixed mountain forest. Amongst the algorithms presented in the literature, 13 different vegetation indices (VIs), a non-parametric statistical approach, and two radiative transfer models (RTM) were used to assess the CCC prediction accuracy. A field campaign was conducted in July 2017 to collect in situ measurements of CCC in Bavarian forest national park, and the cloud-free Sentinel-2 image was acquired on 13 July 2017. The leave-one-out cross-validation technique was used to compare the VIs and the non-parametric approach. Whereas physical-based methods were calibrated using simulated data and validated using the in situ reference dataset. The statistical-based approaches, such as the modified simple ratio (mSR) vegetation index and the partial least square regression (PLSR) outperformed all other techniques. As such the modified simple ratio (mSR3) (665, 865) gave the lowest cross-validated RMSE of 0.21 g/m² (R² = 0.75). The PLSR resulted in the highest R² of 0.78, and slightly higher RMSE =0.22 g/m² than mSR3. The physical-based approach-INFORM inversion using look-up table resulted in an RMSE =0.31 g/m², and R² = 0.67. Although mapping CCC using these methods revealed similar spatial distribution patterns, over and underestimation of low and high CCC values were observed mainly in the statistical approaches. Further validation using in situ data from different terrestrial ecosystems is imperative for both the statistical and physical-based approaches' effectiveness to quantify CCC before selecting the best operational algorithm to map CCC from Sentinel-2 for long-term terrestrial ecosystems monitoring across the globe.     

Estimation of leaf area index using PROSAIL based LUT inversion,MLRA-GPR and empirical models: Case study of tropical deciduous forest plantation,North India

Forests play a vital role in biological cycles and environmental regulation. To understand the key processes of forest canopies (e.g., photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration), reliable and accurate information on spatial variability of Leaf Area Index (LAI), and its seasonal dynamics is essential. In the present study, we assessed the performance of biophysical parameter (LAI) retrieval methods viz. Look-Up Table (LUT)-inversion, MLRA-GPR (Machine Learning Regression Algorithm- Gaussian Processes Regression) and empirical models, for estimating the LAI of tropical deciduous plantation using ARTMO (Automated Radiative Transfer Models Operator) tool and Sentinel-2 satellite images. The study was conducted in Central Tarai Forest Division, Haldwani, located in the Uttarakhand state, India. A total of 49 ESUs (Elementary Sampling Unit) of 30 m × 30 m size were established based on variability in composition and age of plantation stands. In-situ LAI was recorded using plant canopy imager during the leaf growing, peak and senescence seasons. The PROSAIL model was calibrated with site-specific biophysical and biochemical parameters before used to the predicted LAI. The plantation LAI was also predicted by an empirical approach using optimally chosen Sentinel-2 vegetation indices. In addition, Sentinel-2 and MODIS LAI products were evaluated with respect to LAI measurements. MLRA-GPR offered best results for predicting LAI of leaf growing (R² = 0.9, RMSE = 0.14), peak (R² = 0.87, RMSE = 0.21) and senescence (R² = 0.86, RMSE = 0.31) seasons while LUT inverted model outperformed VI’s based parametric regression model. Vegetation indices (VIs) derived from 740 nm, 783 nm and 2190 nm band combinations of Sentinel-2 offered the best prediction of LAI.     

Hydrocarbon micro-seepage detection from airborne hyper-spectral images by plant stress spectra based on the PROSPECT model

Hydrocarbon micro-seepage can result in vegetation spectral anomalies. Early detection of spectral anomalies in plants stressed by hydrocarbon micro-seepage could help reveal oil and gas resources. In this study, the origin of plant spectral anomalies affected by hydrocarbon micro-seepage was measured using indoor simulation experiments. We analyzed wheat samples grown in a simulated hydrocarbon micro-seepage environment in a laboratory setting. The leaf mesophyll structure (N) values of plants in oil and gas micro-seepage regions were measured according to the content of measured biochemical parameters and spectra simulated by PROSPECT, a model for extracting hydrocarbon micro-seepage information from hyper-spectral images based on plant stress spectra. Spectral reflectance was simulated with N, chlorophyll content (C_ab), water content (C_w) and dry matter content (C_m). Multivariate regression equations were established using varying gasoline volume as the dependent variable and spectral feature parameters exhibiting a high rate of change as the independent variables. We derived a regression equation with the highest correlation coefficient and applied it to airborne hyper-spectral data (CASI/SASI) in Qingyang Oilfield, where extracted information regarding hydrocarbon micro-seepage was matched with known oil-producing wells.     

