Here is a peer-reviewed article I co-authored with Prof. Geoffrey Henebry from the South Dakota State University, Geospatial Science Center of Excellence (SDSU GSCE). The paper was published in the Israel Journal of Plant Sciences.
We introduced a new framework for analyzing spectra called Moment Distance (MD) that uses metrics derived from the shape of the curve described by fine resolution spectra. We located potential pivot wavelength regions (PWR) useful for estimation of chlorophyll and carotenoids, and explore the spectral separability of maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) at specific PWRs.
We found the Moment Distance Index (MDI) to perform as well as or better than optimized band ratio models in terms of bias and RMSE. The 720-730 nm PWR for chlorophyll and 450-500 nm PWR for carotenoids are not only sensitive to pigment concentrations, but could distinguish maize spectra from soybean spectra.
Keywords: MDI, chlorophyll, carotenoids, chlorophyll index, carotenoids index, Moment Distance Index
If you want to read the full paper, you can get it for free.
Sample diagram of relative sensitivities of MDI to Chl and Car.
Full citation:
Separability of maize and soybean in the spectral regions of chlorophyll and carotenoids using the Moment Distance Index
Eric Ariel L. Salas, Geoffrey M. Henebry
Israel Journal of Plant Sciences
Vol. 60, Iss. 1-2, 2012
