Leaf Angle Distributions for Tallgrass Prairie and Crop Canopies

Leaf angle distributions for 14 species were measured during the 1987 growing season at the Konza Long-Term Ecological Research area. Data were collected using a direct measurement Spatial Coordinate Apparatus on major prairie species and selected agricultural crops. This dataset provides detailed canopy structure information for modeling plant growth and radiation interactions.

Use Cases

• Parameterizing canopy radiation models with species-specific leaf angle distribution (LAD) inputs.
• Analyzing differences in leaf orientation (planophile, plagiophile, erectophile, uniform) across 14 plant species.
• Comparing leaf azimuth angle distributions and vertical canopy structure (upper vs. lower parts) for specific species.
• Studying the structural characteristics of tallgrass prairie and agricultural crop canopies for ecological modeling.

Strengths

• Data were collected using a direct, physical measurement technique (Spatial Coordinate Apparatus) for accuracy.
• Covers 14 distinct species, providing a comparative view of leaf angle distributions.
• Includes detailed classifications of zenith angle distributions into four specific categories.

Limitations

• Exact row count, file size, and specific column names are not provided by any source.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date (1987-08-04 vs. 2026-03-13), creating uncertainty about data currency.
• The dataset is from a single growing season (1987), limiting temporal analysis.

Provenance

Source

Konza Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) area, collected by ORNL_CLOUD.

Collection Method

Direct measurement using a Spatial Coordinate Apparatus (SCA).

Time Range

1987 growing season

Freshness

2026-03 13 00:58:02.097185

Geography

Konza Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) area.