Exploring the Potential of DSCOVR EPIC Data to Retrieve Clumping Index in Australian Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network Observing Sites

Vegetation foliage clumping significantly alters the radiation environment and affects vegetation growth as well as water, carbon cycles. The clumping index (CI) is useful in ecological and meteorological models because it provides new structural information in addition to the effective leaf area index. Previously generated CI maps using a diverse set of Earth Observation multi-angle datasets across a wide range of scales have all relied on the single approach of using the normalized difference hotspot and darkspot (NDHD) method. We explore an alternative approach to estimate CI from space using the unique observing configuration of the Deep Space Climate Observatory Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (DSCOVR EPIC) and associated products at 10 km resolution. The performance was evaluated with in situ measurements in five sites of the Australian Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network comprising a diverse range of canopy structure from short and sparse to dense and tall forest. The DSCOVR EPIC data can provide meaningful CI retrievals at the given spatial resolution. Independent but comparable CI retrievals obtained with a completely different sensor and new approach were encouraging for the general validity and compatibility of the foliage clumping information retrievals from space. We also assessed the spatial representativeness of the five TERN sites with respect to a particular point in time (field campaigns) for satellite retrieval validation. Our results improve our understanding of product uncertainty both in terms of the representativeness of the field data collected over the TERN sites and its relationship to Earth Observation data at different spatial resolutions.

On the relation between tree foliage clumping at the branch scale and light and water limitations

<p>Foliage clumping is known to have a significant effect on the radiative transfer and mass and energy exchanges in forests. It is an important component of canopy structure to consider for the estimation of photosynthesis rates and the interpretation of observed solar induced fluorescence (SIF). Yet, relatively little is known about the drivers of foliage clumping, and few observations of foliage clumping are available at the branch scale. Here, we report on a study using laser light to estimate foliage clumping at the tree branch scale in eight broadleaf species, at different heights above ground, from four sites located in two climatic zones: one water limited, and one light limited. We also integrate our results with published foliage clumping estimates from two sites (one in each climatic zone). We find that foliage arrangement on branches exposed to high solar irradiance tend to be random at the dry sites, but are very clumped at humid sites where competition for light is high. Branches sampled at the top of tall canopies at humid sites showed that foliage clumping increased with tree height, suggesting that higher competition for light results in the production of larger numbers of leaves grouped together which reduces the light interception efficiency on a per leaf area basis. Comparison with landscape clumping values suggests that the spatial availability of a limiting resource is a major driver of foliage clumping in forests.  </p>

Estimation of Gap Fraction and Foliage Clumping in Forest Canopies

The gap fractions of three mature hemi-boreal forest stands in Estonia were estimated using the LAI-2000 plant canopy analyzer ( LI-COR Biosciences, Lincoln, NE, USA) , the TRAC instrument (Miami, FL, USA), Cajanus’ tube, hemispherical photos, as well as terrestrial (TLS) and airborne (ALS) laser scanners. ALS measurements with an 8-year interval confirmed that changes in the structure of mature forest stands are slow, and that measurements in the same season