Leaf Area Index Maps for Larose VALERI Site at 30-Meter Resolution

NASA's VALERI project provides Leaf Area Index (LAI) maps for a 3x3-km protected forest site in Larose, Ontario, Canada. The dataset contains 30-meter resolution geospatial imagery derived from ground measurements and Landsat TM/ETM+ satellite data using a developed transfer function. These maps are intended for validating satellite-derived biophysical products and modeling surface-atmosphere exchanges.

Use Cases

• Validating LAI products from other satellite sensors using the high-resolution, ground-verified maps.
• Modeling carbon, water, and energy exchange processes by providing input LAI data for the Larose site.
• Monitoring changes in land surface vegetation over the protected study area.
• Assessing algorithm performance for deriving vegetation characteristics from Landsat spectral reflectance data.

Strengths

• Maps are derived from ground measurements and Landsat imagery, providing a validated reference (Fernandes et al., 2003).
• High spatial resolution of 30 meters for a precisely defined 3x3-km area.
• Site is protected from disturbance, enhancing its utility as a stable validation target.

Limitations

• Conflicting last update dates: Data.gov lists 2026-03 13 (likely an error), while NASA Earthdata lists 2003-08-19.
• Specific row count, file size, and column details are not provided across any platform.
• Data is restricted to a single 3x3-km site, limiting broad geographic application.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), VALERI project.

Collection Method

LAI mapped using a transfer function developed from ground plot measurements and Landsat TM/ETM+ spectral reflectance values within a masked region.

Time Range

Period of validity corresponds to the 2003 measurement campaign.

Freshness

2003-08-19 23:59:59.999000

Geography

Larose site, Ontario, Canada (3x3-km area).