Ben-Dor, E., Dept. of Geography, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
Goldshalager, N.
Agassi, M.
Goetz, A.F.H., Ctr. for the Study of Earth Space, CIRES, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
Braun, O., Bar-Kal Systems Engineering, Ltd., Netania, Israel
Kindel, B., Ctr. for the Study of Earth Space, CIRES, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
Binaymini, Y.
Bonfil, D.

Based on previous studies that showed significant correlation between crusted soil and their reflectance properties, we applied a systematic study over Loess soil from Israel using Hyperspectral (or Imaging Spectroscopy) technology. A simulation for rain events under laboratory conditions, using the selected soil and varying rain energy treatments was conducted and reflectance properties of the crusted soils were measured. A spectral parameter defined as a Normalized Spectral Area (NSA) was used to assess for the crust status (based on the area under a ratio spectrum relative to a known non-crusted soils' plot). The NSA laboratory parameter was applied to the AISA data using ground controlled soil plots (crusted and non crusted). A reasonable agreement was obtained between the two data sets (laboratory and air) suggesting that infiltration rates values can be estimated remotely. It is strongly suggested that future study, will use the full optical range (VIS-NIR-SWIR-TIR) in the IS technology to map the crust status in a better precise way.