Spectral behavior of Persian oak under compound stress of water deficit and dust storm

Persian oak (Quercus Brantii Lindl.) which is the most widely distributed tree in the Zagros Mountain forests is affected by western dust storms, mostly originating in Iraq, and harsh water stress as well. The objective of this research is to analyze the spectral behavior of Persian oak under water and dust stress scenarios, aiming to pave the way for modeling the stresses of drought and dust storms on oak trees using remote sensing images. Experiments were carried out on 54 two-year old oak tree seedlings, using a portable wind tunnel in greenhouse conditions. Water stress was induced on seedlings by means of changes in irrigation practices, i.e. well-watered (100 % field capacity), medium water deficit condition (40 % field capacity), and severe water deficit condition (20 % field capacity) treatments. Dust stress is also investigated by using three different dust particle concentrations, i.e. 350, 750 and 1500 (μg/m³). The spectrometry experiments were carried out at leaf and canopy levels in dark room by Fieldspec-3-ASD spectrometer. Spectral analysis was conducted using four procedures: (i) narrow-band spectral indices analysis, (ii) geometric indicators extraction from absorption features, (iii) Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), and SVM classifier. Results show that water stress could be modeled much better using PLSR statistic (R² = 0.87, RMSE = 0.12), narrow-band indices analysis (R²_cv = 0.75, RMSE_cv = 0.17), and continuum removal (R² = 0.71, RMSE = 0.20), respectively. For dust stress, PLSR (R² = 0.83, RMSE = 0.14) and narrow-band indices (R² _cv = 0.7, RMSE _cv = 0.30) showed the best results, respectively. SVM could successfully separate stressed and not-stressed samples and also the stress types at both leaf and canopy levels, but it could not distinguish the different levels of stresses.     

Estimation of Seasonal Sun-Induced Fluorescence Dynamics of Indian Tropical Deciduous Forests using SCOPE and Sentinel-2 MSI

This paper presents a new approach to estimate spatial Sun-Induced Fluorescence (SIF) using the empirical relationship between simulated Canopy Chlorophyll Concentration (CCC) and simulated SIF. PROSAIL model [PROpriétésSPECTrales (PROSPECT) and Scattering by Arbitrarily Inclined Leaves (SAIL) models] was used to simulate CCC. CCC maps were generated through an Automated Radiative Transfer Model Operator (ARTMO) using the PROSAIL model and Sentinel-2 Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI) imagery. The Soil Canopy Observation, Photochemistry, and Energy fluxes (SCOPE) model was used to simulate SIF emitted at 740 nm (SIF₇₄₀), at 760 nm (SIF₇₆₀), and top of canopy (SIF_TOC) (640-850 nm). The SCOPE model, configured with the specification of the Sentinel-2 sensor, simulates SIF within the spectrum range of 640-850 nm. A non-linear logarithmic relationship (R²>0.9, p < 0.05) was observed between simulated SIF and simulated CCC. Simulated CCC was linearly related to observed CCC with R² 0.88, 0.92 and 0.89 and RMSE = 0.04, 0.17 and 0.09 gm/m² at p < 0.05 for summer, post-monsoon and early winter respectively. Whereas, the simulated CCC did not capture the full range of CCC variability for the post-monsoon season. Simulated SIF (SIF₇₆₀) was well correlated with SIF from Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) satellite with R² 0.68, 0.73 and 0.73 (RMSE = <1 W/m²/sr/μm, p < 0.05) for the month of summer (April), pre-monsoon (May) and early winter season (November) respectively. Temporal SIF_TOC effectively captured the seasonal variability associated with the phenology of deciduous tree species. Among various Sentinel-2 MSI derived VIs, Red Edge NDVI (RENDVI) exhibited maximum sensitivity with SIF (highest monthly average R²> 0.6, p < 0.05). The spatial SIF would serve as an useful link between airborne /satellite derived SIF and in-situ fluorescence measurements to understand multiscale SIF variability of terrestrial vegetation.     

