Sensitivity of remotely sensed reflectance to variation in fuel moisture content at leaf and canopy scale

Leaf and canopy reflectance models were used to examine the sensitivity of remotely sensed reflectance to variation in fuel moisture content (FMC). A database of simulated leaf and canopy reflectance spectra was input into a global sensitivity analysis and the sensitivity of reflectance to variation in leaf water content and leaf dry matter content examined. The analysis showed that estimation of FMC from remotely sensed data will require data in both the near infrared and short-wave infrared regions. At the leaf level reflectance was sensitive to both physical components of FMC (water and dry matter) but sensitivity was reduced at canopy level due to the effects of variation in leaf area index and canopy cover.