Leaf Area Index Measurements from Tapajos National Forest, Brazil

LBA-ECO CD-04 Leaf Area Index data was collected at an 18-hectare plot adjacent to the km 83 eddy flux tower in the Tapajos National Forest, Para, Brazil. NASA produced this dataset by measuring leaf litter from thirty traps placed along two transects, with biweekly sampling and lab analysis using scanners and image processing software. The dataset is stored as a single comma-delimited file.

Use Cases

• Modeling canopy light interception and photosynthesis using leaf area index (LAI) estimates.
• Calibrating satellite-derived LAI products with ground-based measurements from a specific 18-hectare plot.
• Studying litterfall biomass and its seasonal variation in a logged Amazonian forest.
• Analyzing the relationship between leaf dry weight and surface area for tropical tree species.

Strengths

• Data collection followed a standardized protocol with 30 litter traps placed at systematic 25-meter intervals.
• Leaf area was measured using a computer scanner and image processing software, providing a direct physical measurement.
• Samples were collected biweekly, enabling analysis of temporal dynamics in litterfall.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as row count, file size, and specific column names are unavailable across all sources.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' date: Data.gov lists 2026-03 -13, while NASA Earthdata lists 2001-08-31, casting doubt on provenance timeliness.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), LBA -ECO project.

Collection Method

Leaf litter collected biweekly from 30 traps, subsampled, scanned for area, and oven-dried for weight correction.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2026-03-13 01:04:57.190437

Geography

18-hectare plot at the logged forest tower site (km 83), Tapajos National Forest, Para, Brazil.