Principal component inversion technique for the retrieval of leaf area index

A simulation study has been carried out to investigate the Principal Component Inversion (PCI) technique for the retrieval of leaf area index (LAI). The PROSAIL model has been used for the forward analysis, i.e., estimation of reflectance for various combinations of LAI, soil reflectance, leaf angle distribution (ø₁), chlorophyll a+b concentration (C_ab), etc. Independent test on sample with LAI range 0.1-7.0 indicated that the retrieved LAI from PCI has higher accuracy (RMSE=0.137) than the classical NDVI-LAI empirical approach (RMSE=1.139). The study needs to be extended to cover retrieval from different types of soil and simultaneous retrieval of different biophysical parameters viz., LAI, C_ab, ø₁ to test the wider applicability of the PCI technique.     

A novel combined spectral index for estimating the ratio of carotenoid to chlorophyll content to monitor crop physiological and phenological status

Accurate estimation of the ratio of carotenoid (Car) to chlorophyll (Chl) content is crucial to provide valuable insight into diagnoses of plant physiological and phenological status in crop fields. Studies for assessing the ratio of Car to Chl content have been extensively conducted with semi-empirical approaches using spectral indices. However, spectral indices established in previous studies generally relied on site- or species-specific measured data and these indices typically lacked sufficient estimation accuracy for the ratio of Car to Chl content to be used across various species and under different physiological conditions. In this study, we propose a novel combined carotenoid/chlorophyll ratio index (CCRI) in the form of the carotenoid index (CARI) divided by the red-edge chlorophyll index (CI_red-edge): The value of the index is illustrated using synthetic data simulated from the leaf radiative transfer model PROSPECT-5 and with extensive measured datasets at both the leaf and canopy level from the ANGERS dataset and winter wheat and maize field experiments. Results show that CCRI was the index with the highest correlation with the ratio of Car to Chl content in PROSPECT-5 simulations (R² = 0.99, RRMSE = 8.65%) compared to other spectral indices. Calibration and validation results using the ANGERS and winter wheat leaf level data showed that CCRI achieved accurate estimation of the ratio of Car to Chl content (R² = 0.52, RRMSE = 14.10%). CCRI also showed a good performance (R² = 0.54, RRMSE = 17.08%) for estimation of the ratio of Car to Chl content in both calibration and validation with the winter wheat and maize canopy spectra measured in field experiments. Further investigation of the effect of the correlation between leaf Chl and Car content on the performance of CCRI indicated that variation of the correlation affected the retrieval accuracy of CCRI, and CCRI might not be very sensitive to changes of the ratio of Car to Chl content with low values (<0.10).     

Digitizing the thermal and hydrological parameters of land surface in subtropical China using AMSR-E brightness temperatures

ABSTRACT

Digitizing the land surface temperature (T_s) and surface soil moisture (m_v) is essential for developing the intelligent Digital Earth. Here, we developed a two parameter physical-based passive microwave remote sensing model for jointly retrieving T_s and m_v using the dual-polarized T_b of Aqua satellite advanced microwave scanning radiometer (AMSR-E) C-band (6.9 GHz) based on the simplified radiative transfer equation. Validation using in situ T_s and m_v in southern China showed the average root mean square errors (RMSE) of T_s and m_v retrievals reach 2.42 K (R² = 0.61, n = 351) and 0.025 g cm^?3 (R² = 0.68, n = 663), respectively. The results were also validated using global in situ T_s (n = 2362) and m_v (n = 1657) of International Soil Moisture Network. The corresponding RMSE are 3.44 k (R² = 0.86) and 0.039 g cm^?3 (R² = 0.83), respectively. The monthly variations of model-derived Ts and mv are highly consistent with those of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer T_s (R² = 0.57; RMSE = 2.91 k) and ECV_SM m_v (R² = 0.51; RMSE = 0.045 g cm^?3), respectively. Overall, this paper indicates an effective way to jointly modeling T_s and m_v using passive microwave remote sensing.     

