Reflectance spectra of gypsum sand from the White Sands National Monument and basalt from a near by lava flow

The White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico and a nearby basalt lava flow are both readily visible to earth satellites. Because of the current interest in remote sensing of the earth's resources and atmospheric environment, the visible and near infrared reflectance of these formations was investigated. Diffuse reflectance spectra in the 0.4 to 2.5 micrometer spectral interval are presented and discussed. The maximum contrast between these features occurs at a wavelength of 1.1 micrometers, where the reflectance of the white sand is about 75 percent, while that of the basalt is about 7 percent.