BOREAS TF-11 SSA-Fen 1995 Leaf Area Index Data Summary The BOREAS TF-11 team gathered a variety of data to complement their tower flux measurements collected at the SSA Fen site. These data are LAI measurements made by the TF-11 team throughout the 1995 growing season. The data include the LAI of plants that fall into six categories: total, Carex spp., Betula pumila, Menyanthes trifoliata, Salix spp., and other vascular plants. The data are stored in tabular ASCII files. Table of Contents 1 Data Set Overview 2 Investigator(s) 3 Theory of Measurements 4 Equipment 5 Data Acquisition Methods 6 Observations 7 Data Description 8 Data Organization 9 Data Manipulations 10 Errors 11 Notes 12 Application of the Data Set 13 Future Modifications and Plans 14 Software 15 Data Access 16 Output Products and Availability 17 References 18 Glossary of Terms 19 List of Acronyms 20 Document Information 1. Data Set Overview 1.1 Data Set Identification BOREAS TF-11 SSA Fen 1995 Leaf Area Index Data 1.2 Data Set Introduction These data are Leaf Area Index (LAI) measurements made by the Tower Flux-11 (TF- 11) team at the BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) Southern Study Area (SSA) Fen site throughout the 1995 growing season. These data include the LAI of plants that fall into six categories: total, Carex spp., Betula pumila, Menyanthes trifoliata, Salix spp., and other vascular plants. 1.3 Objective/Purpose The objective of this study was to quantify the distribution of green LAI during the growing season for the various plant species in the SSA Fen. 1.4 Summary of Parameters Each data record includes the date and the LAI in each of six categories: total, Carex spp., Betula pumila, Menyanthes trifoliata, Salix spp., and other vascular plants. 1.5 Discussion The overall project goal was to investigate the surface-atmosphere exchange of carbon dioxide and methane, and the associated energy fluxes at the SSA Fen site. The LAI data were collected in support of the various components of the overall project. 1.6 Related Data Sets BOREAS TF-11 SSA Fen Tower Flux and Meteorological Data BOREAS TF-11 SSA Fen 1996 Water Surface Film Capping Data BOREAS TF-11 SSA Fen Leaf Gas Exchange Data BOREAS TF-11 SSA Fen Soil Surface CO2 Flux Data 2. Investigator(s) 2.1 Investigator(s) Names and Titles Dr. Timothy J. Arkebauer, Associate Professor Department of Agronomy University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dr. Shashi B. Verma, Professor Department of Agricultural Meteorology University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2.2 Title of Investigation Field Micrometeorological Measurements, Process-Level Studies and Modeling of Methane and Carbon Dioxide Fluxes in a Boreal Wetland Ecosystem (SSA Fen) 2.3 Contact Information Contact 1 ----------- Dr. Timothy J. Arkebauer Department of Agronomy University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE (402) 472-2847 (402) 472-3654 (fax) tja@unlinfo.unl.edu Contact 2 ----------- David Knapp Raytheon ITSS NASA GSFC Greenbelt, MD (301) 286-1424 (301) 286-0239 (fax) David.Knapp@gsfc.nasa.gov 3. Theory of Measurements LAI is the total leaf area per unit ground area. For broadleaf species, the leaf area is taken as one half the total surface area of the leaf, i.e., the area projected normal to the plane of the leaf. 4. Equipment 4.1 Instrument Description A LI-COR LI-3100 leaf area meter was used to determine the leaf area of the samples. 4.1.1 Collection Environment Samples were collected at the SSA Fen site in ambient conditions from May to September 1995. 4.1.2 Source/Platform None given. 4.1.3 Source/Platform Mission Objectives None given. 4.1.4 Key Variables Date, LAI for the following categories: total vascular plants, Carex spp., Betula pumila, Menyanthes trifoliata, Salix spp., and other vascular plants. 4.1.5 Principles of Operation None given. 4.1.6 Sensor/Instrument Measurement Geometry None given. 4.1.7 Manufacturer of Instrument LI-COR, Inc. P.O. Box 4425 4421 Superior Street Lincoln, NE 68504 USA (402) 467-3576 (402) 467-2819 (fax) 4.2 Calibration None given. 4.2.1 Specifications The LI-3100 was operated and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. 4.2.1.1 Tolerance None given. 4.2.2 Frequency of Calibration None given. 