3.1 - Spectral response of different surfaces
As already mentioned in chapter 2.3 different surfaces have different reflectance spectra. Vegetated and non vegetated surfaces can be recognized by some distinctive broad feature types:
Vegetated surfaces
Beyond 1.3μm, vegetation essentially absorbs or reflects the incident radiation; transmittance is negligible and the dips in the reflectance spectra correspond to absorption at those wavelengths.
Figure 3.1: Reflectance spectrum of green grass.
Non vegetated surfaces
The reflectance curve of non vegetated surfaces (in the figure it is exemplified by sandy soil) has smaller dependence on wavelength. Some of the factors affecting soil reflectance are moisture content, soil texture, surface roughness, presence of iron oxide and organic matter.
Figure 3.2: Reflectance spectrum of sand.