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Retrieving Leaf Area Index (LAI) Google Earth Engine (GEE)
Retrieving Leaf Area Index (LAI)
What is Leaf area index (LAI)?
The leaf area index (LAI) represents the total green leaf area per unit of the horizontal ground surface. It is a fundamental measure of vegetation structure. LAI plays a significant role in processes such as canopy interception, evapotranspiration, and gross photosynthesis since leaf surfaces are where energy and mass exchange occur.
To compute LAI, you can refer to the notebook provided at the end of the article. It contains a step-by-step guide on how to perform the LAI computation.
Leaf Area Index (LAI) Formula
The leaf area index (LAI) is a valuable index used to predict crop growth, estimate foliage cover, and assess vegetation health. In the ENVI software, the calculation of green LAI utilizes an empirical formula developed by Boegh et al. (2002). This formula provides a reliable method for determining the green leaf area within a given vegetation canopy. By employing this formula, ENVI enables accurate and efficient estimation of LAI for various applications in agriculture and environmental monitoring.
LAI = (3.618*EVI - 0.118)
EVI is Enhanced Vegetation Index value
LAI values ranges typically from 0 to 3.5.
Leaf area index (LAI) value range: 0 to 3.5