Deriving leaf mass per area (LMA) from foliar reflectance across a variety of plant species using continuous wavelet analysis

Leaf mass per area (LMA), the ratio of leaf dry mass to leaf area, is a trait of central importance to the understanding of plant light capture and carbon gain. It can be estimated from leaf reflectance spectroscopy in the infrared region, by making use of information about the absorption features of dry matter. This study reports on the application of continuous wavelet analysis (CWA) to the estimation of LMA across a wide range of plant species. We compiled a large database of leaf reflectance spectra acquired within the framework of three independent measurement campaigns (ANGERS, LOPEX and PANAMA) and generated a simulated database using the PROSPECT leaf optical properties model. CWA was applied to the measured and simulated databases to extract wavelet features that correlate with LMA. These features were assessed in terms of predictive capability and robustness while transferring predictive models from the simulated database to the measured database. The assessment was also conducted with two existing spectral indices, namely the Normalized Dry Matter Index (NDMI) and the Normalized Difference index for LMA (ND_LMA).Five common wavelet features were determined from the two databases, which showed significant correlations with LMA (R²: 0.51–0.82, p < 0.0001). The best robustness (R² = 0.74, RMSE = 18.97 g/m² and Bias = 0.12 g/m²) was obtained using a combination of two low-scale features (1639 nm, scale 4) and (2133 nm, scale 5), the first being predominantly important. The transferability of the wavelet-based predictive model to the whole measured database was either better than or comparable to those based on spectral indices. Additionally, only the wavelet-based model showed consistent predictive capabilities among the three measured data sets. In comparison, the models based on spectral indices were sensitive to site-specific data sets. Integrating the ND_LMA spectral index and the two robust wavelet features improved the LMA prediction. One of the bands used by this spectral index, 1368 nm, was located in a strong atmospheric water absorption region and replacing it with the next available band (1340 nm) led to lower predictive accuracies. However, the two wavelet features were not affected by data quality in the atmospheric absorption regions and therefore showed potential for canopy-level investigations. The wavelet approach provides a different perspective into spectral responses to LMA variation than the traditional spectral indices and holds greater promise for implementation with airborne or spaceborne imaging spectroscopy data for mapping canopy foliar dry biomass.     

Retrieval of leaf water content spanning the visible to thermal infrared spectra

The objective of this study was to investigate the entire spectra (from visible to the thermal infrared; 0.390–14.0 μm) to retrieve leaf water content in a consistent manner. Narrow-band spectral indices (calculated from all possible two band combinations) and a partial least square regression (PLSR) were used to assess the strength of each spectral region. The coefficient of determination (R²) and root mean square error (RMSE) were used to report the prediction accuracy of spectral indices and PLSR models. In the visible-near infrared and shortwave infrared (VNIR–SWIR), the most accurate spectral index yielded R² of 0.89 and RMSE of 7.60%, whereas in the mid infrared (MIR) the highest R² was 0.93 and RMSE of 5.97%. Leaf water content was poorly predicted using two-band indices developed from the thermal infrared (R² = 0.33). The most accurate PLSR model resulted from MIR reflectance spectra (R² = 0.96, RMSE = 4.74% and RMSE cross validation RMSE_CV = 6.17%) followed by VNIR–SWIR reflectance spectra (R² = 0.91, RMSE = 6.90% and RMSE_CV = 7.32%). Using thermal infrared (TIR) spectra, the PLSR model yielded a moderate retrieval accuracy (R² = 0.67, RMSE = 13.27% and RMSE_CV = 16.39%). This study demonstrated that the mid infrared (MIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) domains were the most sensitive spectral region for the retrieval of leaf water content.     

