The interpretation of spectral vegetation indexes

TLDR

Empirical studies link spectral vegetation indexes to leaf area, biomass, and physiological traits, because the indexes reflect the wavelength‑derivative of surface reflectance, which depends on leaf and soil optical properties and indicates absorber abundance in dense vegetation. Broad‑band near‑infrared vegetation indexes thus quantify chlorophyll abundance and energy absorption.

Abstract

Empirical studies report several plausible correlations between transforms of spectral reflectance, called vegetation indexes, and parameters descriptive of vegetation leaf area, biomass and physiological functioning. However, most indexes can be generalized to show a derivative of surface reflectance with respect to wavelength. This derivative is a function of the optical properties of leaves and soil particles. In the case of optically dense vegetation, the spectral derivative, and thus the indexes, can be rigorously shown to be indicative of the abundance and activity of the absorbers in the leaves. Therefore, the widely used broad-band &near-infrared vegetation indexes are a measure of chlorophyll abundance and energy absorption.