METHOD FOR REMOTE DETERMINATION OF DEGRADATION OF SOIL COVER Russian patent published in 2013 - IPC G01N33/24 G01N21/25 G01C11/06 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: method involves probing an underlying surface having test areas with a multichannel spectrometer mounted on a space vehicle to obtain images on each channel; calculating, through zonal ratios of signal amplitude values in channels, partial degradation indices, specifically percentage content of humus (H), salinity index (NSI) and moisture loss index (W); determining the integral degradation index D based on a multi-parameter regressive relationship of the type: $$D={\left(\frac{H_0}{H}\right)}^{\mathrm{1,9}}\cdot {\left(\frac{NSI}{NS{I}_0}\right)}^{\mathrm{0,5}}\cdot {\left(\frac{W_0}{W}\right)}^{\mathrm{0,3}};$$ recalculating image brightness pixel values in the scale of the calculated degradation index for each pixel; selecting outlines of resultant images thereof with the established gradations of the degree of degradation. (H₀, NSI₀, W₀) are values of partial degradation indices for reference areas.

EFFECT: faster and more reliable determination of degree of degradation of soil cover.

5 dwg, 3 tbl