Canopy chlorophyll Content (CCC) is the total amount of chlorophyll a and b pigments in a contiguous group of plants per unit ground area often expressed in mg/m2 (Gitelson et al., 2005). It is a product of leaf chlorophyll content (i.e., the chlorophyll content of a fresh green leaf divided by its one-side area (µmg/cm2)) and the leaf area index.
CCC is a terrestrial ecosystem functional EBV that describes the distribution of chlorophyll pigments within the 3D canopy surface. Thus, This defines the total photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by the canopy (Gitelson et al., 2003; Ustin et al., 2009). The chlorophyll content is thought to be one of a constellation of co-evolved traits that vary together across species in relation to contrasting environmental conditions (Reich et al., 2003). Monitoring the dynamics of the CCC helps to understand the adaptation of forest, crop, and other plant canopies to such factors (Feret et al. 2017). As a result, the amount and spatial distribution of chlorophyll content is vital for measuring and understanding plant growth, ecosystem primary productivity and ecosystem dynamics.
The canopy chlorophyll products for the Netherlands on monthly basis are generated under Showcase. 4, pilot 4.3. myVARIABLE of the e-shape project, which commits to the biodiversity conservation requirements, inter alia, and assess the status and trends of biodiversity. In this context, GEO BON, one of the flagships of GEO, is developing the framework of the Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs). The EBVs are a minimum set of complementary measurements that capture major dimensions of biodiversity change and are produced by integrating primary observations, (from e.g. in-situ monitoring or remote sensing), in space and time. Canopy chlorophyll content is considered as remote sensing biodiversity products by remote sensing and ecology communities.
Féret, J, B., A.A. Gitelson, S.D. Noble, S. Jacquemoud PROSPECT-D: towards modeling leaf optical properties through a complete lifecycle Remote Sens. Environ., 193 (2017), pp. 204-215
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