A small set of independent variables generally seems to suffice when attempting to describe the spectral response of a vegetation canopy to incident solar radiation. This set includes the soil reflectance, the single-scattering albedo, canopy transmittance, reflectance and interception, the portion of uncollided radiation in the total incident radiation, and portions of collided canopy transmit...

Elevation gradients provide opportunities to explore environmental controls on forest structure and functioning. We used airborne imaging spectroscopy and lidar (light detection and ranging) to quantify changes in threedimensional forest structure and canopy functional traits in twenty 25 ha landscapes distributed along a 3300 m elevation gradient from lowland Amazonia to treeline in the Peruvi...

[1] This study investigates the impacts of canopy structure specification on modeling net radiation (Rn), latent heat flux (LE) and net photosynthesis (An) by coupling two contrasting radiation transfer models with a two-leaf photosynthesis model for a maturing loblolly pine stand near Durham, North Carolina, USA. The first radiation transfer model is based on a uniform canopy representation (U...

Seedling emergence, survival and early growth of the Mediterranean conifer P. pinaster were studied under closed canopy and open canopy (gaps) cover conditions in a Mediterranean forest of central Spain during two consecutive years (March 2008 to January 2010). Our main objective was to understand how overstorey structure, shrubs and soil properties influence recruitment in this species. Natura...

At a spatially heterogeneous mixed-conifer forest in the central California Sierras, we quantified total carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), inorganic N, and net N mineralization in organic (O) and surface (0–15 cm) mineral soils, and in situ fluxes of inorganic N and ortho-phosphate using resin lysimeters under three patch types: closed canopy conifer, sparsely vegetated open canopy, and Ceanothus co...

the aim of this study was to assess the regional effects of fire on the surface cover and forage production of mountainous rangelands of delfan county, lorestan province, iran. the fire took placed in june 2007 with significant effects on the vegetation characteristics in the study area. four fire affected sites were selected for sampling and a close area without fire was considered as control....

BACKGROUND Urban landscape elements, particularly trees, have the potential to affect airflow, air quality, and production of aeroallergens. Several large-scale urban tree planting projects have sought to promote respiratory health, yet evidence linking tree cover to human health is limited. OBJECTIVES We sought to investigate the association of tree canopy cover with subsequent development o...

Mangrove forests are one of the most productive and carbon dense ecosystems that are only found at tidally inundated coastal areas. Forest canopy height is an important measure for modeling carbon and biomass dynamics, as well as land cover change. By taking advantage of the flat terrain and dense canopy cover, the present study derived digital surface models (DSMs) using stereo-photogrammetric...