Estimating aboveground and organ biomass of plant canopies across the entire season of rice growth with terrestrial laser scanning

Non-destructive and accurate estimation of crop biomass is crucial for the quantitative diagnosis of growth status and timely prediction of grain yield. As an active remote sensing technique, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has become increasingly available in crop monitoring for its advantages in recording structural properties. Some researchers have attempted to use TLS data in the estimation of crop aboveground biomass, but only for part of the growing season. Previous studies rarely investigated the estimation of biomass for individual organs, such as the panicles in rice canopies, which led to the poor understanding of TLS technology in monitoring biomass partitioning among organs. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of TLS in estimating the biomass for individual organs and aboveground biomass of rice and to examine the feasibility of developing universal models for the entire growing season. The field plots experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 and involved different nitrogen (N) rates, planting techniques and rice varieties. Three regression approaches, stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR), random forest regression (RF) and linear mixed-effects (LME) modeling, were evaluated in estimating biomass with extensive TLS and biomass data collected at multiple phenological stages of rice growth across the entire season. The models were calibrated with the 2017 dataset and validated independently with the 2018 dataset.The results demonstrated that growth stage in LME modeling was selected as the most significant random effect on rice growth among the three candidates, which were rice variety, growth stage and planting technique. The LME models grouped by growth stage exhibited higher validation accuracies for all biomass variables over the entire season to varying degrees than SMLR models and RF models. The most pronounced improvement with a LME model was obtained for panicle biomass, with an increase of 0.74 in R² (LME: R² = 0.90, SMLR: R² = 0.16) and a decrease of 1.15 t/ha in RMSE (LME: RMSE =0.79 t/ha, SMLR: RMSE =2.94 t/ha). Compared to SMLR and RF, LME modeling yielded similar estimation accuracies of aboveground biomass for pre-heading stages, but significantly higher accuracies for post-heading stages (LME: R² = 0.63, RMSE =2.27 t/ha; SMLR: R² = 0.42, RMSE =2.42 t/ha; RF: R² = 0.57, RMSE =2.80 t/ha). These findings implied that SMLR was only suitable for the estimation of biomass at pre-heading stages and LME modeling performed remarkably well across all growth stages, especially for post-heading. The results suggest coupling TLS with LME modeling is a promising approach to monitoring rice biomass at post-heading stages at high accuracy and to overcoming the saturation of canopy reflectance signals encountered in optical remote sensing. It also has great potential in the monitoring of other crops in cloud-cover conditions and the instantaneous prediction of grain yield any time before harvest.     

Mapping forest aboveground biomass in the reforested Buffelsdraai landfill site using texture combinations computed from SPOT-6 pan-sharpened imagery

Developing models for estimating aboveground biomass (AGB) in naturally growing forests is critical for climate change modelling. AGB models developed using satellite imagery varies with study area, depending on the complexity of vegetation and landscape structure, which affects the upwelling radiance. We assessed the potential of SPOT-6 imagery in predicting AGB of trees planted at different time periods, using image texture combinations. Image texture variables were computed from the SPOT6 pan-sharpened image data, which is characterised by a 1.5 m spatial resolution. In addition, we incorporated the minimal variance technique to select the optimum window sizes that best captures AGB variation in our study area. The results showed that image texture was able to detect AGB for both mature and young trees, however, models detecting mature trees were more superior, with accuracies of R² = 0.70 and 0.25 for 2009–2011 and 2011–2013 plantation phases, respectively. In addition, our results showed that the three band texture ratios yielded the highest accuracy (R² = 0.88 and RMSE = 54.54 kg m⁻²) compared to two texture (R² = 0.85 and RMSE = 60.65 kg m⁻²) and single texture band combinations (R² = 0.64 and RMSE = 94.13 kg m⁻²). A frequency analysis was also run to determine which bands appeared more frequently in the selected texture band models. The frequency analysis revealed that both the red and green bands appeared more frequently on the selected texture band variables, indicating that they were more sensitive to the variation of AGB in our study area. The results showed high variation in AGB within the Buffelsdraai reforestation site, especially due to varying tree plantation phases as well as topography. In essence, the study demonstrated the possibility of image texture combinations computed from the SPOT-6 image in estimating AGB.     

