Multisensor Assessment of Leaf Area Index across Ecoregions of Ardabil Province, Northwestern Iran

Leaf area index (LAI), one of the most crucial vegetation biophysical variables, is required to evaluate structural characteristic plant communities. This study, therefore, aimed LAI ecoregions in Iran obtained using Sentinel-2B, Landsat 8 (OLI), MODIS, and AVHRR data June July 2020. A field survey was performed different throughout Ardabil Province during 2020 under satellite image dates. Laipen LP 100 (LP 100) field-portable device used measure 822 samples with functional types (PFTs) shrubs, bushes, trees. The estimated SNAPv7.0.4 (Sentinel Application Platform) software for Sentinel-2B Google Earth Engine (GEE) system–based EVI 8. At same time, MODIS AVHRR, products GEE were considered. results all satellite-based methods verified variations space time every PFT. Based on 8, application, minimum maximum LAIs respectively at 0.14–1.78, 0.09–3.74, 0.82–4.69, 0.35–2.73 shrubs; 0.17–5.17, 0.3–2.3, 0.59–3.84, 0.63–3.47 bushes; 0.3–4.4, 0.3–4.5, 0.7–4.3, 0.5–3.3 These values lower than (i.e., 0.4–4.10 1.6–7.7 3.1–6.8 trees). significant correlation (p < 0.05) almost studied PFTs between 100-LAI from sensors also observed (|r| > 0.63 R2 0.89), 0.50 0.72), 0.65 0.88), 0.59 0.68). Due its high spatial resolution relatively terrestrial data, more suitable calculating LAI. this study can be future studies sustainable rangeland management conservation.