Question

Plant reflectance in the range of \(0.7\) to \(1.3\) \(\mu m\) is generally caused by:

• A. \(\text{Water content in the plant} \)
• B. \(\text{Cell structure of the plant} \)
• C. \(\text{Age of the plant} \)
• D. \(\text{Chlorophyll in the plant} \)

Hint:

In vegetation remote sensing, visible light (0.4 - 0.7 µm) is absorbed by chlorophyll, while near-infrared (0.7 - 1.3 µm) is scattered by the leaf's internal structure.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding plant reflectance. In remote sensing, plant reflectance varies across different spectral regions: - Visible region (0.4 - 0.7 µm): Influenced by chlorophyll absorption. - Near-infrared (0.7 - 1.3 µm): Strongly influenced by leaf internal cell structure. - Shortwave infrared (1.3 - 2.5 µm): Affected by water content.
Step 2: Explanation of reflectance in 0.7 - 1.3 µm. The high reflectance in near-infrared (NIR) (0.7 - 1.3 µm) is due to multiple reflections within the plant's mesophyll cells. This structure scatters NIR light, resulting in a strong reflection.
Step 3: Selecting the correct option. Since NIR reflectance is primarily influenced by cell structure, the correct answer is b. Cell structure of the plant.