The DAISEX campaigns in support of a future land-surface-processes mission

In the last ten years, the retrieval of geo-/biophysical parameters from ai rborne imaging-spectrometer data has made significant progress. ESA therefo re decided to investigate the feasibility of quantitatively retrieving geo- /biophysical variables as the requisite inputs for process models. For thre e years in succession (1998 to 2000), therefore, the Agency has conducted a n airborne imaging spectrometer campaign called 'The Digital Airborne Imagi ng Spectrometer Experiment (DAISEX)' in support of a possible future spaceb orne mission. The instruments flown included DAIS 7915, HYMAP, ROSIS, POLDE R and LEANDRE. This article describes the state of the art in retrieving variables relevan t to land-surface processes from hyperspectral data cubes, outlines the sci entific objectives, and demonstrates the first results of the DAISEX campai gns.