Since 1988, remotely sensed data from imaging spectrometers have been used to quantify non-pigment vegetation components, such as water, nitrogen, protein, cellulose, and lignin. This research has been motivated by the important role that these substances play in plant biophysical processes (e.g. photosynthesis, C fixation and biomass allocation), and their demonstrated relationships with ecosystem processes, such as carbon fixation, litter decomposition and nutrient cycling. This seminar will focus on the two areas of research that have been pursued to improve the utilization of remotely sensed data from imaging spectrometers for examining ecosystem processes. First, our understanding of vegetation spectra in relation to non-pigment biochemical constituents will be examined. Second, selected case studies that have applied this knowledge and data from imaging spectrometers to map indicators of ecosystem processes will be presented. While results from recent studies will be highlighted, changes in concepts and methods since the inception of imaging spectroscopy will also be presented. Finally, the challenges faced in the quantification of non-pigment plant constituents and the opportunities provided by application of canopy biochemistry to further our understanding of ecosystems will be discussed.

Bio-Sketch As a Research Geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Raymond Kokaly conducts research on the spectroscopy of vegetation, organic matter, minerals, and other materials using laboratory, field and imaging spectrometers. He has applied this knowledge to quantify leaf biochemistry with spectroscopy and to map vegetation species and communities, invasive plant species, and microbial communities with remote sensing data for ecological, geological and environmental studies. Recently, Ray has conducted fire-science studies in forested ecosystems at Cerro Grande, New Mexico, and Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. He currentlyleads a project on monitoring trends in post-fire vegetation composition in sagebrush-grassland ecosystems (http://wildfire.cr.usgs.gov/ember/index.htm). Ray received a M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1993, and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1991. Ray also holds a position as visiting scholar at the Ohio State University, where his wife, Barbara, is an assistant professor in the Anthropology department. Contact Information Raymond F. Kokaly Research Geophysicist U.S. Geological Survey Spectroscopy Laboratory MS 973 Box 25046 Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 303-236-1359 303-236-3200 FAX raymond@usgs.gov http://speclab.cr.usgs.gov Visiting Scholar The Ohio State University Byrd Polar Research Center 275B Scott Hall 1090 Carmack Road Columbus, OH 43210 614-247-8082 614-292-4697 FAX kokaly.1@osu.edu