Hyperspectral Remote Sensing- Open Access Papers In Current Science

Current Science has a special section (open access) on Hyperspectral  Remote Sensing with papers on applications in geology, soil mapping, glacial dynamics, forestry and planetary sciences. Hyperspectral Remote Sensing involves measuring the energy from visible and infrared spectrum at very narrow intervals or channels. For example, the Hyperion sensor collects spectral information in 220 spectral bands from between the 0.4 to 2.5 µm (micrometer) bandwidth with a 30-meter ground resolution. This means scientists can use this data to identify surface objects with subtly different spectral properties. I've written about the applications of hyperspectral remote sensing in geology in an earlier post on the use of this technique in Afghanistan.

Here is a short excerpt from that post on the utility of hyperspectral imaging for mineral identification:

For the map of Afghanistan, the USGS used a sensor known as HyMap imaging spectrometer loaded aboard an aircraft. It collected spectral data covering 128 bands of 15-20 nm  (nanometer) bandwidth in the 0.4 to 2.5 µm (micrometer) range i.e the visible and the near infrared spectrum with a 5 meter ground resolution. Minerals have distinctive absorption signatures,  meaning that when sunlight strikes the surface of the earth the O-H or C-O3 or Si-O2 or Fe-OH bonds in the mineral absorb energy at a distinct wavelength, each covering a very narrow portion of the spectrum . Because conventional multispectral sensing collects energy averaged over a  broad interval it cannot discriminate between individual minerals. Hyperspectral sensing is fine grained enough (15-20 nm bandwidth) to be able to resolve the distinctive absoption signatures of several minerals.

here is the list of papers in Current Science-

Preface
Advances in spaceborne hyperspectral imaging systems
Hyperspectral image processing and analysis
Algorithms to improve spectral discrimination from Indian hyperspectral sensors data
Hyperspectral remote sensing of agriculture
Hyperspectral remote sensing: opportunities, status and challenges for rapid soil assessment in India
Monitoring of forest cover in India: imaging spectroscopy perspective
Hyperspectral remote sensing and geological applications
Snow and glacier investigations using hyperspectral data in the Himalaya
Simulating the effects of inelastic scattering on upwelling radiance in coastal and inland waters: implications for hyperspectral remote sensing
Hyperspectral remote sensing of planetary surfaces: an insight into composition of inner planets and small bodies in the solar system