Relationship between MRPV Model Parameters from MISRL2 Land Surface Product and Land Covers: A Case Study within Mainland Spain

In this study, we showed that the multi-angle satellite remote sensing product, MISR L2 Land Surface (MIL2ASLS), which has a scale of 1.1 km, could be suitable for improving land-cover studies. Using seven images from this product, captured by the multi-angle imaging spectroradiometer sensor (MISR), we explored the values reached by the three parameters (ρ0, Θ, and k) of the Rahman–Pinty–Verstraete model, which was modified by Martonchick (MRPV). Thereafter, we compared the values and behaviors shown in seven Co-ordination of Information on the Environment (CORINE) land cover categories, in the red and near infrared (NIR) bands, over the seven MISR orbits captured in 2006 for Mainland Spain. Furthermore, we used Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Leaf Area Index (LAI), and Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR) ancillary data and the illumination angles from the same pixels, which made up the images. These ancillary data were also provided by the MISR products. An inferential statistic test was performed to evaluate the relationship between each parameter–band combination, and the land cover in every MISR orbit used. The results suggested that the ρ0 parameters of this product seemed to be the most related to photosynthetic activity, and it should be comparable with the widely-used NDVI. On the other hand, the k and Θ parameter values were not related, or at least not entirely related, to the phenology of land coverage. These seemed to be more influenced by the anisotropy behavior of the studied land cover pixels. Additionally, we observed, by constructing analysis of variance, how the mean of each MRPV parameter–band differed statistically (p < 0.01) by land covers and orbits. This study suggested that the MISR MRPV model parameter data product has great potential to be used to improve land cover applications.