NRES-222 Remote Sensing Lab
Lab Objectives:
1. Learn basic remote sensing concepts: electromagnetic radiation(EMR), Earth’s surface
interactions with EMR, leaf properties and spectral responses, vegetation indices.
2. Use remote sensing techniques to collect spectral information for sun and shade leaves.
3. Compare leaf spectral responses and vegetation indices to investigate sun and shade
leaf properties.
4. Think critically about how the similarities/differences in sun and shade leaf properties
you derived from leaf spectral response curves and vegetation indices reflect differential
resource investment in a tree canopy.
5. Use your observations on sun and shade leaf similarities/differences to address
questions about phenological patterns and nutrient cycling.
Instructions:
1. Download excel file containing leaf spectral data.
2. For each leaf, average the three(top,middle,bottom) reflectance scans together at each
wavelength band.
- Example: Wavelength(nm) Top scan Middle scan Bottom scan
Average
400 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.3
401 0.25 0.8 0.15 0.4
402 0.8 0.1 0.3 0.4
3. Create a line graph for all averaged leaf spectral data to visualize the leaf spectral
response curves. Reflectance values on the y-axis and wavelength band numbers
indicated on the x-axis. Color coordinate line graphs to differentiate sun and shade leaf
spectral response curves. Include graph title, axis labels and legend(indicating sun and
shade)
Question #1: Using what you learned from the remote sensing presentation and your evaluation
of the spectral response curves graph, describe what leaf properties(e.g. A particular pigment)
are associated with specific spectral regions? Indicate how the leaf property influences the
spectral region(absorbance/reflectance), and describe the function of that leaf property.
Because of the presence of chlorophyll we see a slight increase in reflectance in the green
spectral region (200nm-300nm). Because of the presence of carotenoids in the leaves we see a
major increase in reflectance in the red spectral region (420nm-750nm). These chloroplasts act
to inhibit absorbance of certain light frequencies by the leaf.
4. Calculate Vegetation Indices for each leaf: Photochemical Reflectance Index(PRI) and
Red-Edge Vegetation Index(REVI). Use the formulas below to calculate each vegetation
index. In the formula, R indicates the reflectance value and the following number
indicates the wavelength band number.
- Example: R531nm -> this indicates the reflectance value in the spectral response
curve at waveband 531 nm.
- PRI = (R531nm - R570nm)/(R531nm + R570nm)
- REVI = (R750 - R705)/(R750 + R705)
5. Create a separate scatter plot for PRI and REVI index values. Include a graph legend
that indicates deciduous and evergreen leaf index values.
Question #2: Using your observations you made from the leaf spectral response curves and
calculated indices, how do these inform us about different resource investment in deciduous
and evergreen leaves?
I’m not able to identify which of the unknown leaves is from an evergreen tree. I could infer that
unknown leaf #4 is the evergreen leaf because it’s the only leaf with a different reflectance
pattern in the green spectral region. It is less reflectant of green than the other leaves, possibly
indicating lower chlorophyll levels in this leaf. It is more reflective of the blue spectral region
which may indicate that this leaf has a bluish hue. This could also indicate that this is the
evergreen leaf. There may be less chlorophyll present in the evergreen leaves because it is a
year round investment for this tree so it has adapted to be more efficient in its use of chlorophyll
Question #3: Based on your answer in Question #4, how may these differences(if there are any)
influence phenological patterns in deciduous and evergreen leaves? Specifically, how may
these differences in resource investment for deciduous and evergreen leaves lead to different
patterns of resource re-absorption? Note: There is no wrong answer here. I am asking you to tie
everything you have learned in this lab together. One way to answer this question is through a
monetary approach. Let’s say leaves that contain leaf properties that reflect a greater resource
investment/function is a $10 investment for the tree and leaves that contain properties that
reflect less resource investment/function is a $5 investment for the tree. This tree earns back all
of the $ investment when they re-absorb resources in their leaves. However, in the event of the
first frost, the tree is only able to earn half of the $ investment. In this context, how would you
expect phenological patterns to differ between sun and shade leaves?
I would expect deciduous trees to be much more responsive to the length of day and the
temperature since it so much more important for them to withdraw resources from their leaves
before they lose their investments.
[These questions are based on the sampling activity done in class]
Question #4: Using the data collected in class on the spectral ranges of deciduous and
evergreen species, how can you differentiate between a deciduous species and an evergreen
species and why is this the case? Be sure to look at the key features and components of the
spectral data and mention these in your answers.
I’m not able to identify for sure which of the unknown leaves is from an evergreen tree. I would
infer that unknown leaf #4 is the evergreen leaf because it’s the only leaf with a different
reflectance pattern in the green spectral region. It is less reflectant of green than the other
leaves, possibly indicating lower chlorophyll levels in this leaf. It is more reflective of the blue
spectral region which may indicate that this leaf has a bluish hue.
