Integrating Hyperspectral Reflectance and Physiological Parameters to Detect Urban Tree Stress: A Study of Drought and Simulated Acid Rain

With urbanization and climate change worsening, urban trees are constantly exposed to environmental stress. To enhance the functionality and health of trees, it is crucial to rapidly and non-destructively detect and respond to tree stress. Research utilizing hyperspectral characteristics for detecting various stresses has recently been actively pursued. This study conducted comparative analysis using various leaf physiological parameters (chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf water, and gas exchange status) and hyperspectral data (VIS: visible ray; SWIR: short-wave infrared) to diagnose stress in Prunus yedoensis, commonly grown urban trees, by subjecting them simultaneously to different stresses (drought and simulated acid rain). The findings suggest that hyperspectral reflectance proved more responsive in identifying stress compared to the physiological parameters. Initially, VIS was more effective in detecting two stress responses than SWIR through a classification model (PLS-DA: partial least squares-discriminant analysis). Although SWIR initially faced challenges in simulated acid rain stress detection, spectral preprocessing (SNV: standard normal variate, + S.G 2nd: Savitzky–Golay 2nd derivative) enhanced its stress classification accuracy. Over time, the SWIR bands (1437 nm, 1667 nm, and 1949 nm) exhibited characteristics (such as moisture detection) more closely aligned with stress responses compared to VIS, as determined through PCA (principal component analysis). Hyperspectral reflectance also revealed the potential to measure chlorophyll fluorescence (Fo: minimum fluorescence). Building upon the foundational data of this study, the future potential of diagnosing urban tree stress using portable spectrometers is strong.