Mapping canopy traits over Québec using airborne and spaceborne imaging spectroscopy

Abstract

The advent of new spaceborne imaging spectrometers offers new opportunities for ecologists to map vegetation traits at global scales. However, to date most imaging spectroscopy studies exploiting satellite spectrometers have been constrained to the landscape scale. In this paper we present a new method to map vegetation traits at the landscape scale and upscale trait maps to the continental level, using historical spaceborne imaging spectroscopy (Hyperion) to derive estimates of leaf mass per area, nitrogen, and carbon concentrations of forests in Québec, Canada. We compare estimates for each species with reference field values and obtain good agreement both at the landscape and continental scales, with patterns consistent with the leaf economic spectrum. By exploiting the Hyperion satellite archive to map these traits and successfully upscale the estimates to the continental scale, we demonstrate the great potential of recent and upcoming spaceborne spectrometers to benefit plant biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts.

High-Precision Ultra-Long Air Slit Fabrication Based on MEMS Technology for Imaging Spectrometers

“…The advancement of hyperspectral remote sensing has enabled the detection of many objects previously undetectable using broadband technology. The utilization of imaging spectrometers mounted on satellites enables various applications, such as ocean exploration [9,10], environmental monitoring, surface exploration [11], natural resources exploration [12], and biological activity monitoring [13][14][15].…”