Using lidar and effective LAI data to evaluate IKONOS and Landsat 7 ETM+ vegetation cover estimates in a ponderosa pine forest

Structural and functional analyses of ecosystems benefit when high accuracy vegetation coverages can be derived over large areas. In this study, we utilize IKONOS, Landsat 7 ETM+, and airborne scanning light detection and ranging (lidar) to quantify coniferous forest and understory grass coverages in a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) dominated ecosystem in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Linear spectral mixture analyses of IKONOS and ETM+ data were used to isolate spectral endmembers (bare soil, understory grass, and tree/shade) and calculate their subpixel fractional coverages. We then compared these endmember cover estimates to similar cover estimates derived from lidar data and field measures. The IKONOS-derived tree/shade fraction was significantly correlated with the field-measured canopy effective leaf area index (LAI_e) (r²=0.55, p<0.001) and with the lidar-derived estimate of tree occurrence (r²=0.79, p<0.001). The enhanced vegetation index (EVI) calculated from IKONOS imagery showed a negative correlation with the field measured tree canopy effective LAI and lidar tree cover response (r²=0.30, r=−0.55 and r²=0.41, r=−0.64, respectively; p<0.001) and further analyses indicate a strong linear relationship between EVI and the IKONOS-derived grass fraction (r²=0.99, p<0.001). We also found that using EVI resulted in better agreement with the subpixel vegetation fractions in this ecosystem than using normalized difference of vegetation index (NDVI). Coarsening the IKONOS data to 30 m resolution imagery revealed a stronger relationship with lidar tree measures (r²=0.77, p<0.001) than at 4 m resolution (r²=0.58, p<0.001). Unmixed tree/shade fractions derived from 30 m resolution ETM+ imagery also showed a significant correlation with the lidar data (r²=0.66, p<0.001). These results demonstrate the power of using high resolution lidar data to validate spectral unmixing results of satellite imagery, and indicate that IKONOS data and Landsat 7 ETM+ data both can serve to make the important distinction between tree/shade coverage and exposed understory grass coverage during peak summertime greenness in a ponderosa pine forest ecosystem.     

Inversion of a radiative transfer model with hyperspectral observations for LAI mapping in poplar plantations

The potential of radiative transfer modelling and inversion techniques for operational uses is investigated in order to retrieve leaf area index in a poplar plantation. The 1-D bidirectional canopy reflectance model SAIL, coupled with the leaf optical properties model PROSPECT, was inverted with hyperspectral airborne DAIS data by means of an iterative method. The root mean square error in LAI estimation was determined against in situ measurements in order to evaluate the impact of different inversion strategies on the LAI retrieval accuracy. These included the selection of an optimal spectral sampling set, the exploitation of prior knowledge in the inversion process and the use of multiview angle data. We claim that the best configuration is achieved by exploiting multiview DAIS data and prior knowledge information about the model variables (RMSE of 0.39 m² m⁻²). It is also shown that the use of prior knowledge and the selection of a limited number of bands forming the optimal spectral sampling are instrumental in increasing the accuracy of the inversion process. Our analysis confirms the operational potential of model inversion for biophysical parameter retrieval.     

LAI based trees selection for mid latitude urban developments: A microclimatic study in Cairo, Egypt

To study the leaf area index, LAI, based thermal performance in distinguishing trees for Cairo's urban developments, ENVI-met plants database was used as platform for a foliage modeling parameter, the leaf area density, LAD. Two Egyptian trees; Ficus elastica, and Peltophorum pterocarpum were simulated in 2 urban sites with one having no trees, whilst the second is having Ficus nitida trees. Trees LAD values were calculated using flat leaves' trees LAI definition to produce maximum ground solid shadow at peak time. An empirical value of 1 for LAI is applied to numerically introduce LAD values for ENVI-met.Basically, different meteorological records showed improvements for pedestrian comfort and ambient microclimate of the building using F. elastica. About 40–50% interception of direct radiation, reductions in surfaces' fluxes around trees and in radiant temperature T_mrt in comparison to base cases gave preferability to F. elastica. The lack of soil water prevented evapotranspiration to take place effectively and the reduced wind speeds concluded negligible air temperature differences from both base cases except slightly appeared with the F. elastica. Results show that a flat leaves tree if does not validate LAI of 1, the ground shading would not fulfill about 50% direct radiation interception and this value can be used as a reference for urban trees selection.Further simulations were held to investigate LAI value of maximum direct radiation interception.Performing additional simulations, F. elastica of LAI of 3 intercepted almost 84% of direct radiation and revealed implications about urban trees in practice and its actual LAI.     

