SE-590 Ground Data: Spectral Reflectance Factors from FIFE

Konza Prairie in Kansas served as the primary location for this dataset of ground-based spectral measurements. Data were collected with a Spectron SE-590 Spectral Radiometer during all four 1987 Intensive Field Campaigns and the 1989 campaign of the FIFE project. The measurements, taken at approximately every 10-degree change in solar zenith angle, were converted to spectral radiances to characterize diurnal variations and support validation of airborne and satellite observations.

Use Cases

• Validating airborne and satellite surface reflectance measurements based on concurrent ground-based spectral data.
• Analyzing diurnal variations in surface reflectance linked to changes in solar zenith angle.
• Studying bi-directional reflectance distribution functions (BRDF) in conjunction with PARABOLA instrument data.
• Calibrating or testing radiative transfer models for prairie grassland ecosystems.

Strengths

• Covers multiple intensive field campaigns across two years (1987 and 1989).
• Provides diurnal characterization with measurements at approximately every 10-degree solar zenith angle change.
• Data is cross-platform, appearing on both Data.gov and NASA Earthdata, indicating established use.

Limitations

• Column names and precise row counts are not provided in any source, limiting understanding of data structure.
• Conflicting last-updated dates: one source lists 1989-08-11 (likely data collection end), while others list a future date (2026-04-09), suggesting metadata inconsistency.
• Documentation gaps exist, as specific calibration coefficients and site details are referenced but not described.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Collection Method

Ground-based measurements collected with a Spectron SE-590 Spectral Radiometer.

Time Range

1987 to 1989

Freshness

1989-08-11 23:59:59.999000

Geography

Selected FIFE sites, primarily on the Konza Prairie, Kansas, USA.