Murmu et al. (2025) Scatterometers for leaf area index estimation: A review

Identification

• Journal: Elsevier eBooks
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-14
• Authors: Damanti Murmu, Bhawana Sharma, Srishti Gwal, Ayushi Gupta, Prashant K. Srivastava
• DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-443-31380-6.00021-0

Research Groups

• Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
• School of Public Policy, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India
• Ecosystems Analysis Laboratory, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Short Summary

This review paper synthesizes the current understanding and applications of scatterometers, active microwave sensors, for estimating Leaf Area Index (LAI), a critical parameter for understanding plant growth, ecosystem functioning, and climate regulation. It highlights the utility of scatterometers in various Earth observation tasks, particularly for LAI estimation in agriculture, ecology, and climate studies.

Objective

• To review the state-of-the-art techniques, applications, and challenges of using scatterometers for Leaf Area Index (LAI) estimation.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: From local crop fields to regional ecosystems and global Earth surface observations, covering land, sea, and atmosphere.
• Temporal Scale: Continuous and periodic monitoring for applications such as crop monitoring, weather prediction, and long-term ecological studies.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: The paper reviews the application of scatterometers, which are active microwave sensors, for various Earth observation tasks, including LAI estimation. It does not present new model development or application by the authors.
• Data sources: Data derived from satellite-borne and airborne scatterometers, which measure backscattered radiation from land, sea, and atmospheric components.

Main Results

• Leaf Area Index (LAI) is a fundamental, dimensionless parameter (m²/m²) crucial for understanding plant growth, ecosystem functioning, photosynthesis, transpiration, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation.
• Scatterometers are active microwave sensors deployed on satellites or airplanes that measure radar backscatter from the Earth's surface and atmosphere.
• Scatterometers are effectively utilized for estimating LAI, crop biomass, and soil moisture, contributing to precision farming and crop monitoring techniques.
• Beyond LAI, scatterometers also provide valuable data for investigating vegetation health, ocean winds, and atmospheric variables, aiding in weather prediction.

Contributions

• Provides a comprehensive review of the utility and application of scatterometers for Leaf Area Index (LAI) estimation.
• Highlights the critical role of LAI in ecological, agricultural, and climatic studies.
• Synthesizes the current state-of-the-art techniques and diverse applications of scatterometer technology in Earth observation.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Murmu2025Scatterometers,
  author = {Murmu, Damanti and Sharma, Bhawana and Gwal, Srishti and Gupta, Ayushi and Srivastava, Prashant K.},
  title = {Scatterometers for leaf area index estimation: A review},
  journal = {Elsevier eBooks},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/b978-0-443-31380-6.00021-0},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-443-31380-6.00021-0}
}