Leaf Area Index Images, Alice Mulga SuperSite, 2016

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 on 8 Mar 2016 and 10 July 2016.

Leaf Area Index images are available for viewing and download from the TERN SuperSites BioImage Portal http://bioimages.supersites.net.au/data/lai/alic/default

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单侧总表面积，是关联水分与光截获、辐射传输、水碳交换的关键衍生参数。冠层覆盖度（Canopy cover）可定义为树冠垂直投影遮蔽地面的比例。上述指标可作为实际冠层叶面积的替代表征。叶面积指数是植被覆盖度评估的优选指标，亦是总生物量估算及碳循环预测模型中的核心变量。

叶面积指数的间接测量方法包括采用平面或半球影像的数码摄影技术，分别称为数码覆盖摄影（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站点（SuperSite）的现存植被类型，选用最适配的方法开展叶面积指数测量。

2016年3月8日与2016年7月10日，科研人员在爱丽丝·穆尔加超级站点核心1公顷样地开展了数码覆盖摄影（DCP）作业。

叶面积指数影像可通过TERN超级站点生物影像门户（TERN SuperSites BioImage Portal）http://bioimages.supersites.net.au/data/lai/alic/default 进行浏览与下载。