LANDSAT TM IMAGE TEXTURE AND MOISTURE VARIATIONS OF THE SOIL SURFACE UNDER THE RAIN-FOREST OF THE RONDONIA STATE, BRAZIL

A Landsat TM image, part of a rainforest located in the state of Rondo nia, Brazil, was analysed using Fourier transform techniques in order to extract textural features. The lattice-like texture pattern recorde d was then compared with the geological structural trends of the area, and measures of the soil surface moisture treated by geostatistical a nalysis. The consistency between the different sets of analysis sugges ts that the spatial distribution of moisture at the soil surface is re lated to the structure of the bedrock. The near infrared channel of th e Landsat TM may be used to record trends in water content distributio ns at the soil surface under homogeneous forest canopies.