Summary of three methods used to estimate the Leaf Area Index (LAI) of 19 1m x 1m plots sampled with a point frame near the LTER Shrub plots at the Toolik Field Station in AK the summer of 2012. The methods used were: (1) exponential relationship between LAI and NDVI as measured above the canopy with a Unispec spetroradiometer; (2) Delta-T SunScan canopy analyzer held at 5 cm above the ground under both direct and diffuse light conditions; (3) pin-drop point frame tequnique. Where values have been averaged (such as for the NDVI and SunScan measurements), the standard deviation is given.
Data Set Results
This file contains irradiance (PAR) and diffuse light data logged from a beam fraction (BF3) sensor near Toolik Lake, Alaska during the summer of 2012. The data comes from a compilation of automated datalogger readings as well as measurements taken during the field season in conjunction with the Delta-T SunScan wand to measure PAR in tall shrub canopies dominated by Betula nana or Salix pulchra species. The sensor was leveled and mounted to a 2m tripod in each location, and programmed to record instantaneous readings in 30 second to 5 minute intervals.
Within-canopy PAR was measured with a Delta-T SunScan wand every 15 cm from the ground to above the canopy under both direct and diffuse light. The data includes all outputs from the SunScan wand: time of measurement, spread of PAR sensors, total irradiance, total diffuse light, and individual outputs of 64-PAR sensors on the SunScan wand. These measurements were taken for 1m x 1m chamber flux (n=14) and point frame (n=19) plots as well as sites four montitored remotely by PAR sensors located above, within, and below shrub canopies.