Impact of understory vegetation on forest canopy reflectance and remotely sensed LAI estimates

Forest leaf area index (LAI), is an important variable in carbon balance models. However, understory vegetation is a recognized problem that limits the accuracy of satellite-estimated forest LAI. A canopy reflectance model was used to investigate the impact of the understory vegetation on LAI estimated from reflectance values estimated from satellite sensor data. Reflectance spectra were produced by the model using detailed field data as input, i.e. forest LAI, tree structural parameters, and the composition, distribution and reflectance of the forest floor. Common deciduous and coniferous forest types in southern Sweden were investigated. A negative linear relationship (r² = 0.6) was observed between field estimated LAI and the degree of understory vegetation, and the results indicated better agreement when coniferous and deciduous stands were analysed separately. The simulated spectra verified that the impact of the understory on the reflected signal from the top of the canopy is important; the reflectance values varying by up to ± 18% in the red and up to ± 10% in the near infra-red region of the spectra due to the understory. In order to predict the variation in LAI due to the understory vegetation, model inversions were performed where the input spectra were changed between the minimum, average and maximum reflectance values obtained from the forward runs. The resulting variation in LAI was found to be 1.6 units on average. The LAI of the understory could be predicted indirectly from simple stand data on forest characteristics, i.e. from allometric estimates, as an initial step in the process of estimating LAI. It is suggested here that compensation for the effect of the understory would improve the accuracy in the estimates of canopy LAI considerably.     

Simple parameterizations of the radiation budget of uniform broadleaved and coniferous canopies

Simulations of the different components of the spectral radiation budget of structurally simple leaf and shoot canopies with varying canopy leaf area index (LAI) were performed. The aims were (1) to test a proposed parameterization of the budget using two spectrally invariant canopy structural parameters (p and p_t) governing canopy absorption and transmittance, respectively, and (2) to incorporate the effect of within-shoot scattering in the parameterization for shoot canopies. Results showed that canopy spectral absorption and scattering were well described by a single parameter, the canopy p value or ‘recollision probability’, which was closely related to LAI. The relationship between p and LAI was however different in leaf and shoot canopy: e.g., at the same LAI the recollision probability was larger in the shoot canopy. It was shown that the p value of the shoot canopy could be decomposed into the p value of an individual shoot (p_sh) and the p value of the leaf canopy with the same effective LAI (LAI_e). The canopy p value allows calculation of canopy absorption and scattering at any given wavelength from the leaf (or needle) scattering coefficient at the same wavelength. To calculate canopy reflectance, separation of the downward and upward scattered parts is needed in addition. The proposed parameter p_t worked rather well in the leaf canopy at moderate values of LAI, but not in the coniferous shoot canopy nor at high values of LAI. However, the simulated fraction of upward scattered radiation increased in a straightforward manner with LAI, and was not particularly sensitive to the leaf (or needle) scattering coefficient. Judged by this ‘smooth’ behavior, the existence of another kind of simple parameterization for this separation remains an interesting possibility.     

基于TM影像的冬小麦苗期长势与植株氮素遥感监测研究

叶面积指数和叶片氮素含量是决定小麦群体长势的重要生理指标,也是制定栽培管理措施的必要依据。利用遥感监测小麦返青后的叶面积指数和叶片氮素含量,便于及时采取施肥、灌溉、中耕等调控措施,达到优质、高产稳产、高效的目的。本文使用TM影像数据与实地GPS定位相结合的方法,研究了冬小麦返青后叶面积指数及植株氮素含量的变化态势。结果表明:(1)TM影像的NDVI的地域性差异较大,且随纬度呈现极明显的线型负相关变化态势;(2)将用NDVI反演的LAI与实测的LAI进行比较,二者较为一致,其均方差根(RMSE)为0.111;(3)利用NDVI监测的小麦植株氮素含量与实地观测的植株氮素含量较为相近,二者的RMSE为0.085。总之,利用TM影像的NDVI可以快速、精确地监测返青期小麦的LAI和植株氮素营养状况。同时,本研究结果也可为冬小麦返青期的苗情诊断和管理决策提供及时、准确的信息支持。     

MSC池计费方案的研究

简要论述了MSC Pool组网方式下计费的相关问题,提出了2个计费方案,对2个方案的优劣进行了比较分析,并提出了应用建议。     

黑龙江省第三积温带甜菜早播增产及其原理研究

本研究中,甜菜每早播10d,增加积温91．4～99．7℃,增加日照60—80h。4月15日早播甜菜的叶面积指数（IAI）、甜菜生长率（CGR）、叶生长率（CGRt）、根生长率（CGRr）等主要生理指标均明显地高于其它播期处理,其最大LAI达到5．57,LA14．3持续55d以上。4月15日早播甜菜产量达到66084kg／hm^2。分别较二、三、四播期处理增产9．8％、21．7％、33．0％,产量差异达1％极显著水准。在依安县甜菜每早播10d,增产9．2％～10．9％。4月15日至4月20日是依安县甜菜高产播期。