Relations between Directional Spectral Vegetation Indices and Leaf Area and Absorbed Radiation in Alfalfa

s ensors on satellite platforms with extreme view angles have been increasingly used to analyze regional and global vegetation cover and productivity because of frequent observations. This study, using experimental and theoretical methods, analyzed variations in vegetation indices with sun-view geometry as a means of understanding the sensitivity of relations beween vegetation indices and the biophysical properties, the leaf area index (LAI), and the instantaneous fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR). Canopy bidirectional reflectance factors (BRFs) of an alfalfa crop were measured and simulated at a variety of solar and view zenith angles. Also, fAPAR, LAI, and leaf optical properties were measured. Measured and simulated canopy re$ectances agreed generally within 1% (absolute). Normalized dijj5erence and simple ratio vegetation indices (NDVI and SRVI, respectively), derived from BRFs, varied with view and solar zenith angles. The minimum for near-infrared (NIR) BRFs and relatively high red BRFs generally occurred near nadir, resulting in some of the lowest vegetation index values. Highest VI value-s were generally obtained at forward view angles. Variation of NDVI with sun-view-geometry was greatest at LAls ~2, whereas the range in SRVI was greatest for LAls\u3e2. Measured reflectances indicate that relations between NDVl and LA1 and between SRVl and fAPAR were curvilinear across all solar and view zenith angle combinations in the solar principal plane, whereas relations between SRVI and LA1 and between NDVI and fAPAR varied from linear to curvilinear. Analyses revealed that vegetation, indices at large view zenith angles were poorly correlated with fAPAR, whereas those at small zenith angles were strongly correlated. In general, vegetation indices were more sensitive to fAPAR than to LAI, which is attributed to the fact that fAPAR is a radiation quantity, whereas LAI is nonlinearly related to radiation. Regression of fAPAR with VI values derived from combinations of red and NlR BRFs from similar and nonsimilar directions indicates that the highest correlation is in near-nadir and backscatter directions. However, further investigation into variations of relations between remotely sensed observations and canopy attributes and into the usefulness of of-nadir in extracting information is recommended. OElsevier Science Inc., 199

A Conceptual Enterprise Framework for Managing Scientific Data Stewardship

Scientific data stewardship is an important part of long-term preservation and the use/reuse of digital research data. It is critical for ensuring trustworthiness of data, products, and services, which is important for decision-making. Recent U.S. federal government directives and scientific organization guidelines have levied specific requirements, increasing the need for a more formal approach to ensuring that stewardship activities support compliance verification and reporting. However, many science data centers lack an integrated, systematic, and holistic framework to support such efforts. The current business- and process-oriented stewardship frameworks are too costly and lengthy for most data centers to implement. They often do not explicitly address the federal stewardship requirements and/or the uniqueness of geospatial data. This work proposes a data-centric conceptual enterprise framework for managing stewardship activities, based on the philosophy behind the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, a proven industrial concept. This framework, which includes the application of maturity assessment models, allows for quantitative evaluation of how organizations manage their stewardship activities and supports informed decision-making for continual improvement towards full compliance with federal, agency, and user requirements

First operational BRDF, albedo nadir reflectance products from MODIS

With the launch of NASA’s Terra satellite and the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), operational Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) and albedo products are now being made available to the scientific community. The MODIS BRDF/Albedo algorithm makes use of a semiempirical kernel-driven bidirectional reflectance model and multidate, multispectral data to provide global 1-km gridded and tiled products of the land surface every 16 days. These products include directional hemispherical albedo (black-sky albedo), bihemispherical albedo (white-sky albedo), Nadir BRDF-Adjusted surface Reflectances (NBAR), model parameters describing the BRDF, and extensive quality assurance information. The algorithm has been consistently producing albedo and NBAR for the public since July 2000. Initial evaluations indicate a stable BRDF/Albedo Product, where, for example, the spatial and temporal progression of phenological characteristics is easily detected in the NBAR and albedo results. These early beta and provisional products auger well for the routine production of stable MODIS-derived BRDF parameters, nadir reflectances, and albedos for use by the global observation and modeling communities

Southern Africa Validation of NASA's Earth Observing System (SAVE EOS)

Southern Africa Validation of EOS (SAVE) is 4-year, multidisciplinary effort to validate operational and experimental products from Terra-the flagship satellite of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS). At test sites from Zambia to South Africa, we are measuring soil, vegetation and atmospheric parameters over a range of ecosystems for comparison with products from Terra, Landsat 7, AVHRR and SeaWiFS. The data are also employed to parameterize and improve vegetation process models. Fixed-point and mobile "transect" sampling are used to collect the ground data. These are extrapolated over larger areas with fine-resolution multispectral imagery. We describe the sites, infrastructure, and measurement strategies developed underSAVE, as well as initial results from our participation in the first Intensive Field Campaign of SAFARI 2000. We also describe SAVE's role in the Kalahari Transect Campaign (February/March 2000) in Zambia and Botswana

Estimating spectral albedo and nadir reflectance through inversion of simple BRDF models with AVHRR/MODIS-Iike data

In recent years, many computationally efficient bidirectional reflectance models have been developed to account for angular effects in land remote sensing data, particularly those from the NOAA advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR), polarization and directionality of the Earth\u27s reflectances (POLDER), and the planned EOS moderate-resolution imaging spectrometer (MODIS) and multi-angle imaging spectroradiometer (MISR) sensors

Southern Africa as a Remote Sensing Test Bed: The SAFARI 2000 Special Issue Overview

NASA’s flagship Earth Observing System (EOS) Terra satellite was launched in 1999 and began sensing in March 2000 coincident with the first major field campaign of the Southern Africa Regional Science Initiative (SAFARI 2000). Terra’s five sensors were used to support SAFARI 2000 studies on the southern African environment, and SAFARI 2000’s ground, aircraft and independent satellite data sets were used in turn to validate and improve the remote sensing products derived from Terra. In this article, we review southern Africa’s natural and cultural features that we believe formed an optimal environment in which to test the EOS program (including new sensors, products, validation, scientific research, education and outreach). Through the course of the text, we reference and summarize the articles in the SAFARI 2000 Special Issue to highlight the natural links between remote sensing science and the subcontinent’s characteristics. We also note contemporary forces of change in the southern Africa landscape whose impacts will challenge the remote monitoring capabilities of future sensors and scientists. The article concludes with a brief description of SAFARI 2000 data resources and access provisions

Validation of satellite land surface temperature products using ground-based measurements and heritage satellite data – Protocol, limitations and results

National audienc

Validation of satellite land surface temperature products using ground-based measurements and heritage satellite data – Protocol, limitations and results

National audienc