Using Imaging Spectroscopy to Study Ecosystem Processes and Properties

T he consequences of land use, disturbance, and climate change in the world's ecosystems have created increased demand for remote sensing data at all scales. A wide range of information is needed to predict the consequences of climate change and to monitor carbon, water, and nutrient cycles, from land cover, land-use history, and estimates of standing biomass to succession, biodiversity, and sustainability. Traditional field-based sampling methods are prohibitively expensive and time-consuming at large spatial scales, and such methods are inadequate for today's needs. Satellite observations provide the only practical means to obtain a synoptic view of Earth's ecosystems, including their spatial distribution, extent, and temporal dynamics