Dear Colleagues,

Global vegetation monitoring is a main driver for earth observation missions, with major missions providing long term data series of multispectral images, containing valuable information on the status of vegetation. Over the years, increasing spatial resolution imaging has made it possible to reveal more local aspects and dynamics, and derive more accurate results also for areas with less uniform vegetation. Still, the gap between local onsite observations and earth observation data is considerable.

A wealth of additional information is contained in the spectral reflectance of vegetation cover.  Detailed spectra allow scientists to distinguish different types of species very precisely, allowing them to study biodiversity as well as to reveal the status of vegetation growth, drought stress, and diseases. Early hyperspectral satellite missions like Hyperion EO-1 and CHRIS PROBA have been very important in demonstrating such capability.

Nowadays, new (DESIS, PRISMA) and upcoming (ENMAP, SBG) large hyperspectral missions, as well as some innovative smaller missions, will be able to provide much larger coverage and increased spatial detail, which opens up greater opportunities to monitor global vegetation using hyperspectral data. 

Many questions are still open, e.g., those related to the spatial scale at which hyperspectral information is most effective and which spectral range and resolution are needed to achieve specific goals.  To provide regularly updated hyperspectral imagery at a global scale is a tremendous challenge which requires efficient strategies for efficient data acquisition, processing, and product delivery.  As solutions increasingly use data from multiple satellites, calibration and product validation activities become ever more crucial.  The combination of hyperspectral data with higher resolution multispectral data is also being studied. The methods needed to maximize the benefits from doing so are to be investigated.

In this Special Issue, we aim to publish papers which bridge the gap between the technological developments of hyperspectral instruments and satellite missions, and topical investigations on global vegetation using the data arising from these developments. The combination of both approaches will contribute to a better understanding of possibilities and needs, and lead the way towards novel applications advancing hyperspectral vegetation monitoring. Potential authors are encouraged to reflect also on aspects complementing their main area of expertise.

Dr. Stefan Livens
Guest Editor

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• Hyperspectral imaging
• Global satellite missions
• Vegetation monitoring
• Species and biodiversity
• Vegetation spectra
• Hyperspectral image analysis