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Geometric-optical Modeling of a Conifer Forest CanopyThe objective of this research is to explore how the geometry of trees in forest stands influences the reflectance of the forest as imaged from space. Most plant canopy modeling has viewed the canopy as an assemblage of plane-parallel layers on top of a soil surface. For these models, leaf angle distribution, leaf area index, and the angular transmittance and reflectance of leaves are the primary optical and geometric parameters. Such models are now sufficiently well developed to explain most of the variance in angular reflectance measurements observed from homogeneous plant canopies. However, forest canopies as imaged by airborne and spaceborne scanners exhibit considerable variance at quite a different scale. Brightness values vary strongly from one pixel to the next primarily as a function of the number of trees they contain. At this scale, the forest canopy is nonuniform and discontinuous. This research focuses on a discrete-element, geometric-optical view of the forest canopy.
Document ID
19860004330
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Strahler, A. H.
(Hunter Coll. New York, NY, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Goddard Space Flight Center. Fundamental Remote Sensing Sci. Res. Program
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Accession Number
86N13799
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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