Evaluation of a three-band model for estimating chlorophyll-a concentration in tidal reaches of the Pearl River Estuary, China

Accurate assessment of phytoplankton chlorophyll-a (Chla) concentration in turbid waters by means of remote sensing was challenging due to the optical complexity of turbid waters. Recently, a conceptual model containing reflectance in three spectral bands in the red and near-infrared range of the spectrum was suggested for retrieving Chla concentrations in turbid productive waters. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the performance of this three-band model to estimate Chla concentration in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), China. Reflectance spectra of surface water and water samples were collected concurrently. The samples contained variable Chla (4.80-92.60 mg/m³) and total suspended solids (0.4-55.2 mg/L dry wt). Colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption at 400 nm was 0.40-1.41 m⁻¹; turbidity ranged from 4 to 25 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units). The three-band model was spectrally calibrated by iterative and least-square linear regression methods to select the optimal spectral bands for the most accurate Chla estimation. Strong linear relationships (R²=0.81, RMSE=1.4 mg/m³, N=32) were established between measured Chla and the levels obtained from the calibrated three-band model [R⁻¹(684)-R⁻¹(690)]×R(718), where R(λ) was the reflectance at wavelength λ. The calibrated three-band model was independently validated (R²=0.9521, RMSE=6.44 mg/m³, N=16) and applied to retrieve Chla concentrations from the calibrated EO-1 Hyperion reflectance data in the PRE on December 21, 2006. The EO-1 Hyperion-derived Chla concentrations were further validated using synchronous in situ data collected on the same day (R²=0.64, RMSE=2 mg/m³, N=9). The spatial tendency of Chla distribution mapping by Hyperion showed gradually increased concentrations of Chla farther from the river mouths (although decreasing from east to west), which were disturbed by the combination of river outlets and tidal current in Lingding Bay of the PRE. This observation conformed to previous observations and studies, and could reasonably be explained by geographical changes. Also, results indicated that the slope of the three-band regression line decreased as the Chla concentration increased, resulting in the first sensitive band of the three-band model to move towards short wavelengths. These findings validated the rationale behind the conceptual model and demonstrated the robustness of this algorithm for Chla retrieval from in situ data and the Hyperion satellite sensor in turbid estuarine waters of the PRE, China.     

Inter-comparison of remote sensing platforms for height estimation of mango and avocado tree crowns

To support the adoption of precision agricultural practices in horticultural tree crops, prior research has investigated the relationship between crop vigour (height, canopy density, health) as measured by remote sensing technologies, to fruit quality, yield and pruning requirements. However, few studies have compared the accuracy of different remote sensing technologies for the estimation of tree height. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy, flexibility, aerial coverage and limitations of five techniques to measure the height of two types of horticultural tree crops, mango and avocado trees. Canopy height estimates from Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) were used as a reference dataset against height estimates from Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data, WorldView-3 (WV-3) stereo imagery, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based RGB and multi-spectral imagery, and field measurements. Overall, imagery obtained from the UAV platform were found to provide tree height measurement comparable to that from the TLS (R² = 0.89, RMSE = 0.19 m and rRMSE = 5.37 % for mango trees; R² = 0.81, RMSE = 0.42 m and rRMSE = 4.75 % for avocado trees), although coverage area is limited to 1–10 km² due to battery life and line-of-sight flight regulations. The ALS data also achieved reasonable accuracy for both mango and avocado trees (R² = 0.67, RMSE = 0.24 m and rRMSE = 7.39 % for mango trees; R² = 0.63, RMSE = 0.43 m and rRMSE = 5.04 % for avocado trees), providing both optimal point density and flight altitude, and therefore offers an effective platform for large areas (10 km²–100 km²). However, cost and availability of ALS data is a consideration. WV-3 stereo imagery produced the lowest accuracies for both tree crops (R² = 0.50, RMSE = 0.84 m and rRMSE = 32.64 % for mango trees; R² = 0.45, RMSE = 0.74 m and rRMSE = 8.51 % for avocado trees) when compared to other remote sensing platforms, but may still present a viable option due to cost and commercial availability when large area coverage is required. This research provides industries and growers with valuable information on how to select the most appropriate approach and the optimal parameters for each remote sensing platform to assess canopy height for mango and avocado trees.     

