24/7 Space News
EARTH OBSERVATION
Mapping plant traits from space: HKU team integrates field and satellite data for ecosystem analysis
illustration only
ADVERTISEMENT
The 2024 Humans To Mars Summit - May 07-08, 2024 - Washington D.C.
Mapping plant traits from space: HKU team integrates field and satellite data for ecosystem analysis
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 22, 2024

A promising development in ecosystem monitoring has been achieved by Professor Jin Wu and his team at the University of Hong Kong's School of Biological Sciences. Their study, detailed in Remote Sensing of Environment, involves using the Sentinel-2 satellite to map plant functional traits through time-series satellite data. This method offers new insights into the functional diversity and health of terrestrial ecosystems and supports environmental management efforts.

Using satellites to capture plant characteristics The team's innovative approach involves integrating vegetation spectroscopy and phenology to utilize the high-resolution, multispectral data provided by Sentinel-2. This data is analyzed weekly and offers a 10-meter resolution. By observing how plant leaves reflect light, the researchers can gather detailed information about their physical and biochemical properties. This data, coupled with phenological observations, allows for a comprehensive understanding of plant traits over large areas.

The technique was rigorously tested across 14 sites in the National Ecological Observatory Network in the U.S., focusing on 12 key foliar traits. Shuwen Liu, a PhD candidate and first author from Professor Wu's lab, highlighted the method's ability to provide detailed trait diversity at a fine spatial scale while maintaining accuracy over extensive regions.

The results demonstrated that this approach is more effective than traditional methods that depend on environmental variables or single image snapshots. The integration of phenological data significantly enhances the predictive power of the model, supporting the leaf economics spectrum theory.

Looking ahead, Professor Wu emphasized the broader implications of their research. Future studies will aim to validate and expand this technology to better understand how terrestrial ecosystems respond to climate change and to explore potential climate solutions based on natural processes.

Research Report:Spectra-phenology integration for high-resolution, accurate, and scalable mapping of foliar functional traits using time-series Sentinel-2 data

Related Links
University of Hong Kong
Earth Observation News - Suppiliers, Technology and Application

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
EARTH OBSERVATION
EarthCARE satellite prepares for upcoming launch
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Apr 17, 2024
ESA's EarthCARE satellite has recently been unpacked at its launch site in Vandenberg, California, after a lengthy journey from Germany and a month-long storage period. The satellite is now undergoing preparations for its anticipated launch in May. The Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) is equipped with four advanced instruments designed to analyze the interactions between clouds, aerosols, and solar radiation, which are crucial for understanding Earth's radiation balance amids ... read more

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
EARTH OBSERVATION
Voyager 1 resumes sending readable status updates after 5 months of repairs

NASA to launch solar sail, navigate space using sunlight

Act fast or fall behind China, US for good, EU leaders told

Astronauts slated for repair mission on space station's NICER telescope

EARTH OBSERVATION
ISRO unveils lightweight carbon-carbon nozzle to boost rocket payload capacity

Orbex ramps up rocket development with new investment

Constellation of Starlink satellites grows with latest SpaceX launch from Florida

Sidus Space Joins Orbital Transports Partner Program to Broaden Market Presence

EARTH OBSERVATION
NASA Mars helicopter sends last message to Earth

Ingenuity Mars Helicopter transitions to stationary role on Red Planet

Comet Geyser: Perseverance's 24th Rock Core

NASA Aims for Cost-Effective Mars Sample Return by 2030s

EARTH OBSERVATION
China to send fresh crew to Tiangong space station

China gears up for Shenzhou XVIII manned space mission

China finds use for space tech in extending food shelf life

Astronaut fitness regimes critical in Tiangong Space Station

EARTH OBSERVATION
Weather models advance satellite tracking capabilities

Six future astronauts certified from European Space Agency's 2022 graduating class

China launches space collaboration forum with Latin America and the Caribbean

ICEYE secures substantial growth investment to bolster its SAR satellite fleet

EARTH OBSERVATION
Chinese company aims to ramp up Serbia copper, gold mining

This alloy is kinky

Two-dimensional nanomaterial expands counter-intuitively under tension

US firms reestablish rare earth element production

EARTH OBSERVATION
Peptides still form on cosmic dust despite water-covered molecular ice

Desert soil microbes adapt to thrive in extreme dry conditions

Purple may just be the new green in the hunt for alien life

New insights into Earth's carbon cycle offer clues for habitability of other planets

EARTH OBSERVATION
Juno mission reveals volcanic landscapes on Io

Dating the Solar System's orbital changes with enstatite meteorites

Pluto's heart-shaped feature explained by international research team

Assessing the ages of moons from impact craters

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters


ADVERTISEMENT



The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2023 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.