Seasonal Leaf Area Index Variations Derived from Needle Growth and Fall Measurements in Two Eastern White Pine (Pinus Strobes L.) Stands

Existing global leaf area index (LAI) products have a common problem of too large seasonal variations for conifer stands. The seasonal variation of remotely sensed LAI is often distorted due to many confounding factors. We propose a methodology to quantify the LAI seasonal pattern based on needle lifespan and meteorological conditions. In this paper, we test this methodology in two conifer stands in Ontario, Canada. Needle growth and senescence …