Upscaling plot-scale soil respiration in winter wheat and summer maize rotation croplands in Julu County,North China

Soil respiration (R_s) data from 45 plots were used to estimate the spatial patterns of R_s during the peak growing seasons of winter wheat and summer maize in Julu County, North China, by combining satellite remote sensing data, field-measured data, and a support vector regression (SVR) model. The observed R_s values were well reproduced by the model at the plot scale, with a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.31 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ and a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.73. No significant difference was detected between the prediction accuracy of the SVR model for winter wheat and summer maize. With forcing from satellite remote sensing data and gridded soil property data, we used the SVR model to predict the spatial distributions of R_s during the peak growing seasons of winter wheat and summer maize rotation croplands in Julu County. The SVR model captured the spatial variations of R_s at the county scale. The satellite-derived enhanced vegetation index was found to be the most important input used to predict R_s. Removal of this variable caused an RMSE increase from 0.31 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ to 0.42 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹. Soil properties such as soil organic carbon (SOC) content and soil bulk density (SBD) were the second most important factors. Their removal led to an RMSE increase from 0.31 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ to 0.37 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹. The SVR model performed better than multiple regression in predicting spatial variations of R_s in winter wheat and summer maize rotation croplands, as shown by the comparison of the R² and RMSE values of the two algorithms. The spatial patterns of R_s are better captured using the SVR model than performing multiple regression, particularly for the relatively high and relatively low R_s values at the center and northeast study areas. Therefore, SVR shows promise for predicting spatial variations of R_s values on the basis of remotely sensed data and gridded soil property data at the county scale.     

Estimation of higher chlorophylla concentrations using field spectral measurement and HJ-1A hyperspectral satellite data in Dianshan Lake,China

Based on in situ water sampling and field spectral measurements in Dianshan Lake, a semi-analytical three-band algorithm was used to estimate Chlorophylla (Chla) content in case II waters. The three bands selected to estimate Chla for high concentrations included 653, 691 and 748 nm. An equation, based on the difference in reciprocal reflectance between 653 and 691 nm, multiplied by reflectance at 748 nm as [R_rs⁻¹(653) − R_rs⁻¹ (691)] R_rs(748), explained 85.57% of variance in Chla concentration with a root mean square error (RMSE) of <6.56 mg/m³. In order to test the utility of this model with satellite data, HJ-1A Hyperspectral Imager (HSI) data were analyzed using comparable wavelengths selected from the in situ data [B₆₇⁻¹(656) − B₈₀⁻¹(716)] B₈₇(753). This model accounted for 84.3% of Chla variation, estimating Chla concentrations with an RMSE of <4.23 mg/m³. The results illustrate that, based on the determined wavelengths, the spectrum-based model can achieve a high estimation accuracy and can be applied to hyperspectral satellite imagery especially for higher Chla concentration waters.     

Retrieval of chlorophyll and nitrogen in Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) using imaging spectroscopy

