Abstract:The EnMAP-Box is a toolbox that is developed for the processing and analysis of data acquired by the German spaceborne imaging spectrometer EnMAP (Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program). It is developed with two aims in mind in order to guarantee full usage of future EnMAP data, i.e., (1) extending the EnMAP user community and (2) providing access to recent approaches for imaging spectroscopy data processing. The software is freely available and offers a range of tools and applications for the processing of spectral imagery, including classical processing tools for imaging spectroscopy data as well as powerful machine learning approaches or interfaces for the integration of methods available in scripting languages. A special developer version includes the full open source code, an application programming interface and an application wizard for easy integration and documentation of new developments. This paper gives an overview of the EnMAP-Box for users and developers, explains typical workflows along an application example and exemplifies the concept for making it a frequently used and constantly extended platform for imaging spectroscopy applications. OPEN ACCESSRemote Sens. 2015, 7 11250

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Abstract:Remote sensing has become a valuable tool in monitoring arctic environments. The aim of this paper is ground-based hyperspectral characterization of Low Arctic Alaskan tundra communities along four environmental gradients (regional climate, soil pH, toposequence, and soil moisture) that all vary in ground cover, biomass, and dominating plant communities. Field spectroscopy in connection with vegetation analysis was carried out in summer 2012, along the North American Arctic Transect (NAAT). Spectral metrics were extracted, including the averaged reflectance and absorption-related metrics such as absorption depths and area of continuum removal. The spectral metrics were investigated with respect to "greenness", biomass, vegetation height, and soil moisture regimes. The results show that the surface reflectances of all sites are similar in shape with a reduced near-infrared (NIR) reflectance that is specific for low-growing biomes. The main spectro-radiometric findings are: (i) Southern sites along the climate gradient have taller shrubs and greater overall vegetation biomass, which leads to higher reflectance in the NIR. (ii) Vegetation height and surface wetness are two antagonists that balance each other out with respect to the NIR reflectance along the toposequence and soil moisture gradients. (iii) Moist acidic OPEN ACCESSRemote Sens. 2013, 5 3972 tundra (MAT) sites have "greener" species, more leaf biomass, and green-colored moss species that lead to higher pigment absorption compared to moist non-acidic tundra (MNT) sites. (iv) MAT and MNT plant community separation via narrowband Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) shows the potential of hyperspectral remote sensing applications in the tundra.