int. j. remote sensing, 2002, vol. 23, no. 19, 3959–3970 Desert scrub optical density and spectral-albedo ratios of impacted-to- protected areas by model inversion J. OTTERMAN†, A. KARNIELI‡, T. BRAKKE§, D. KOSLOWSKY¶, H.-J. BOLLE¶, D. STARR†† and H. SCHMIDT‡ †Land-Atmosphere-Ocean-Research (LAOR), Data Assimilation OYce, NASA/GSFC Code 910.4, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA ‡Desert Research Institute, Sede Boker, Israel §Biospheric Sciences Branch, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA; e-mail: tbrakke@ltpmail.gsfc.nasa.gov ¶Berlin Free University, Carl-Heinrich-Beckes-Weg 6-10, 12165 Berlin, Germany; e-mail: KOSZE@ZEDAT.FU-berlin.de ††Atmospheric Sciences Branch, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA Abstract. Bidirectional surface reectances measured from NOAA AVHRR over the Negev (southern Israel) and the Sinai are analysed to assess the impact on the surface characteristics of anthropogenic pressures of overgrazing. The impacted Sinai is assumed bare, while the Negev is vegetated by desert scrub. The Negev plants are known to be much darker than the underlying soil, and thus assumed to be absorbing (black). The leaf area distribution as a function of the zenith angle is modelled initially as that of small spheres, which species a pronouncedly vertical architecture. We infer from the Negev-to-Sinai reectance ratios the optical thickness t b of the plants (spheres) in the range 0.12 to 0.20 for channel 1 ( band centre at 0.63 mm), with only weak seasonal variability. Evaluated from average values of t b , the Negev-to-Sinai ratios of the spectral albedos (hemispheric reectances) are 0.63 and 0.55 in channel 1 and 0.67 and 0.60 in channel 2, at solar zenith angles of 30° and 60°, respectively. These ratios indicate the severe climatic impact of overgrazing in the Sinai, inasmuch as a high albedo means reduced shortwave heat absorption (which is detrimental to rainfall- inducing convection). We subsequently proceed to invert the Negev-to-Sinai reectance ratios assuming a plant-element distribution tending even more to the vertical. The values of t b are reduced when derived for a greater tendency to vertical architecture. The Negev-to-Sinai ratios of the spectral albedos are also signicantly lower in these cases, which means that the assessed impact of over- grazing in the Sinai is indeed extremely severe. We conclude that plant architecture (which controls the reection anisotropy) should be considered when evaluating the albedos of vegetated versus bare (impacted) surfaces from satellite-measured bidirectional reectances. Uncertainty in the zenith angle distribution of the leaf area produces signicant uncertainty in the albedo assessment. Multidirectional reectance measurements made near the ground would greatly reduce uncertain- ties about the surface-reection anisotropy, and thus enhance the value of satellite measurements. Paper presented at an International Workshop on ‘Land Cover/Land Use Change and Water Management in Arid Regions: Remote Sensing Applications in the East’. The workshop took place at the Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Sede Boker Campus, Ben Gurion University of the Negev between 23–27 October, 2000. Internationa l Journal of Remote Sensing ISSN 0143-1161 print/ISSN 1366-5901 online © 2002 Taylor & Francis Ltd http: //www.tandf.co.uk/journals DOI: 10.1080/01431160110115753