Overview of This Tutorial - Department of Geosciences

Tutorial: Hyperspectral Signatures and Spectral Resolution
Spectral Modeling and Resolution
Spectral modeling shows that spectral resolution requirements for imaging spectrometers depend upon the
character of the material being measured. Kaolinite, for example (see the plot below), exhibits a characteristic
doublet near 2.2 µm at 20 nm resolution. Even at 40 nm resolution, the asymmetrical shape of the band may
be enough to identify the mineral, even though the spectral features have not been fully resolved.
The spectral resolution required for a specific sensor is a direct function of the material you are trying to
identify, and the contrast between that material and the background materials. The following figure from
Swayze (1997) shows modeled spectra for kaolinite from several different sensors.
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ENVI Tutorial: Hyperspectral Signatures and Spectral Resolution