Assessing the impact of data uncertainty on remote sensing estimation of plant functional diversity

Abstract

Remote sensing mapping of plant functional diversity (PFD) is increasingly used at the science-policy interface. Yet assessments of uncertainty and quality standards for these products are seldom provided, as the impact of measurement uncertainty on PFD estimates, i.e., the variability across pixels, is still poorly understood. We use trait maps and hyperspectral imagery simulations from the Biodiversity Observing System Simulation Experiment (BOSSE) to assess the impact of different types of uncertainty on the estimation PFD. Results show that uncertainties stemming from random errors affect the estimation of PFD (up to three times) more than those arising from systematic errors, with spectral and spatial error correlation reducing their impact. Standardization computing PFD metrics reduces systematic errors, making in-situ-measured plant traits and remote sensing reflectance factors more robust estimators of PFD than other remote sensing proxies derived from reflectance (e.g., spectral indices or optical traits). The impact of uncertainty propagation from reflectance factors to these often-preferred secondary proxies increases with their complexity. Nonetheless, trait uncertainty can spuriously diminish differences between PFD derived from the ground (plant traits) and satellite imagery, as it can reduce uncertainty-induced or inherent biases between the PFD metrics computed from each trait (plant or spectral). This study provides new understanding of how uncertainty propagates into PFD estimates; this knowledge is relevant for optimizing the selection and defining quality requirements for PFD estimation. It also suggests that random and systematic uncertainties should be quantified separately at the reflectance factor level to guide their use and interpretation in PFD analysis.