FLUO4ECO
Why this project matters
Plants are fundamental to life on Earth. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants contribute regulating the climate and influence how water and carbon circulate between land and atmosphere. To better understand how environmental change impacts photosynthesis and related exchange processes, researchers aim to measure gross primary production (GPP), which reflects the amount of carbon taken up by plants, and transpiration (T), which describes the release of water from plants.
Scientists currently use different methods to estimate plant productivity and water use, such as local ground-based measurements and satellite observations for larger scale assessments. However, quantifying these subtle processes by satellite-based approaches is highly challenging. In this project, we evaluated and explored new approach based on sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) to constrain estimates measurement of these processes.
Our achievements
Within the project we proposed a new retrieval approach for consistent across scale SIF estimates based on wavelet decomposition (WAFER). We investigated entry points of SIF in semi-mechanistic equations to estimate plant transpiration. We also explored possibilities to advance the retrieval of plant health indicators (water stress) and gas exchange processes (ET, GPP) in complex vegetation canopies (forests). Therefore, 3D-virtual forests models were simulated to systematically assess effects if complex canopy structure and shadowing on the estimate of forest information and gas exchange processes. The project resulted in large datasets (time series, imaging data) that we make openly available via the DataForest tool.
Project overview
Funding
Swiss National Science Foundation
Time frame
2021 – 2025
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