JPSS Leaf Area Index

Team Members: Yuan Zhou

Background

Leaf Area Index (LAI) is a fundamental parameter for characterizing vegetation structure and plays a vital role in hydrological, ecological, agricultural, and climatological studies. In the next-generation Noah Multi-Parameterization (Noah-MP) Land Surface Model, LAI serves as a key input for accurately representing vegetation dynamics.

• VIIRS LAI Product Features
  • A data-driven algorithm produces daily LAI from VIIRS Imagery band surface reflectance data, including red, near-infrared (NIR), and shortwave infrared (SWIR) channels.
  • Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LAI is used as the primary training dataset, with Global Land Surface Satellite (GLASS) and second version of Geoland2 (GEOV2) LAI products serving as references.
  • The final product is a global, gap-free, and temporally smoothed LAI dataset, refreshed every 8 days at 1 km spatial resolution.