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remote sensing Review Imaging Spectroscopy for Conservation Applications Megan Seeley 1,2,* and Gregory P. Asner 1,2 1 School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; [email protected] 2 Center for Global Discovery and Conservation, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: As humans continue to alter Earth systems, conservationists look to remote sensing to monitor, inventory, and understand ecosystems and ecosystem processes at large spatial scales. Multispectral remote sensing data are commonly integrated into conservation decision-making frameworks, yet imaging spectroscopy, or hyperspectral remote sensing, is underutilized in conserva- tion. The high spectral resolution of imaging spectrometers captures the chemistry of Earth surfaces, whereas multispectral satellites indirectly represent such surfaces through band ratios. Here, we present case studies wherein imaging spectroscopy was used to inform and improve conservation decision-making and discuss potential future applications. These case studies include a broad array of conservation areas, including forest, dryland, and marine ecosystems, as well as urban applica- tions and methane monitoring. Imaging spectroscopy technology is rapidly developing, especially with regard to satellite-based spectrometers. Improving on and expanding existing applications of imaging spectroscopy to conservation, developing imaging spectroscopy data products for use by other researchers and decision-makers, and pioneering novel uses of imaging spectroscopy will greatly expand the toolset for conservation decision-makers. Keywords: imaging spectroscopy; conservation; forest; coral reef; methane; urban; drylands; hyperspectral Citation: Seeley, M.; Asner, G.P. 1. Introduction Imaging Spectroscopy for The Earth system is undergoing rapid change [1]. At the turn of the 21st century, Conservation Applications. Remote 75% of ice-free terrestrial surfaces were used by humans in some fashion [2]. From 1982 Sens. 2021, 13, 292. https://doi.org/ to 2016, tropical regions experienced net forest loss. While temperate and boreal regions 10.3390/rs13020292 experienced net forest gains during the same period [3], many temperate forests have shifted in composition due to current and historic anthropogenic activities [4]. Remaining Received: 18 December 2020 Accepted: 11 January 2021 unaltered forest regions are highly fragmented and at risk of deforestation and degradation. Published: 15 January 2021 Cropland expansion alone will remove an estimated 13.7% of the standing forest biomass and convert 3.8% of biodiversity hotspots by 2050 [5]. Marine regions are similarly affected. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neu- By 2070, over 70% of coral reefs will experience annual severe bleaching [6], and, in 2010, tral with regard to jurisdictional clai- 10,000–40,000 tons of plastic floated in ocean surface waters [7]. Keystone species both ms in published maps and institutio- on land and in the ocean are threatened by habitat loss and overharvesting. Exacerbating nal affiliations. these direct anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems is human-induced climate change. Many human and natural communities are already experiencing the consequences of changing precipitation patterns and increasing temperatures, and these issues will continue to worsen if human action continues as usual. As rates of deforestation and carbon dioxide levels rise, Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Li- decision-makers and conservationists look to science for solutions. censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. While nearly half of published conservation biology research has focused on docu- This article is an open access article menting threats to biodiversity [8], an increasingly large subset of practitioners in this distributed under the terms and con- field is entrenched in conservation decision-making [9]. Remote sensing informs both ditions of the Creative Commons At- of these communities and is used to document land-use/land-cover changes [10] that tribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ inform research and conservation decision-making [11–13]. The volume of remotely sensed 4.0/). data from commercial and governmental organizations allows Earth system monitoring Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 292. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13020292 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/remotesensing Remote Sens. 