Project Funding: 2006 - 2009

NRA: 2005 NASA: Remote Sensing Science for Carbon and Climate   

Funded by NASA

Abstract:
Recent studies have demonstrated that superior results can be achieved with narrow band visible/near-infrared reflectances, as compared to results using traditional wide band (~20 nm) reflectances, for remote assessment of vegetation type and condition. To plan for future hyperspectral satellites, new studies are critical to define the optimal narrow band information required for monitoring ecosystem health from space. High spectral resolution reflectance data obtained for vegetation over a range of functional types, species, phenology, and stress conditions will be evaluated to establish which optical indices perform rigorously with respect to correlation to photosynthetic function and efficiency. Reflectance data having contemporaneous photosynthetic data will be assembled from various field measurement projects conducted by the participants and through collaborations with other investigators. This data set will be supplemented by additional focused data collections. In particular, the reduction or enhancement in photosynthetic efficiency resulting from environmentally induced physiologic stress and nitrogen application will be characterized. The impact of chlorophyll fluorescence in the apparent red edge reflectance will be addressed. High performance candidate optical bio-indices, ascertained from an a priori list compiled from previous research, will be evaluated for remote sensing application at ecosystem scales using several radiative transfer modeling tools and atmospheric correction modules. The most rigourous optical bioindices will be applied to available hyperspectral remote sensing data over selected test sites. This project addresses a NASA program element, plant functional types and physiology and supports research to justify missions currently under development by several agencies, including NASA (Flora, from EO-1 Hyperion heritage) and the European Space Agency (FLEX, Fluorescence Explorer).

2011 NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Poster(s)

• Spectral Bio-indicator Simulations for Tracking Photosynthetic Activities in a Corn Field   --   (Yen-Ben Cheng, Elizabeth M. Middleton, Karl Fred Huemmrich, Qingyuan Zhang, Lawrence A Corp, Petya Krasteva Entcheva Campbell, William Kustas)   [abstract]
• Carbon budgets for intact and recently logged forests on the Maryland Coastal Plain   --   (Geoffrey Parker, Joshua Brinks, Nancy Kahn, Jeffrey Lombardo, Dawn Miller, Dale Morrow, Francisca Saavedra, Dan Bebber)   [abstract]
• Remote Sensing to Estimate Ecosystem GEE using Chlorophyll Level fAPAR (fAPARchl) and PRI   --   (Qingyuan Zhang, Elizabeth M. Middleton, Yen-Ben Cheng, Bo-Cai Gao, Karl Fred Huemmrich, Petya Krasteva Entcheva Campbell, Lawrence A Corp, Alexei Lyapustin, Yujie Wang, Andrew L Russ, William P Kustas, John H Prueger)   [abstract]
• EO-1 Hyperion capturing seasonal dynamics in vegetation phenology and spectral properties, associated with CO2 uptake in three different ecosystems   --   (Petya Krasteva Entcheva Campbell, Elizabeth M. Middleton, Karl Fred Huemmrich)   [abstract]   [poster]

2010 NASA Terrestrial Ecology Science Team Meeting Poster(s)

• Remote Sensing of Ecosystem Light Use Efficiency Using MODIS   --   (Karl Fred Huemmrich, Elizabeth M Middleton, David R Landis, T Andrew Black, Alan G Barr, J Harry McCaughey, Forrest G Hall)   [abstract]

2008 NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Posters

• Variations in bio-physical and high spectral resolution reflectance properties associated with the light environment in a mature poplar stand (Lirodendron tulipifera L.)   --   (Petya K. E. Campbell, Elizabeth M. Middleton, Lawrence A. Corp, Yen-Ben Cheng, Gefrey Parker)   [abstract]   [poster]
• Remote Sensing of Ecosystem Light Use Efficiency   --   (Karl Fred Huemmrich, Lawrence Corp, Andrew Russ, Elizabeth M. Middleton, William Kustas, John Prueger, Yen-Ben Cheng)   [abstract]   [poster]
• Tower Based Measurements of Bio-indicators for Light Use Efficiency Estimation   --   (Yen-Ben Cheng, Elizabeth M Middltone, Thomas Hilker, Nicholas C Coops, T. Andrew Black, Praveena Krishnan)   [abstract]
• Spectral Indices to Monitor Nitrogen Driven Carbon Sequestration in Vegetation   --   (Lawrence A. Corp, Elizabeth M. Middleton, Petya K.E. Campbell, Karl F. Huemmrich, Yen Ben Cheng, Craig S.T. Daughtry)   [abstract]

More details may be found in the following project profile(s):

• NASA Terrestrial Ecology (TE) Project Profile