All of these images were processed to use the full dynamic range within the single field. What is especially significant is that this Near-IR reflectance variation is highly correlated with the emitted, thermal signal. We have considered several possible explanations for these observations. For example artifacts of the scanner, artifacts of the crop rows, artifacts of look angle or some combination of these. The track of the scanner's sweep is oblique to the average trend of the streaks.
Various fields have differing row orientations.
The crops involved include soybeans, cotton and peanuts. The 4 images are taken from just two views, as the aircraft flew nearly identical tracks on the repeat flights. We think this is a response to wind. Wind is the only phenomena which can change this rapidly and on such a small spatial scale and affect a variety of crops several kilometers apart. The Albany, GA airport, which is less than 16 kilometers north of the fields provided the following data.