Spectral signatures


False colour composite image of area in Jutland, Denmark
 
False colour composite image of area near Silkeborg in Jutland, Denmark
 
 
Different surface types such as water, bare ground and vegetation reflect radiation differently in various channels. The radiation reflected as a function of the wavelength is called the spectral signature of the surface.
 
 
Graphs of spectral signatures of water, soil and vegetation
   
Graphs of spectral signatures of water, soil, and vegetation
 
Vegetation has a remarkably high reflection in the near infrared channel 4 and a low reflection in the visible red channel 3 (see graph on the right).

This makes it possible to distinguish vegetation areas from bare ground. The difference in reflection in channels 3 and 4 is great for vegetation areas and insignificant for bare ground.
 
 
The spectral signatures
 
The spectral signatures are processed as digital values in the satellite scanner
 
 
Here is a hypothetical example of how the Landsat satellite might record water, green vegetation, and bare ground.

The reflection from bare ground increases slightly from the visible to the infrared range of the spectrum. There are great differences between different types of soil, dry and humid land. Different mineral compositions of the surface are also reflected in the spectral signature. In the illustration only an average curve for bare ground (soil) is shown.
 
 
 Generally, water only reflects in the visible light range. As water has almost no reflection in the near infrared range it is very distinct from other surfaces. Water surfaces will therefore be clearly delimited as dark areas (low pixel values) in images recorded in the near infrared range.

The spectral signature for green plants is very characteristic. The chlorophyll in a growing plant absorbs visible and especially red light to be used in photosynthesis, whereas near infrared light is reflected very effectively as it is of no use to the plant (see illustration 'Graphs of spectral signatures of water, soil, and vegetation'). In this way the plants avoid unnecessary heating and loss of juice through evaporation. Reflection from vegetation in the near infrared and in the visual ranges of the spectrum therefore varies considerably. The degree of difference between the two reveals how large a part of the area is covered with growing green leaves. This is called the leaf area index.
  
 
  
Last update: 26 November 2009


Remote sensing in depth

 •  Introduction (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_EN/SEM7IQ3Z2OF_0.html)
 •  Radar technology (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_EN/SEMHUESTGOF_0.html)
 •  Landsat MSS channels (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_EN/SEMRTCSTGOF_0.html)
 •  Vegetation mapping (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_EN/SEM6SQ3Z2OF_0.html)
 •  Area classification (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_EN/SEMP5R3Z2OF_0.html)
 •  Atmospheric interference (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_EN/SEMUYP3Z2OF_0.html)