Vegetation canopy reflectance modeling with turbid medium radiative transfer

Biophysical considerations for vegetation canopy reflectance modeling are presented. Included is a brief overview outlining strengths and weaknesses of four possible canopy reflectance models. The overview is followed by the description of the LCM2 coupled leaf/canopy turbid medium reflectance model based on natural averaging. The model follows conventional radiative transfer theory with modification for canopy architecture as characterized by leaf orientation. The presentation concludes with a demonstration of LCM2 in a multiple pixel mode to estimate the amount of ripe coffee cherries at harvest in the fields of the Kauai Coffee Company and to detect targets hidden beneath canopies.