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 17 Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 292 2 of 17 research and conservation decision-making [11–13]. The volume of remotely sensed data from commercial and governmental organizations allows Earth system monitoring at un- precedentedat unprecedented spatiotemporal spatiotemporal scales, yet many scales, Earth yet manysystem Earth dimensions system cannot dimensions be directly cannot be measureddirectly with measured multispectral with multispectral satellites. Imaging satellites. spectroscopy Imaging offers spectroscopy a means to offers more a di- means to rectlymore measure directly many measure of these many dimensions of these dimensions by filling in by the filling gaps inin thethe gapselectromagnetic in the electromag- spectrum.netic spectrum. ImagingImaging spectroscopy spectroscopy is a process is a process of image of image formation formation from narrow from narrow wavelength wavelength in- in- tervals,tervals, referred referred to as to channels. as channels. These channels These channels are arranged are arranged in a way that in a capt wayures that a con- captures a tinuouscontinuous portion portion of the ofelectromagnetic the electromagnetic spectrum spectrum from the from visible the visible(400 nm) (400 to nm)shortwave to shortwave infraredinfrared (2500 (2500 nm), nm), in contrast in contrast to other to otherpassive passive remote remote sensing sensing platforms, platforms, such as Landsat such as Land- andsat Sentinel and Sentinel-2,-2, that have that wide have and wide spectrally and spectrally discontinuous discontinuous bands (Figure bands 1). Akin(Figure to la-1) . Akin boratoryto laboratory spectroscopy, spectroscopy, remote sensing remote based sensing on imaging based on spectroscopy imaging spectroscopy can directly meas- can directly uremeasure Earth system Earth characteristics system characteristics such as vegetation such as vegetationcanopy chemical canopy traits, chemical atmospheric traits, atmo- methane,spheric urban methane, surface urban composition, surface composition,and undersea andcoral undersea reefs. These coral and reefs. other Thesemeasure- and other mentsmeasurements or indicators or from indicators imaging from spectroscopy, imaging spectroscopy, unlike multispectral unlike multispectralimagery, are based imagery, are onbased the molecular on the molecularchemistry of chemistry Earth surfaces, of Earth which surfaces, is becoming which invaluable is becoming for conserva- invaluable for tionconservation issues. issues. FigureFigure 1. Bottom 1. Bottom-of-atmosphere-of-atmosphere reflectance reflectance spectra spectra(400 to 2500 (400 nm) to 2500from nm)(a) the from airborne (a) the visi- airborne visi- ble/infraredble/infrared imaging imaging spectrometer spectrometer (AVIRIS) (AVIRIS) and (b) and Sentinel (b) Sentinel-2.-2. While AVIRIS While data AVIRIS represent data represent224 224 contiguous,contiguous, equally equally sized sized bands bands (channels), (channels), Sentinel Sentinel-2-2 data dataare discrete are discrete representations representations of the ofelec- the electro- tromagnetic spectrum with variable bandwidths. magnetic spectrum with variable bandwidths. Imaging spectroscopy data are currently collected using aircraft, such as the Jet Pro- Imaging spectroscopy data are currently collected using aircraft, such as the Jet Propul- pulsion Lab’s airborne visible/infrared imaging spectrometer (AVIRIS), the National Eco- sion Lab’s airborne visible/infrared imaging spectrometer (AVIRIS), the National Ecologi- logical Observatory Network (NEON)’s Airborne Observation Platform, and Arizona cal Observatory Network (NEON)’s Airborne Observation Platform, and Arizona State State University’s Global Airborne Observatory (GAO). Such data, however, are part of theUniversity’s next frontier Global in spaceborne Airborne Earth Observatory observations. (GAO). To date, Such the data, only however,previous satellite are part- of the basednext imaging frontier s inpectrometer spaceborne for Earth civil societal observations. use was To the date, Hyperion the only instrument previous onboard satellite-based theimaging National spectrometer Aeronautics and for civilSpace societal Administration use was the(NASA)’s Hyperion Earth instrument Observing onboard-1 (EO-1) the Na- satellite.tional EO Aeronautics-1 was a technology and Space demonstration Administration and (NASA)’s has been Earthdeorbited. Observing-1 However, (EO-1) newer satellite. andEO-1 more was advanc a technologyed imaging demonstration spectrometers, and such has as been AVIRIS deorbited. and the However, GAO, are newerbeing re- and more designedadvanced for imagingEarth orbit. spectrometers, Once achieved, such spaceborne as AVIRIS imaging and the spectroscopy GAO, are being will redesignedbring a for wealthEarth of orbit. data that Once expands achieved, the opportunities spaceborne imaging for actionable spectroscopy science, such will bringas that a directed wealth of data to thatconservat expandsion solution the opportunities spaces. Here for we actionable describe science, how imaging such as spectroscopy