Remote sensing of leaf, canopy, and vegetation water contents for satellite environmental data records

Abstract

The absorption features of liquid water in plant leaves are readily detectable, and the amount of leaf water content may be determined by spectroscopy. Spectral reflectances at about 1240 and 1650 nm are the basis of numerous remote-sensing indices that could be used to estimate liquid water content of leaves and canopies. Two applications of remotely sensed water content are estimation of fuel moisture content for wildfire potential and estimation of vegetation water content for improving retrievals of soil moisture content from microwave sensors. The temporal record of MODIS, SPOT Vegetation, and AVHRR/3 sensors and the future record from VIIRS will create a global environmental data record of canopy water content for climate change studies.