Leaf Area Index Data, Alice Mulga SuperSite, 2015

Leaf area index (LAI) can be defined as the total one sided area of leaf tissue per unit area of ground and is a key derived parameter that is associated with water and light interception, radiation transfer, water and carbon exchange. Canopy cover can be defined as the fraction of ground shaded by the vertical projection of tree crowns. These measures may be used as proxies for actual canopy leaf area. Leaf area index is the preferred measure of cover for vegetation and is a key variable used in total biomass estimation and in carbon cycling prediction models. Indirect measures of LAI include digital photographic methods using flat or hemispherical images, referred to respectively as Digital Cover Photography (DCP) and (Digital Hemispheric Photography (DHP). LAI measurements are carried out at each SuperSite using the most appropriate method for the vegetation type present. Digital Cover Photography (DCP) was carried out at the Alice Mulga SuperSite core 1 ha.

叶面积指数（Leaf Area Index, LAI）可定义为单位地面面积上植物叶片组织的总单面面积，是与水分与光照截获、辐射传输、水碳交换紧密关联的关键衍生参数。冠层覆盖度可定义为树冠垂直投影所遮蔽的地面占比，二者均可作为实际冠层叶面积的替代指标。叶面积指数是植被覆盖度测定的优选指标，同时也是总生物量估算及碳循环预测模型中不可或缺的关键变量。LAI的间接测定方法包括采用平面或半球面图像的数码摄影技术，二者分别被称为数码覆盖摄影（Digital Cover Photography, DCP）与数码半球摄影（Digital Hemispheric Photography, DHP）。研究人员会针对每个超级监测样地（SuperSite）的现存植被类型选用最适配的方法开展LAI测定。本次研究在爱丽丝穆加超级监测样地（Alice Mulga SuperSite）的1公顷核心样地中开展了数码覆盖摄影（DCP）工作。