Also called isotropic or lambertian reflectance. Many natural surfaces act as a diffuse reflector to some extent. A perfectly diffuse reflector is termed a lambertian surface and the reflective brightness is the same when observed from any angle. Have both specular and diffuse properties depending on the integrated surface roughness. Transmission is wavelength dependent Transmitting light is not significantly attenuated Transmittance is measured as the ratio of transmitted radiation to the incident radiation.
Transmittance therefore is the proportional amount of incident radiation passing through a surface.
Plant leaves can transmit significant amounts of infrared radiation, but cannot transmit visible light as strongly. If we can detect that spectral signature we can separate features, and get an insight to the general size and shape of objects. With our available technology we cannot identify unique objects repetitively. We have to characterize surface targets based upon a spectral profile which allows for more error in identification.