Leaf2Canopy - Improved characterisation and integration of forest canopy structural and biochemical vertical profiles for leaf to canopy photosynthesis upscaling

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C15.0053

Key words (English)

photosynthesis; upscaling; big-leaf model; 2-leaf model; canopy structure; leaf area index; leaf biochemical;properties; canopy nitrogen profile

Research programs (English)

COST-Action ES1309 - Innovative optical Tools for proximal sensing of ecophysiological processes (OPTIMISE)

Short description (English)

While leaf photosynthetic responses to light and other resources are well understood, upscaling of the instantaneous leaf-level photosynthesis to canopies and thereafter to regional scales remains a topic of continuing research that has captured the attention of tree physiologists, modellers and remote sensing scientists for decades. Main challenges for spatial integration are complexity of canopy architecture and heterogeneity of leaf properties within and across canopies. Within COST Action ES1309, we plan to evaluate and improve current leaf to canopy upscaling schemes by enhanced characterization and integration of canopy structure and leaf biochemical properties for different canopy heights and tree species. Vertical profiles, i.e. leaf photosynthesis responses to resources, structure and biochemistry, will be upscaled through canopy structure information. The two most common upscaling schemes, the big-leaf and 2-leaf models, will be evaluated based on their assumptions. Big-leaf models assume common physiological parameters throughout a canopy, while 2-leaf models reduce the entire vertical functional variability within a canopy by partitioning it in a sunlit and a shaded layer. Within this project we envision the improvement of leaf to canopy photosynthesis upscaling schemes and integration within selected ecosystem process models to test predictions against ecosystem scale photosynthesis estimates based on EC CO2 fluxes and proximal spectral sensing measurements.

Partners and International Organizations (English)

AT; BE; BA; HR; CY; CZ; DK; EE; FI; FR; DE; EL; HU; IE; IL; IT; LV; NL; NO; PL; PT; RO; ES; SE; TR; UK;UA; US; CA

Abstract (English)

See short description

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C15.0053