EFFECT OF VEGETATION ON ROCK AND SOIL TYPE DISCRIMINATION

The effect of naturally occurring vegetation on the spectral reflectance of earth materials in the wavelength region of 0.45 to 2.4 mu m has been determined by computer averaging of in situ acquired spectral data. Natural vegetation can significantly mask and alter the spectral response of the ground as measured by aircraft and satellite multispectral scanners. The significane of the vegetative cover depends on the amount and type of vegetation and the spectral reflectance of the ground. Low albedo materials are the most significantly affected and may be altered beyond recognition with only ten percent green vegetation cover. Dead or dry vegetation does not greatly alter the shape of the spectral reflectance curve and only changes the albedo with minimum wavelength dependence. With increasing amounts of vegetation the LANDSAT MSS band ratios 4/6, 4/7, 5/6, and 5/7 are significantly decreased whereas MSS ratios 4/5 and 6/7 remain relatively constant. /Author/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00991112
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Photogrammetry

  105 North Virginia Avenue
  Falls Church, VA  United States  22046
• Authors:
  • Siegal, B S
  • Goetz, AFH
• Publication Date: 1977-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 191-196
• Serial:
  • Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
  • ISSN: 0099-1112

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerial surveying; Information processing; Rocks; Scanners; Soils; Spectrum analysis; Vegetation
• Old TRIS Terms: Scanning
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149818
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 27 1977 12:00AM