The aim of the VEGETATION instrument is to provide accurate measurements of the main characteristics of the Earth’s plant cover. Practically daily global coverage and a resolution of 1 km make this sensor an ideal tool for observing long-term regional and global environmental changes.
VEGETATION works independently from the HRVIRs. It includes a wide-angle radiometric ‘camera’ operating in four spectral bands (blue, red, near-infrared, and middle-infrared). Given its 2,250km swaths, this instrument is thus able to cover almost all of the Earth’s dry land in just one day.
In March 1998 the SPOT 4 satellite added its new capabilities to the SPOT family thus enabling Spot Image to satisfy the requirements of users who are now familiar with space imagery.
However its performance has been increased by adding a new shortwave infrared spectral band (SWIR), extending its nominal lifetime from 3 to 5 years and improving operational possibilities.
However its performance has been increased by adding a new shortwave infrared spectral band (SWIR), extending its nominal lifetime from 3 to 5 years and improving operational possibilities.