4.2.3 Other Calibration Information None. 5. Data Acquisition Methods A sampling area was chosen that had vegetation characteristics similar to the eddy correlation instrumentation “footprint.” This area was located several hundred meters south of the main eddy correlation boardwalk. A transect approximately 200 m long was laid out in an east-west direction. The transect was divided into four 50-m-long subtransects, giving a total of 20 samples. On each sampling date, five locations were chosen at random along each of the four subtransects giving a total of 20 samples. All the vegetation above the surface of a 0.25 m2 area at each location was harvested. Samples were placed in plastic ziplock bags and transported to the leaf area meter. For each sample, green leaves were separated from stems and dead material. Leaf area of each of the following categories was determined: Carex spp., Betula pumila, Menyanthes trifoliata, Salix spp., and other vascular plants. 6. Observations 6.1 Data Notes None. 6.2 Field Notes A limited set of field notes and observations is available by request from T.J. Arkebauer (see Section 2.3). 7. Data Description 7.1 Spatial Characteristics 7.1.1 Spatial Coverage All of the data were collected in the vicinity of the SSA Fen flux tower site. This tower is located at the following North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) coordinates: Latitude Longitude BOREAS_X BOREAS_Y UTM Northing UTM Easting ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 53.80206N 104.61798W 419.527 330.991 5961566.6 525159.8 7.1.2 Spatial Coverage Map None given. 7.1.3 Spatial Resolution Each sample was from a 0.25 m2 area. There were 20 samples for each day on which measurements were taken. See Section 5 for details. 7.1.4 Projection None given. 7.1.5 Grid Description None given. 7.2 Temporal Characteristics 7.2.1 Temporal Coverage Measurements were made on 20-May, 02-Jun, 22-Jun, 28-Jul, 17-Aug, 08-Sep, and 29-Sep-1995. 7.2.2 Temporal Coverage Map None. 7.2.3 Temporal Resolution These data were collected on particular days. See Section 7.2.1. 7.3 Data Characteristics Data characteristics are defined in the companion data definition file (tf11lai.def). 7.4 Sample Data Record Sample data format shown in the companion data definition file (tf11lai.def). 8. Data Organization 8.1 Data Granularity All of the SSA-Fen 1995 Leaf Area Index Data are contained in one data set. 8.2 Data Format The data file contains numerical and character fields of varying length separated by commas. The character fields are enclosed with single apostrophe marks. There are no spaces between the fields. Sample data records are shown in the companion data definition file (tf11lai.def). 9. Data Manipulations 9.1 Formulae None given. 9.1.1 Derivation Techniques/Algorithms None. 9.2 Data Processing Sequence None given. 9.2.1 Processing Steps 1. Data were received by BORIS from TF-11. 2. BORIS standardized the units and loaded data into the data base. 3. BORIS extracted data from database into ASCII files. 9.2.2 Processing Changes None. 9.3 Calculations None. 9.3.1 Special Corrections/Adjustments None. 9.3.2 Calculated Variables None. 9.4 Graphs and Plots None. 10. Errors 10.1 Sources of Error None given. 10.2 Quality Assessment None given. 10.2.1 Data Validation by Source None given. 10.2.2 Confidence Level/Accuracy Judgment None given. 10.2.3 Measurement Error for Parameters None given. 10.2.4 Additional Quality Assessment None given. 10.2.5 Data Validation by Data Center BORIS loaded the data into the data base and checked for any inconsistencies during loading. 11. Notes 11.1 Limitations of the Data None given. 11.2 Known Problems With The Data No problems are known to exist. However, it should noted that there are significant numbers of nonvascular plants (e.g. green and brown mosses, lichens) present in the fen that were not measured. 11.3 Usage Guidance The normal caveat of 'use at your own risk' applies. Correspondence with T.J. Arkebauer is encouraged when questions arise or if additional data set details are required. 11.4 Other Relevant Information Dr. Evan C. Jolitz was responsible for most of the day-to-day coordination of the field measurements, and Ms. Marlene McCloud aided in the LAI measurements. Their assistance is greatly appreciated. In 1994 an indirect technique (LI-COR LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer) was used to estimate the total LAI at the fen site. However, for a number of reasons, these values are regarded as unreliable. Those interested in the details are urged to correspond with T.J. Arkebauer (see Section 2.3). 