Measuring spectra of arid lands

Arid lands are the most amenable to spectral remote sensing for earth resources owing to the scarcity of vegetation and the consequently favorable exposures of surfaces. For this reason, most research into the use of multispectral measurements for geologic applications has been undertaken in arid or semi-arid regions. A large amount of multispectral data from laboratory, field, aircraft and satellite instruments now exist and significant progress has been made in the interpretation and use of these data.