Ebook: Remote Sensing of Biosphere Functioning

Harold A. Mooney and Richard J. Hobbs At present there is enormous concern about the changes that are occurring on the surface of the earth and in the earth's atmosphere, primarily as a result of human activities. These changes, particularly in the atmosphere, have the potential for altering the earth's habitability. International pro­ grams unprecedented in scope, including the International Geosphere­ Biosphere Program, have been initiated to describe and understand these changes. The global change program will call for coordinated measure­ ments on a global scale of those interactive physical and biological pro­ cesses that regulate the earth system. The program will rely heavily on the emerging technology of remote sensing from airborne vehicles, particularly satellites. Satellites offer the potential of continuously viewing large seg­ ments of the earth's surface, thus documenting the changes that are occur­ ring. The task, however, is not only to document global change, which will be an enormous job, but also to understand the significance of these changes to the biosphere. Effects on the biosphere may cover all spatial scales from global to local. The possibility of measuring biosphere function remot~ly and continuously from satellite imagery must be explored quickly and thoroughly in order to meet the challenge of understanding the con­ sequences of global change. Initial guidelines and approaches are currently being formulated (Dyer and Crossley, 1986; JOI, 1984; NAS, 1986; Rasool, 1987). There are many conceptual and technical issues that must be resolved H. A. Mooney and R. J.

---

With the development of remote sensing technology, it will soon become possible to make truly global assessments of the Earth's changing structural and functional properties. In this book, researchers and users of the available technology examine the potential for monitoring individual biological and chemical features of biotic systems as well as for the remote sensing of processes central to biosphere functioning, namely, the exchange of carbon, water, and trace gases. The aim of the book is to offer a synthesis of current methodologies and research problems, covering analysis of all levels of biosphere functioning from the remote sensing of the underlying mechanisms to the detection of structural changes at the vegetation and landscape levels.

---

With the development of remote sensing technology, it will soon become possible to make truly global assessments of the Earth's changing structural and functional properties. In this book, researchers and users of the available technology examine the potential for monitoring individual biological and chemical features of biotic systems as well as for the remote sensing of processes central to biosphere functioning, namely, the exchange of carbon, water, and trace gases. The aim of the book is to offer a synthesis of current methodologies and research problems, covering analysis of all levels of biosphere functioning from the remote sensing of the underlying mechanisms to the detection of structural changes at the vegetation and landscape levels.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-ix
Introduction....Pages 1-4
Remote Sensing of Terrestrial Ecosystem Structure: An Ecologist’s Pragmatic View....Pages 5-30
Measurements of Surface Soil Moisture and Temperature....Pages 31-63
Estimating Terrestrial Primary Productivity by Combining Remote Sensing and Ecosystem Simulation....Pages 65-86
Remote Sensing of Litter and Soil Organic Matter Decomposition in Forest Ecosystems....Pages 87-103
Water and Energy Exchange....Pages 105-133
Evaluation of Canopy Biochemistry....Pages 135-156
Remote Sensing and Trace Gas Fluxes....Pages 157-167
Satellite Remote Sensing and Field Experiments....Pages 169-201
Remote Sensing of Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Vegetation....Pages 203-219
Remote Sensing of Landscape Processes....Pages 221-247
Synoptic-Scale Hydrological and Biogeochemical Cycles in the Amazon River Basin: A Modeling and Remote Sensing Perspective....Pages 249-268
Remote Sensing of Marine Photosynthesis....Pages 269-290
Analysis of Remotely Sensed Data....Pages 291-304
Remote Sensing of Biosphere Functioning: Concluding Remarks....Pages 305-306
Back Matter....Pages 307-312

---

With the development of remote sensing technology, it will soon become possible to make truly global assessments of the Earth's changing structural and functional properties. In this book, researchers and users of the available technology examine the potential for monitoring individual biological and chemical features of biotic systems as well as for the remote sensing of processes central to biosphere functioning, namely, the exchange of carbon, water, and trace gases. The aim of the book is to offer a synthesis of current methodologies and research problems, covering analysis of all levels of biosphere functioning from the remote sensing of the underlying mechanisms to the detection of structural changes at the vegetation and landscape levels.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-ix
Introduction....Pages 1-4
Remote Sensing of Terrestrial Ecosystem Structure: An Ecologist’s Pragmatic View....Pages 5-30
Measurements of Surface Soil Moisture and Temperature....Pages 31-63
Estimating Terrestrial Primary Productivity by Combining Remote Sensing and Ecosystem Simulation....Pages 65-86
Remote Sensing of Litter and Soil Organic Matter Decomposition in Forest Ecosystems....Pages 87-103
Water and Energy Exchange....Pages 105-133
Evaluation of Canopy Biochemistry....Pages 135-156
Remote Sensing and Trace Gas Fluxes....Pages 157-167
Satellite Remote Sensing and Field Experiments....Pages 169-201
Remote Sensing of Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Vegetation....Pages 203-219
Remote Sensing of Landscape Processes....Pages 221-247
Synoptic-Scale Hydrological and Biogeochemical Cycles in the Amazon River Basin: A Modeling and Remote Sensing Perspective....Pages 249-268
Remote Sensing of Marine Photosynthesis....Pages 269-290
Analysis of Remotely Sensed Data....Pages 291-304
Remote Sensing of Biosphere Functioning: Concluding Remarks....Pages 305-306
Back Matter....Pages 307-312
....