The ORNL DAAC announces the availability of a global data set containing approximately 1000 estimates of leaf area index (LAI) for a variety of biomes and land cover types.
The data set contains previously published estimates of LAI for more than 450 unique field sites worldwide, with the earliest values from 1932. Latitude, longitude, elevation, stand age, aboveground NPP, and other associated variables are available for many, but not all, sites. A bibliography of more than 300 original data sources is also available.
LAI is a key parameter for global and regional models of the biosphere-atmosphere exchange of carbon dioxide and other ecological processes. The LAI data set offered by the ORNL DAAC was compiled to support model development and validation of satellite data from MODIS.
For further information about LAI and associated information maintained by the ORNL DAAC, see http://www.daac.ornl.gov/VEGETATION/lai_des.html.