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Physical Interpretation of the Correlation Between Multi-Angle Spectral Data and Canopy HeightRecent empirical studies have shown that multi-angle spectral data can be useful for predicting canopy height, but the physical reason for this correlation was not understood. We follow the concept of canopy spectral invariants, specifically escape probability, to gain insight into the observed correlation. Airborne Multi-Angle Imaging Spectrometer (AirMISR) and airborne Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS) data acquired during a NASA Terrestrial Ecology Program aircraft campaign underlie our analysis. Two multivariate linear regression models were developed to estimate LVIS height measures from 28 AirMISR multi-angle spectral reflectances and from the spectrally invariant escape probability at 7 AirMISR view angles. Both models achieved nearly the same accuracy, suggesting that canopy spectral invariant theory can explain the observed correlation. We hypothesize that the escape probability is sensitive to the aspect ratio (crown diameter to crown height). The multi-angle spectral data alone therefore may not provide enough information to retrieve canopy height globally
Document ID
20110004900
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Schull, M. A.
(Boston Univ. Boston, MA, United States)
Ganguly, S.
(Boston Univ. Boston, MA, United States)
Samanta, A.
(Boston Univ. Boston, MA, United States)
Huang, D.
(Brookhaven National Lab. Upton, NY, United States)
Shabanov, N. V.
(Boston Univ. Boston, MA, United States)
Jenkins, J. P.
(New Hampshire Univ. Durham, NH, United States)
Chiu, J. C.
(Maryland Univ. Baltimore County Baltimore, MD, United States)
Marshak, A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Blair, J. B.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Myneni, R. B.
(Boston Univ. Boston, MA, United States)
Knyazikhin, Y.
(Boston Univ. Boston, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
September 25, 2007
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 34
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Geophysics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX08AE81G
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX07AO41H
CONTRACT_GRANT: MISR 1259071
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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