Discrimination of floor cover of dry deciduous forest using Hyperion (EO-1) data

A study was conducted to analyze high spectral reflectance data of the floor cover of dry deciduous forests (Shoolpaneshwar wildlife sanctuary, Gujarat, India) during the summer season. Hyperion data and field data were acquired in the month of April, 2006 (dry/summer season) when the vegetation was in different stages of senescence. Variations in spectral characteristics of different types of leaf litter were seen. Spectral reflectance curves were different for different thicknesses of leaf litter. Altitude also had an impact on the reflectance curves. Spectra of bare soil is easily separable from the ones covered by litter. Descriptive spectra were extracted for four cover types such as Tectona grandis L., Dendrocalamus strictus Nees., mixed deciduous species and bare soil. Continuum removal spectra were also extracted for these four types. Sharp absorption features were seen in VIS and SWIR-II wavelengths which were absent in the spectra of bare soil, indicating the ability of Hyperion data to discriminate dry forest floor from bare soil. The three cover types are also distinctly separable. SWIR-II wavelengths are more sensitive to the type of floor cover indicating its distinctiveness. Results are discussed highlighting the potential of Hyperion data in deciphering floor cover characteristics in the dry season.