Estimating snow cover and grain size from AVIRIS data with spectral mixture analysis and modeled snow spectra

Thomas H. Painter; Dar A. Roberts; Robert O. Green; Jeff Dozier

doi:10.1117/12.278931

31 October 1997 Estimating snow cover and grain size from AVIRIS data with spectral mixture analysis and modeled snow spectra

Thomas H. Painter, Dar A. Roberts, Robert O. Green, Jeff Dozier

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3118, Imaging Spectrometry III; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.278931
Event: Optical Science, Engineering and Instrumentation '97, 1997, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Models of hydrology and climate in alpine and other seasonally snow-covered regions require input of snow- covered area (SCA) and snow surface grain size. The spectral signature of snow depends on the snow grain size. We have shown in earlier work that to map either SCA or grain size with optical data, one must know the distribution of the other variable. Hence, we solve for SCA or grain size simultaneously with spectral mixture analysis. Alpine regions frequently exhibit large snow grain size gradients due to rugged terrain. Because the spectral signature of snow is dependent on grain size, the grain size gradients translate into spectral gradients. Snow must then be represented by a range of endmembers. To provide the range and resolution of grain size, we use modeled snow spectra of varying brain size as snow endmembers. To complete the spectral mixture library, we incorporate reference endmembers of vegetation, rock, and soil. On airborne visible/IR imaging spectrometer data of the Sierra Nevada, CA, we ran multiple mixture models. We established constraints on mixture RMS, residual, and fractions to select a subset of physically realistic models. The optimal mixture was then selected from this subset by means of the least RMS. The snow endmember fraction and grain size of the optimal mixture provide the estimates of sub-pixel SCA and surface grain size, respectively.

Citation Download Citation

Thomas H. Painter, Dar A. Roberts, Robert O. Green, and Jeff Dozier "Estimating snow cover and grain size from AVIRIS data with spectral mixture analysis and modeled snow spectra", Proc. SPIE 3118, Imaging Spectrometry III, (31 October 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.278931

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available