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A review of the application of BRDF models to infer land cover parameters at regional and global scales

A review of the application of BRDF models to infer land cover parameters at regional and global scales
A review of the application of BRDF models to infer land cover parameters at regional and global scales
This paper presents a review of the application of Bi-directional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) models in the inference of land surface parameters at regional and global scales using remotely sensed data. Information on land surface parameters, such as Leaf Area Index (LAI), fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fAPAR), aerodynamic surface roughness and albedo, are valuable for understanding the transfer of energy and mass between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere (e.g., carbon, nitrogen and methane cycling) and for ingestion into the lower boundary condition of global circulation models (GCM)s. Conventional techniques for acquiring information on land surface parameters do not account for or utilize the directional nature of surface reflectance. This paper reviews empirical, semi-empirical and, to a lesser extent, physical BRDF models that describe the surface BRDF. In each case examples are given of their application in inferring land surface parameters. The review concludes by discussing the future prospects of BRDF modelling using spaceborne sensors.

brdf models land surface parameters, remotely sensed data
0309-1333
483-511
Roberts, Gareth
fa1fc728-44bf-4dc2-8a66-166034093ef2
Roberts, Gareth
fa1fc728-44bf-4dc2-8a66-166034093ef2

Roberts, Gareth (2001) A review of the application of BRDF models to infer land cover parameters at regional and global scales. Progress in Physical Geography, 25 (4), 483-511. (doi:10.1177/030913330102500402).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This paper presents a review of the application of Bi-directional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) models in the inference of land surface parameters at regional and global scales using remotely sensed data. Information on land surface parameters, such as Leaf Area Index (LAI), fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fAPAR), aerodynamic surface roughness and albedo, are valuable for understanding the transfer of energy and mass between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere (e.g., carbon, nitrogen and methane cycling) and for ingestion into the lower boundary condition of global circulation models (GCM)s. Conventional techniques for acquiring information on land surface parameters do not account for or utilize the directional nature of surface reflectance. This paper reviews empirical, semi-empirical and, to a lesser extent, physical BRDF models that describe the surface BRDF. In each case examples are given of their application in inferring land surface parameters. The review concludes by discussing the future prospects of BRDF modelling using spaceborne sensors.

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More information

Published date: December 2001
Keywords: brdf models land surface parameters, remotely sensed data

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 188499
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/188499
ISSN: 0309-1333
PURE UUID: b2d7322b-dc27-417d-a28f-006b77f1f91b
ORCID for Gareth Roberts: ORCID iD orcid.org/0009-0007-3431-041X

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Date deposited: 03 Jun 2011 12:37
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:39

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