Co-Authors:
Svoray, T., Department of Geography, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel, Department of Soil Survey, Land Evaluation and Remote Sensing, Ministry of Agriculture, Tel Aviv 61570, Israel
Shoshany, M., Department of Geography, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
Curran, P.J., Department of Geography, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
Foody, G.M., Department of Geography, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
Perevolotsky, A., Department of Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, P.O.B. 6, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Abstract:
Relationships between ERS-2 SAR backscatter and the biophysical properties of four Mediterranean vegetation formations (forest, shrubs, dwarf shrubs and herbaceous vegetation) were assessed. Low correlation was found between ERS-2 SAR backscatter and both aboveground biomass and LAI. However, significantly higher correlation (r=0.92) was found between ERS-2 SAR backscatter and a new index of Green leaf biomass Volumetric Density (GVD). These results stress the dominant influence of leaves in the uppermost part of the vegetation layer on ERS-2 SAR backscatter.