Uncertainty Analysis in the Creation of a Fine-Resolution Leaf Area Index (LAI) Reference Map for Validation of Moderate Resolution LAI Products

Remote Sensing

John S. Iiames²  Russell G. Congalton⁴  Timothy E. Lewis¹  Andrew N. Pilant²  Janet Nichol³ 

[1] United States Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Rd, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA; E-Mail:;United States Environmental Protection Agency, 109 TW Alexander Dr. (MD E243-05), RTP, NC 27711, USA; E-Mail:;United States Environmental Protection Agency, 109 TW Alexander Dr. (MD E243-05), RTP, NC 27711, USA; E-Mail;Department of Natural Resources and Environment, University of New Hampshire, 114 James Hall, Durham, NH 03824, USA; E-Mail:

关键词: LAI;    uncertainty;    land cover;    validation;    in situ;    TRAC;    digital hemispherical photography;    PAI;    loblolly pine;    Landsat;    MODIS;   

DOI  :  10.3390/rs70201397

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The validation process for a moderate resolution leaf area index (LAI) product (i.e., MODIS) involves the creation of a high spatial resolution LAI reference map (Lai-RM), which when scaled to the moderate LAI resolution (i.e., > 1 km) allows for comparison and analysis with this LAI product. This research addresses two major sources of uncertainty in the creation of the LAI-RM: (1) the uncertainty associated with the indirect in situ optical measurements of southeastern United States needle-leaf LAI and (2) the uncertainty in the process of classifying land cover (LC). Uncertainty within the loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) in situ data collection was highest for the assessment of the plant area index (PAI), L_e (27.2%), and the woody-to-total ratio, α, (30.6%). The needle-to-shoot ratio, λ_E, and the element clumping index, Ω_E, contributed 14.9% and 9.3%, respectively, to the uncertainty in the calculation of LAI. Combining LC differences (3.4%) with the uncertainty within the loblolly pine component resulted in doubling the LAI-RM variability (σ = 0.50 to σ = 0.97) at the 1 km² validation site located in Appomattox, Virginia, USA.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.