Near-Surface Sensor-Derived Phenology

Near-surface remote sensingNear-surface remote sensing provides a novel approach to phenological monitoring. Optical sensors mounted in proximity to the land surface can be used to quantify changes in the spectral properties of vegetation associated with development and senescence, as well as seasonal variation in activity. The resulting data are essentially continuous in time and cover a scale—intermediate between individual organisms and satellite pixels—that is unique and advantageous for a variety of applications. In this chapter, we review and discuss several approaches to near-surface remote sensing of phenology, including methods based on broad- and narrow-band radiometric sensors, and using consumer-grade digital cameras as inexpensive imaging sensors—with an emphasis on what has become known as the “phenocam” method.