Fig. 2.1 Global color-coded maps of Terra MODIS Collection 5 annual average LAI and FPAR.
These maps were generated from nearly 10 years of Terra MODIS data (January 2001 to
December 2010). Leaf area index (LAI) is defined as the one-sided green leaf area per unit
ground area in broadleaf canopies and as one-half the total needle surface area per unit ground
area in coniferous canopies. FPAR is defined as the fraction of incident photosynthetically active
radiation (400–700 nm) absorbed by the green elements of a vegetation canopy. Both quantities
are dimensionless
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S. Ganguly et al.
These maps were generated from nearly 10 years of Terra MODIS data (January 2001 to
December 2010). Leaf area index (LAI) is defined as the one-sided green leaf area per unit
ground area in broadleaf canopies and as one-half the total needle surface area per unit ground
area in coniferous canopies. FPAR is defined as the fraction of incident photosynthetically active
radiation (400–700 nm) absorbed by the green elements of a vegetation canopy. Both quantities
are dimensionless
48
S. Ganguly et al.