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Seasonal LAI in slash pine estimated with LANDSAT TMThe leaf area index (LAI, total area of leaves per unit area of ground) of most forest canopies varies throughout the year, yet for logistical reasons it is difficult to estimate anything more detailed than a seasonal maximum LAI. To determine if remotely sensed data can be used to estimate LAI seasonally, field measurements of LAI were compared to normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values derived using LANDSAT Thematic Mapper (TM) data, for 16 fertilized and control slash pine plots on 3 dates. Linear relationships existed between NDVI and LAI with R(sup 2) values of 0.35, 0.75, and 0.86 for February 1988, September 1988, and March, 1989, respectively. This is the first reported study in which NDVI is related to forest LAI recorded during the month of sensor overpass. Predictive relationships based on data from eight of the plots were used to estimate the LAI of the other eight plots with a root-mean-square error of 0.74 LAI, which is 15.6 percent of the mean LAI. This demonstrates the potential use of LANDSAT TM data for studying seasonal dynamics in forest canopies.
Document ID
19900016081
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Curran, Paul J. (University Coll. of Swansea (Wales). CA., United States)
Dungan, Jennifer L. (TGS Technology, Inc., Moffett Field Gainesville., United States)
Gholz, Henry L. (Florida Univ.)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1990
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.15:102278
A-90060
NASA-TM-102278
Accession Number
90N25397
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 677-21-35
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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