Leaf area density from airborne LiDAR: Comparing sensors and resolutions in a temperate broadleaf forest ecosystem
Abstract
Forest processes that play an essential role in carbon sequestration, such as light use efficiency, photosynthetic capacity, and trace gas exchange, are closely tied to the three-dimensional structure of forest canopies. However, the vertical distribution of leaf traits is not uniform; leaves at varying vertical positions within the canopy are physiologically unique due to differing light and environmental conditions, which leads to higher carbon storage than if light conditions were constant throughout the canopy. Due to this within-canopy variation, three-dimensional structural traits are critical to improving our estimates of global carbon cycling and storage by Earth system models and to better understanding the effects of disturbances on carbon sequestration in forested ecosystems. In this study, we describe a reproducible and open-source methodology using the R programming language for estimating leaf area density (LAD; the total leaf area per unit of volume) from airborne LiDAR. Using this approach, we compare LAD estimates at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Maryland, USA, from two airborne LiDAR systems, NEON AOP and NASA G-LiHT, which differ in survey and instrument specifications, collections goals, and laser pulse densities. Furthermore, we address the impacts of the spatial scale of analysis as well as differences in canopymore »
- Authors:
-
[2];
- Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
- Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1482092
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-209438-2018-JAAM
Journal ID: ISSN 0378-1127
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0012704
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Forest Ecology and Management
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 433; Journal ID: ISSN 0378-1127
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; airborne LiDAR; leaf area density; leaf area index; forest structure
Citation Formats
Kamoske, Aaron G., Serbin, Shawn P., Dahlin, Kyla M., and Stark, Scott C. Leaf area density from airborne LiDAR: Comparing sensors and resolutions in a temperate broadleaf forest ecosystem. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2018.11.017.
Kamoske, Aaron G., Serbin, Shawn P., Dahlin, Kyla M., & Stark, Scott C. Leaf area density from airborne LiDAR: Comparing sensors and resolutions in a temperate broadleaf forest ecosystem. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.11.017
Kamoske, Aaron G., Serbin, Shawn P., Dahlin, Kyla M., and Stark, Scott C. Tue .
"Leaf area density from airborne LiDAR: Comparing sensors and resolutions in a temperate broadleaf forest ecosystem". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.11.017. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1482092.
@article{osti_1482092,
title = {Leaf area density from airborne LiDAR: Comparing sensors and resolutions in a temperate broadleaf forest ecosystem},
author = {Kamoske, Aaron G. and Serbin, Shawn P. and Dahlin, Kyla M. and Stark, Scott C.},
abstractNote = {Forest processes that play an essential role in carbon sequestration, such as light use efficiency, photosynthetic capacity, and trace gas exchange, are closely tied to the three-dimensional structure of forest canopies. However, the vertical distribution of leaf traits is not uniform; leaves at varying vertical positions within the canopy are physiologically unique due to differing light and environmental conditions, which leads to higher carbon storage than if light conditions were constant throughout the canopy. Due to this within-canopy variation, three-dimensional structural traits are critical to improving our estimates of global carbon cycling and storage by Earth system models and to better understanding the effects of disturbances on carbon sequestration in forested ecosystems. In this study, we describe a reproducible and open-source methodology using the R programming language for estimating leaf area density (LAD; the total leaf area per unit of volume) from airborne LiDAR. Using this approach, we compare LAD estimates at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Maryland, USA, from two airborne LiDAR systems, NEON AOP and NASA G-LiHT, which differ in survey and instrument specifications, collections goals, and laser pulse densities. Furthermore, we address the impacts of the spatial scale of analysis as well as differences in canopy penetration and pulse density on LAD and leaf area index (LAI) estimates, while offering potential solutions to enhance the accuracy of these estimates. LAD estimates from airborne LiDAR can be used to describe the three-dimensional structure of forests across entire landscapes. Furthermore, this information can help inform forest management and conservation decisions related to the estimation of aboveground biomass and productivity, the response of forests to large-scale disturbances, the impacts of drought on forest health, the conservation of bird habitat, as well as a host of other important forest processes and responses.},
doi = {10.1016/j.foreco.2018.11.017},
journal = {Forest Ecology and Management},
number = ,
volume = 433,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 13 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Tue Nov 13 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}
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