Quantifying the effect of canopy architecture on optical measurements of leaf area index using two gap size analysis methods

In recent years, the methodology in ground-based optical measurements of leaf area index (LAI) of plant canopies has been substantially improved after the introduction of canopy gap size analysis methods. In this paper, the two methods by Chen and Black (1992) and Chen and Cihlar (in press) are compared for four boreal conifer stands located near Prince Albert, Saskachewan, and Thompson, Manitoba, Canada. The data used in the analysis were …