The research evaluated the information content of spectral reflectance (laboratory and airborne data) for the estimation of needle chlorophyll (C_AB) and nitrogen (C_N) concentration in Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) needles. To identify reliable predictive models different types of spectral transformations were systematically compared regarding the accuracy of prediction. The results of the cross-validated analysis showed that C_AB can be well estimated from laboratory and canopy reflectance data. The best predictive model to estimate C_AB was achieved from laboratory spectra using continuum-removal transformed data (R²cv = 0.83 and a relative RMSEcv of 8.1%, n = 78) and from hyperspectral HyMap data using band-depth normalised spectra (R²cv = 0.90, relative RMSEcv = 2.8%, n = 13). Concerning the nitrogen concentration, we observed somewhat weaker relations, with however still acceptable accuracies (at canopy level: R²cv = 0.57, relative RMSEcv = 4.6%). The wavebands selected in the regression models to estimate C_AB were typically located in the red edge region and near the green reflectance peak. For C_N, additional wavebands related to a known protein absorption feature at 2350 nm were selected. The portion of selected wavebands attributable to known absorption features strongly depends on the type of spectral transformation applied. A method called “water removal” (WR) produced for canopy spectra the largest percentage of wavebands directly or indirectly related to known absorption features. The derived chlorophyll and nitrogen maps may support the detection and the monitoring of environmental stressors and are also important inputs to many bio-geochemical process models.     

Forecast of wheat yield throughout the agricultural season using optical and radar satellite images

The aim of this study is to estimate the capabilities of forecasting the yield of wheat using an artificial neural network combined with multi-temporal satellite data acquired at high spatial resolution throughout the agricultural season in the optical and/or microwave domains. Reflectance (acquired by Formosat-2, and Spot 4–5 in the green, red, and near infrared wavelength) and multi-configuration backscattering coefficients (acquired by TerraSAR-X and Radarsat-2 in the X- and C-bands, at co- (abbreviated HH and VV) and cross-polarization states (abbreviated HV and VH)) constitute the input variable of the artificial neural networks, which are trained and validated on the successively acquired images, providing yield forecast in near real-time conditions. The study is based on data collected over 32 fields of wheat distributed over a study area located in southwestern France, near Toulouse. Among the tested sensor configurations, several satellite data appear useful for the yield forecasting throughout the agricultural season (showing coefficient of determination (R²) larger than 0.60 and a root mean square error (RMSE) lower than 9.1 quintals by hectare (q ha⁻¹)): C_VH, C_HV, or the combined used of X_HH and C_HH, C_HH and C_HV, or green reflectance and C_HH. Nevertheless, the best accurate forecast (R² = 0.76 and RMSE = 7.0 q ha⁻¹) is obtained longtime before the harvest (on day 98, during the elongation of stems) using the combination of co- and cross-polarized backscattering coefficients acquired in the C-band (C_VV and C_VH). These results highlight the high interest of using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data instead of optical ones to early forecast the yield before the harvest of wheat.     

Soil respiration mapped by exclusively use of MODIS data for forest landscapes of Saskatchewan,Canada

Soil respiration (R_s) is of great importance to the global carbon balance. Remote sensing of R_s is challenging because of (1) the lack of long-term R_s data for model development and (2) limited knowledge of using satellite-based products to estimate R_s. Using 8-years (2002–2009) of continuous R_s measurements with nonsteady-state automated chamber systems at a Canadian boreal black spruce stand (SK-OBS), we found that R_s was strongly correlated with the product of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the nighttime land surface temperature (LSTn) derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) imagery. The coefficients of the linear regression equation of this correlation between R_s and NDVI × LSTn could be further calibrated using the MODIS leaf area index (LAI) product, resulting in an algorithm that is driven solely by remote sensing observations. Modeled R_s closely tracked the seasonal patterns of measured R_s and explained 74–92% of the variance in R_s with a root mean square error (RMSE) less than 1.0 g C/m²/d. Further validation of the model from SK-OBS site at another two independent sites (SK-OA and SK-OJP, old aspen and old jack pine, respectively) showed that the algorithm can produce good estimates of R_s with an overall R² of 0.78 (p < 0.001) for data of these two sites. Consequently, we mapped R_s of forest landscapes of Saskatchewan using entirely MODIS observations for 2003 and spatial and temporal patterns of R_s were well modeled. These results point to a strong relationship between the soil respiratory process and canopy photosynthesis as indicated from the greenness index (i.e., NDVI), thereby implying the potential of remote sensing data for detecting variations in R_s. A combination of both biological and environmental variables estimated from remote sensing in this analysis may be valuable in future investigations of spatial and temporal characteristics of R_s.