12. Application of the Data Set These data can be used as estimates of LAI at a typical fen in the boreal forest. 13. Future Modifications and Plans None. 14. Software 14.1 Software Description None given. 14.2 Software Access None given. 15. Data Access 15.1 Contact for Data Center/Data Access Information These BOREAS data are available from the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOS-DIS) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC). The BOREAS contact at ORNL is: ORNL DAAC User Services Oak Ridge National Laboratory (865) 241-3952 ornldaac@ornl.gov ornl@eos.nasa.gov 15.2 Procedures for Obtaining Data BOREAS data may be obtained through the ORNL DAAC World Wide Web site at http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/ or users may place requests for data by telephone, electronic mail, or fax. 15.3 Output Products and Availability Requested data can be provided electronically on the ORNL DAAC's anonymous FTP site or on various media including, CD-ROMs, 8-MM tapes, or diskettes. The complete set of BOREAS data CD-ROMs, entitled "Collected Data of the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study", edited by Newcomer, J., et al., NASA, 1999, are also available. 16. Output Products and Availability 16.1 Tape Products None. 16.2 Film Products None. 16.3 Other Products These data are available on the BOREAS CD-ROM series. 17. References 17.1 Platform/Sensor/Instrument/Data Processing Documentation None. 17.2 Journal Articles and Study Reports Sellers, P. and F. Hall. 1994. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: Experiment Plan. Version 1994-3.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN-94). Sellers, P. and F. Hall. 1996. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: Experiment Plan. Version 1996-2.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN-96). Sellers, P., F. Hall, and K.F. Huemmrich. 1996. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: 1994 Operations. NASA BOREAS Report (OPS DOC 94). Sellers, P., F. Hall, and K.F. Huemmrich. 1997. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: 1996 Operations. NASA BOREAS Report (OPS DOC 96). Sellers, P., F. Hall, H. Margolis, B. Kelly, D. Baldocchi, G. den Hartog, J. Cihlar, M.G. Ryan, B. Goodison, P. Crill, K.J. Ranson, D. Lettenmaier, and D.E. Wickland. 1995. The boreal ecosystem-atmosphere study (BOREAS): an overview and early results from the 1994 field year. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 76(9):1549-1577. Sellers, P.J., F.G. Hall, R.D. Kelly, A. Black, D. Baldocchi, J. Berry, M. Ryan, K.J. Ranson, P.M. Crill, D.P. Lettenmaier, H. Margolis, J. Cihlar, J. Newcomer, D. Fitzjarrald, P.G. Jarvis, S.T. Gower, D. Halliwell, D. Williams, B. Goodison, D.E. Wickland, and F.E. Guertin. 1997. BOREAS in 1997: Experiment Overview, Scientific Results and Future Directions. Journal of Geophysical Research, 102 (D24): 28,731-28,770. Suyker, A.E., S.B. Verma, and T.J. Arkebauer. 1997. Season-long measurement of carbon dioxide exchange in a boreal fen. Journal of Geophysical Research, 102 (D24): 29,021-29,028. 17.3 Archive/DBMS Usage Documentation None. 18. Glossary of Terms None. 19. List of Acronyms ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange BOREAS - BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study BORIS - BOREAS Information System CD-ROM - Compact Disk-Read-Only-Memory DAAC - Distributed Active Archive Center EOS - Earth Observing System EOSDIS - EOS Data and Information System GMT - Greenwich Mean Time GSFC - Goddard Space Flight Center IFC - Intensive Field Campaign LAI - Leaf Area Index NAD83 - North American Datum of 1983 NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration ORNL - Oak Ridge National Laboratory PANP - Prince Albert National Park SSA - Southern Study Area TF - Tower Flux URL - Uniform Resource Locator 20. Document Information 20.1 Document Revision Date of This Document Written: 30-Jun-1997 Last Revised: 10-May-1999 20.2 Document Review Date(s) BORIS Review: 19-Apr-1999 Science Review: 20.3 Document ID 20.4 Citation T.J. Arkebauer and E.C. Jolitz_ 20.5 Document Curator 20.6 Document URL Keywords: LAI LEAF AREA INDEX TF11_LAI.doc 06/09/99