Experiments to predict the response of thematic mapper bands 3, 4 and 5 to grass drought.

Abstract

Turf samples 60cm x30 cm and 10 cm deep from 3 locations in NE Netherlands showed a range of grass and soil types. During a drying period in the laboratory, reflectance measurements were carried out and moisture contents of grass and soil were estimated. The soil moisture contents were converted to pF values. The narrow band values of the laboratory measurements on reflectance were added to compose broad Thematic Mapper bands. Multiple linear regression on the experimental results produced equations with grass moisture, soil moisture and pF as dependent variables. These variables could be estimated from reflectance values in the TM bands 3, 4 and 5 with respective standard errors of 13.8-16.0%, 8.5% and 0.1%. The pattern of TM satellite data of grassland at one specific acquisition date revealed that it is very likely that remote sensing data could be used to detect drought phenomena, although field observations would still be required. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)