Remote sensing of solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) is a rapidly advancing
front in terrestrial vegetation science, with emerging capability in space-based methodologies
and diverse application prospects. Although remote sensing of SIF – especially from
space – is seen as a contemporary new specialty for terrestrial plants, it is founded
upon a multi-decadal history of research, applications, and sensor developments in
active and passive sensing of chlorophyll fluorescence. Current technical capabilities
allow SIF to be measured across a range of biological, spatial, and temporal scales.
As an optical signal, SIF may be assessed remotely using highly-resolved spectral
sensors and state-of-the-art algorithms to distinguish the emission from reflected
and/or scattered ambient light. Because the red to far-red SIF emission is detectable
non-invasively, it may be sampled repeatedly to acquire spatio-temporally explicit
information about photosynthetic light responses and steady-state behaviour in vegetation.
Progress in this field is accelerating with innovative sensor developments, retrieval
methods, and modelling advances. This review distills the historical and current developments
spanning the last several decades. It highlights SIF heritage and complementarity
within the broader field of fluorescence science, the maturation of physiological
and radiative transfer modelling, SIF signal retrieval strategies, techniques for
field and airborne sensing, advances in satellite-based systems, and applications
of these capabilities in evaluation of photosynthesis and stress effects. Progress,
challenges, and future directions are considered for this unique avenue of remote
sensing.