GCOS Essential Climate Variables (ECV)
Terrestial/ECV T11 Leaf Area Index (LAI)

Leaf Area Index (LAI) measures the amount of leaf material in an ecosystem, which imposes important controls on photosynthesis, respiration, rain interception, and other processes that link vegetation to climate. Consequently, LAI appears as a key variable in many models describing vegetation-atmosphere interactions, particularly with respect to the carbon and water cycles (GCOS, 2004). The interest in information on LAI distribution and changes has grown substantially in recent decades, due to its intrinsic importance and the emerging capability for LAI estimation over large areas using satellite measurements. (from the FAO/GTOS web site)

• ECV T11: LAI: Leaf Area Index - Assessment of the Status of the Development of the Standards for the Terrestial Essential Climate Variables (ECV), Version 10, May 25, 2009 (GTOS-66)

[ECV Matrix Main Page] [Reference Documents] [Contact] [Updated April 7, 2010]

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