Bidirectional reflectance of coral growth-forms

In situ spectral reflectance measurements of substrates in a coral reef are often obtained by viewing a substrate at nadir. However, it is likely that off-nadir oblique viewing would show different spectral characteristics for most coral reef substrates and provide valuable information on structural properties. To understand the relationship between substrate structure and spectral response, this study examined the bidirectional reflectance distribution function BRDF of various growth-forms of hard corals and algae, as well as rock, rubble, and sand. BRDF measurements were collected on Heron Reef, the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, during the spring October to November of 2010, using a visible and near-infrared VNIR spectroradiometer attached to a goniometer. The measurements were made in the same five view zenith angles as the PROBA-1 Compact High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer CHRIS satellite +55°, +36°, 0°, −36°, −55° in the solar principal plane SPP. A correction algorithm was used to remove both water column and water surface effects. Uncorrected measurements for sand covered with benthic microalgae appeared to have BRDF effects, but when corrected showed an essentially diffuse spectral response. Corrected measurements for branching corals showed BRDF effects dependent on branch spacing, branch length, and colour. The results indicate that spectral reflectance does vary with view angle for complex substrates such as caespitose corals, macroalgae, and irregular beach-rock and to a lesser extent for digitate corals and rippled sand and that the morphology of the coral and the shadowing between branches determines total spectral response. It is concluded that BRDF information can provide additional discriminating features for some coral reef substrates, particularly in the wavelength range of 550–650 nm.