Characteristics of Spectral Reflectance in Tidal Flats

We present spectral characteristics of tidal flat sediments and algal mat that were tested in the Gomso and Saemangum tidal flats, Korea. The objective of this study is to investigate the spectral reflectance and the radar scattering modeling in the tidal flats. Ground truth data obtained in the tidal flats include grain size, soil moisture content and its variation with time, surface roughness, chlorophyll, ground leveling, and field spectral reflectance measurement. The concept of an effective exposed area (EEA) is introduced to accommodate the effect of remnant surface water, and it seriously affects the reflection of short wavelength infrared and microwave. The nin size of 0.0625 mm has been normally used as a critical size of mud and sand discrimination. But we propose here that 0.25 mm is more practical grain size criterion to discriminate by remote sensing. Algal mat is the primary product in tidal flats, and it is found to be very important to understand spectral characteristics for tidal flat remote sensing. We have also conducted radar scattering modeling, and showed L-band HV-polarization would be the most effective combination.