A dataset of leaf inclination angles for temperate and boreal broadleaf woody species

Knowledge about leaf inclination angle distribution is essential for determining the radiation transmission within vegetation canopies and to indirectly quantify canopy attributes such as leaf area index and G-function. For this purpose, we measured and compiled an extensive dataset of leaf inclination angles for 138 deciduous broadleaf woody species commonly found in temperate and boreal ecoclimatic regions. We released an R routine to calculate leaf inclination angle statistics, leaf inclination angle distribution type and G-function from measured leaf inclination angles, which can be used to parametrize optical measurements of light transmittance and for radiative transfer modeling purposes. The leaf inclination angle distribution type can be also used as a plant functional trait to understand light use and photosynthetic plant strategies and to perform functional diversity analyses.

叶片倾角分布相关知识对于明晰植被冠层内部的辐射传输过程，以及间接量化叶面积指数（leaf area index）、G函数（G-function）等冠层属性至关重要。为此，我们针对温带与寒带生态气候区域常见的138种落叶阔叶木本植物，测量并整理了一套大规模叶片倾角数据集。我们发布了一款R程序，可基于实测叶片倾角数据计算叶片倾角统计量、叶片倾角分布类型与G函数，该程序可用于参数化光透射率的光学测量，以及辐射传输建模相关研究。叶片倾角分布类型还可作为植物功能性状（plant functional trait），用于解析植物的光能利用与光合策略，同时支持功能多样性分析工作。