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Title: CONTRIBUTION OF CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE TO THE REFLECTANCE OF CORN FOLIAGE

Author
item ENTCHEVA CAMPBELL, P - NASA NRC FELLOW
item MIDDLETON, E - NASA GSFC
item CORP, L - SSAI
item McMurtrey Iii, James
item Kim, Moon
item CHAPPELLE, E - SSAI
item BUTCHER, L - SSAI

Submitted to: International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/12/2002
Publication Date: 6/24/2002
Citation: Entcheva Campbell, P.K., Middleton, E.M., Corp, L.A., McMurtrey, J.E., Kim, M.S., Chappelle, E.W., Butcher, L.M., 2002. Contribution of chlorophyll fluorescence to the reflectance of corn foliage. In: International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium Proceedings, IGARSS 2002 [CD-ROM]. 1:5-8.

Interpretive Summary: Fluorescence emissions from plant life are indicative of the health and photosynthetic performance of vegetation. Previously researchers had thought that fluorescence made an insignificant contribution the total apparent reflectance data. The current research shows that the apparent reflectance actually is 10 - 25 % fluorescence at 685 nm and from 2 - 6% fluorescence at 740 nm. Studies by NASA are underway to determine if space borne earth orbiting instruments could be built to detect fluorescence emission energy.

Technical Abstract: The contribution of chlorophyll fluorescence(ChlF) to apparent reflectance (Ra) in the red/far-red spectra were assessed on a C4 agricultural species (corn, Zea Mays L.) under conditions ranging from nitrogen deficiency to excess. A significant contribution of ChlF to Ra was observed, with on average 10-25% at 685nm and 2-6% at 740nm of Ra being due to ChlF. Higher ChlF was consistently measured form the abaxial leaf surface as compared to the adaxial. Using 350-665nm excitation, the study confirms the trends in three ChlF ratios established previously by active F technology. This study suggest that utility of ChlF technology for monitoring vegetation physiological status is likely applicable also under natural solar illumination.