Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1038/s43247-024-01712-0
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Temporal dynamics in vertical leaf angles can confound vegetation indices widely used in Earth observations
Author Kattenborn, T.; Wieneke, S.; Montero, D.; Mahecha, M.D.; Richter, R.; GuimarĂ£es-Steinicke, C.; Wirth, C.; Ferlian, O.; Feilhauer, H.; Sachsenmaier, L.; Eisenhauer, N.; Dechant, B.
Source Titel Communications Earth & Environment
Year 2024
Department RS
Volume 5
Page From art. 550
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Data and Software links https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12775222
Supplements https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1038%2Fs43247-024-01712-0/MediaObjects/43247_2024_1712_MOESM2_ESM.pdf
Abstract Earth observation data is key for monitoring vegetation dynamics across temporal and spatial scales. The most widely used method to estimate vegetation properties from Earth observation data is vegetation indices. However, temporal dynamics in vertical leaf angles can strongly alter reflectance signals and, hence, vegetation indices. Here, we derive leaf angles from plant photographs to simulate the effect on vegetation indices with radiative transfer models. We show that leaf angle dynamics systematically confound widely applied vegetation indices. Moreover, we demonstrate that these effects are not random but tightly linked to abiotic environmental conditions. These systematic effects of vertical leaf angles have implications for monitoring plant properties, biodiversity, and ecosystem functional properties. We discuss the related challenges and opportunities to assess spatio-temporal vegetation dynamics with remote sensing and vegetation indices.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=29805
Kattenborn, T., Wieneke, S., Montero, D., Mahecha, M.D., Richter, R., GuimarĂ£es-Steinicke, C., Wirth, C., Ferlian, O., Feilhauer, H., Sachsenmaier, L., Eisenhauer, N., Dechant, B. (2024):
Temporal dynamics in vertical leaf angles can confound vegetation indices widely used in Earth observations
Commun. Earth Environ. 5 , art. 550 10.1038/s43247-024-01712-0