The BOREAS Information System
Remote Sensing Science (RSS)


RSS-19: Variation in Radiometric Properties of the Boreal Forest Landscape as a Function of the Ecosystem Dynamics


P.I.(s): John R. Miller -- York University
Co-I(s): Ellsworth LeDrew -- Univ. of Waterloo; Norman O'Neill, Alain Royer -- Univ. de Sherbrooke; P. Teillet, Karl Staenz, R. Gauthier, R. Neville -- CCRS; A. Hollinger -- Canadian Space Agency

Objectives: An airborne Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI) were used to generate reflectance images (1km swath) on up to 8 dates spanning the Feb. to Sept. 1994 period. This database will be used along with AVIRIS, MEIS-II, SSM/I, Landsat and SPOT to determine:

  1. image-based methods to obtain surface reflectances from airborne optical imagery
  2. the effect of temporal/spatial variability of site albedos of the boreal forest in the winter-spring transition on the use of such data in numerical climate simulation models
  3. the utility of the area and spectral properties of beaver ponds for spatial scaling of measured trace gas emissions
  4. the role of seasonal changes in understory components to changes in reflectance of open boreal canopies
  5. the seasonal/temporal variation in closed canopy reflectance as a function of canopy architecture, species composition, canopy biophysical parameters of LAI and biomass, and phenologic development and chemistry of foliar components.

Go to the CASI/BOREAS WWW site.


RSS-19 Pictures

The Ontario/York University Chieftain


RSS-19 Data Sets

  • Reflectance Spectra
  • CASI Level-1b images
  • CASI Level-2 images

  • Get some RSS-19 data using FTP (BOREAS Investigators only, password required). [FTP Help]


    RSS-19 BOREAS Operations 1994


    Objectives:
    CASI Airborne Data Collection:


    CASI Missions Location Duration Number
    of Flights
    Processing
    Status
    Access
    Status
    1. Multiview Canopy Bi-directional Reflectance 10 flux towers
    NSA & SSA
    all FFCs & IFCs 57 0 BG
    2. Canopy biochemistry - spectrometer mode 10 flux towers
    NSA & SSA
    all FFCs & IFCs 37 0
    1
    BG
    3a. Site Mapping @ 1675 m AGL - spatial mode 10 flux towers
    NSA & SSA
    all FFCs & IFCs 48 0
    1
    BG
    BG,BO*
    3b. Site Mapping @ 600 m AGL - spatial mode 10 flux towers
    NSA & SSA
    all FFCs & IFCs 48 0
    1
    BG
    4. Stem Mapping @ 150 or 300m AGL - CIR spatial mode 10 flux towers
    NSA & SSA
    all FFCs & IFCs 28 0
    1
    BG
    5. PAR and Spectral Albedo @ 150 m AGL- from up & down spectral irradiance 10 flux towers
    NSA & SSA
    all FFCs & IFCs 53 N -
    6. Lake transects @ 1675 m Wask & Candle Lake SSA IFC 1, 2, & 3 10 0
    1
    BG
    7. Beaver ponds NSA IFC 1, 2 & 3 9 0
    1
    BG
    8. Auxiliary sites @ 1675 m AGL - spatial mode NSA & SSA all FFCs & IFCs 135 0
    1
    BG
    9. ET transects @ 2.5 km AGL SSA <-> NSA all FFCs & IFCs 5 N -
    10. Snow Course lines SSA & NSA
    • FFC-W
    FFC-W 37 0
    1
    BG
    11. Agriculture Lines PA to SSA FFC-T and
    IFC 1,2 & 3
    4 0
    1
    BG
    12. Atmospheric Correction Methodology study - multi-altitude & flights over characterized ground targets SSA IFC-2 40 0
    1
    BG

    N - not yet processed
    0 - quick-look gifs
    1 - at-sensor radiance
    2 - at-sensor reflectance
    3 - surface reflectance
    BO - BORIS
    BG - ISTS (RSS-19 WWW site at URL: http://www.eol.ists.ca)


    Field Data Collection Completed (analysis status as indicated):
    Scientists associated with RSS-19 were at the BOREAS sites at all FFCs and IFCs. The field activities carried out are outlined in detail below.

    A. Canopy Radiative Transfer input parameters:

    1. canopy architecture
      • vectorization - to obtain the 3-D distribution of canopy elements and tree form i.e. branching structure, age, DBH, Ht, length of live crown:
        • where: YJP - 4 trees; OJP: 3 trees; OA: 2 trees + 1m2 hazel
        • data status: data processed for YJP (4 trees) and OJP (3 trees), ready for submission to BORIS. Documentation in progress. (Contact R. Landry, CCRS)
      • site characterization - on detailed referenced grid (normally 50 x 60 m)
        • X-Y location of trees, DBH,, Ht, live crown Ht & radius in cardinal directions, dominance class, understory cover (in 10 m x 10m subplots)
        • where: - SSA: OA, OBS, OJP, YJP, 4 mixed OA/white spruce
          NSA: OA, OBS, OJP, YJP, YA aux site
        • data status: submitted to BORIS (Contact R. Fournier, TE-23)
    2. branch BRF: bidirectional spectral reflectance using spectrometer & goniometer (JPL)
      • where: adjacent to sites OBS, OJP, OA
      • data status: data processing in progress (but data not yet reached level suitable for submission )
    3. needle reflectance and transmittance (r,t) spectral properties, and shoot bi-directional reflectance
      • where: YJP, OJP, OBS tower sites at the NSA & samples from SSA at each IFC
      • data status: NSA needle r,t data processing completed, documentation in progress.
    4. understory mean spectral reflectance: seasonal variation from all 5 campaigns
      • where: flux tower sites at both SSA and NSA
      • data status: analysis complete, submitted to BORIS
    5. BRF of selected understory dominant components:
      • IFC-2:- where: SSA: OJP, OBS ( moss & lichen) - some vis/NIR; some vis to SWIR
      • IFC-3: - where: SSA & NSA (vis/NIR)
      • data status: data processing in progress (but data not yet reached level suitable for submission )
    6. Tower-based canopy spectroradiometric signatures
      • FFC-W: where - SSA-OJP - (sunlit & shadowed) component signatures 400 to 850 nm
      • FFC-T & IFC-3: where - SSA & NSA - canopy BRF & endmember spectra
      • data status: FFC-W data analysis complete


    B. Atmospheric Correction Methodology Evaluation:

    1. BRF characterization of standard ground targets:
      • where airport tarmac & canvas panels
      • status: analysis in progress
    2. optical depth data collection
      • IFC-2: - where - Prince Albert airport
      • data status: analysis complete and rationalized through interchanges with OD data by Markham RSS- & Wrigley
    3. airborne spatial variability characterization
      • - airborne zenith sky, global irradiance Spectron data SSA (collaboration with Wathall
      • - Status: analysis in progress
    4. Atmospheric Correction Model Validation Intercomparison
      • status: - internal report prepared on benchmark results for standard McClatchey
      • atmosphere for 10 altitudes, including typical C-130, Chieftain & ER-2 altitudes


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    Last Updated: October 28, 1997