A review of reflectance nomenclature used in remote sensing. Remote sensing reviews 19

Field and laboratory radiometers have long been used to characterize homogeneous surface targets for their multiangle reflectance properties. Within the last few years space-based multiangle imaging spectroradiometers have b en deployed, including the Along-Track Scanning Radiometer-2 (ATSR), the Polarization and Directionality of the Earth’s Reflectances (POLDER) instrument, and the Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MTSR). Other scanning instruments, such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) make use of successive passes to make multiangle observations. The synergistic approach of global monitoring from space, combined with localized detailed observations from the field, will allow greater exploitation of these multiangle data. As this science advances, results will likewise require additional preciseness of terminology in order to differentiate between parameters which may be reported in a variety of spectral and field-of-view integrations, as well as inherent versus observed properties. This paper reviews the reflectance terminology that is used by the remote sensing community. 1