NEON vegetation structure and leaf area index (LAI) prototype data, D03 OSBS Florida, 2010

Leaf Area Index (LAI) data were collected August-September 2010 from eight 500 m length transects at Ordway-Swisher and from four 500 m length transects at the Donaldson Tract. Measurement of LAI using LI-COR LAI-2200 wands fitted with a 90 degree view-cap occurred at 10 m intervals along each transect during pre-dawn and dusk time periods, corresponding to 10:15–11:15 and 23:45–00:30 UTC. Vegetation structure data from Ordway-Swisher were collected 11-13 August 2010 from a 120 m x 20 m plot that overlapped the first 120-m of LAI transect OS01. The temporary Vegetation Structure plot was adjacent to the present day site of the NEON tower at the D03 OSBS site. Vegetation structure data from the Donaldson Tract were collected 10 August 2010 from two transects that paralleled two different rows of planted Pinus elliottii that encompassed a total of 100 trees. Across both sites, almost 400 individual shrubs and trees were identified, georeferenced, and measured for a suite of vegetation structure variables, including diameter at breast height, height, height to first branch, and minimum and maximum canopy dimensions.