Sensing of Vegetation

Workgroup of Energetics of Ground Surface

The scientific activity of the group was focused on the theoretical and experimental investigations of the radiation regime and energy budget of the ground surface covered with plants.

In the nineties, phytometrical and radiation measurements in a short-rotation willow plantation were started. The system for detailed measurement of the solar radiation characteristics inside the plant canopy consists of a 6-meter long horizontal bar, the height of which could be changed inside the canopy. A sensor carriage is moving along the bar at 3 cm/s. Two Reemann's pyranometers for measurement of the downward and upward fluxes of the global radiation, two Li-COR quantum sensors for measurement of the downward and upward fluxes of photosynthetically active radiation, a Reemann's miniature net radiometer for measurement of net radiation and a Sulev's sunflecks recorder were mounted on the carriage.

More recently, the willow plantation has been replaced by gray alder and more instruments have been used for measuring the details of radiation field inside the plant canopy.

Research interests

• vertical profile of the radiation balance and its components;
• absorption of direct solar radiation and canopy clumping;
• statistical description of radiation fluxes;
• ratio of photosynthetically active radiation to integral radiation above and inside the canopy.