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Indices of Vegetation Activity

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Biophysical Applications of Satellite Remote Sensing

Part of the book series: Springer Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry ((SPRINGERREMO))

Abstract

In this chapter we explain satellite-based vegetation indices (VIs) as dynamic spectral measures of vegetation activity. VIs are among the most widely used satellite products in monitoring ecosystems and agriculture, resource management, and estimations of many biophysical canopy properties. A theoretical basis for their formulation is presented and we describe how VIs are processed and composited from satellite imagery. Recent trends in their validation and quality assessment using in situ tower measurements are also discussed. Finally, a cross section of major findings involving the use of satellite VIs in ecological and climate science is presented and we conclude with research challenges and environmental issues that will drive future uses of satellite VIs.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partly carried out under a NOAA Cooperative Agreement, CICS-NC (NESDIS-NESDISPO-2009-2002050), and NASA NPP grant NNX11AH25G (Miura, P.I). The authors are very grateful for the review and challenging comments provided by Richard Waring.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Alfredo Huete, Piyachat Ratana & Mark Broich

  2. University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Tomoaki Miura

  3. Aichi Prefectural University, Aichi, Japan

    Hiroki Yoshioka

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  1. Alfredo Huete
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  2. Tomoaki Miura
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  3. Hiroki Yoshioka
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  4. Piyachat Ratana
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  5. Mark Broich
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Correspondence to Alfredo Huete .

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  1. Department of Geography, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

    Jonathan M. Hanes

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Huete, A., Miura, T., Yoshioka, H., Ratana, P., Broich, M. (2014). Indices of Vegetation Activity. In: Hanes, J. (eds) Biophysical Applications of Satellite Remote Sensing. Springer Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25047-7_1

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