Susan Meerdink successfully defends PhD

Dissertation Title: Remote sensing of plant species using airborne hyperspectral visible-shortwave infrared and thermal infrared imagery

Abstract: In California, natural vegetation is experiencing an increasing amount of stress due to prolonged droughts, wildfires, insect infestation, and disease. Remote sensing technologies provide a means for monitoring plant species temporally across landscapes. The goal of this dissertation is to quantify our ability to temporally study plant species using hyperspectral visible-shortwave infrared, hyperspectral thermal, and combined hyperspectral visible-shortwave infrared and thermal imagery. Using unique NASA remote sensing datasets, I characterize species' temperature variability, classify plant species through the 2013-2015 drought, and map drought stress during that time in Southern California. Results demonstrate that fusing hyperspectral and thermal imagery together will improve efforts to monitor ecosystems at large spatial and temporal scales and develops a deeper, quantitative understanding of the functioning natural environment.