LAIWerte

LAIWerte refers to Leaf Area Index values, the widely used metric that quantifies canopy leaf area per unit ground area. The Leaf Area Index (LAI) is the total one-sided leaf area divided by ground area, a dimensionless measure that describes canopy structure and function. LAIWerte are used across ecology, forestry, and agriculture to characterize vegetation canopies, how they intercept light, and how they influence ecosystem processes. LAI can vary across space and season, reflecting species, management, and phenology.

LAIWerte can be obtained by direct methods, such as harvesting leaves and measuring their area, or by indirect approaches that are more common in practice. Indirect methods include optical devices like LAI-2000 or LAI-2200, hemispherical photography with gap fraction analysis, and remote sensing products from satellites such as MODIS or Sentinel-2. Each method has uncertainties related to canopy structure, leaf angle distribution, clumping, and measurement timing. Results may be reported as instantaneous, seasonal totals, or basal estimates and can be given as actual LAI or effective LAI depending on the method and interpretation.

LAIWerte influence key ecological and hydrological processes by determining radiation interception, photosynthesis, transpiration, and carbon balance. They are essential inputs for climate, weather, and ecosystem models, as well as for crop yield forecasting and forest management planning. Interpreting LAIWerte often involves considering phenology, canopy architecture, and the relationship to the fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fPAR), which can be related to LAI via light extinction concepts.

Values vary by vegetation type and season. Typical ranges are about 0.5–2.5 for many crops, 3–6 for temperate forests, with higher values possible in dense tropical canopies. Data sources include field measurements, airborne surveys, and satellite-derived products, each with documentation on method and scale.