MONITORING OF VEGETATION PARAMETERS ON LARGE AREAS BY THE INVERSION OF A CANOPY REFLECTANCE MODEL

Andres Kuusk
Tartu Observatory, 61602 Tőravere, Estonia
andres@aai.ee
Phone: (372) - 7 - 410 152
Fax: (372) - 7 - 410 205

International Journal of Remote Sensing, 1998, 19(15): 2893-2905.

ABSTRACT

Analytical canopy reflectance (CR) models have reached the level of adequacy that makes it possible to estimate vegetation parameters by inversion of such models. The growing efficiency of algorithms and the increasing power of computers urge to develop procedures for the estimation of vegetation phytometrical parameters on large areas using satellite data and inversion of theoretical CR models. In this article, clusterization of a Landsat TM quarter scene is perfomed in the space of spectral signatures, and the CR model is inverted for these clusters. Optical parameters of the atmosphere which are needed for the atmospheric correction are estimated on the same image. The estimated LAI pattern is in good accordance to the land use map. Estimated LAI and chlorophyll content of forests are systematically biased.