SAFARI 2000: Ground LAI and FPAR Measurements for MISR Validation

August 20-28, 2000 ground measurements were collected at a 1 km by 1 km dry grassland site adjacent to Sua Pan, Botswana, during the SAFARI 2000 Dry Season Aircraft Campaign. The dataset contains leaf area index (LAI) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) readings from 135 sample points for LAI and 93 transect points for PAR, used to validate the MISR LAI/FPAR algorithm. Measurements were taken with LAI-2000 and Sunfleck PAR ceptometer instruments under predominantly clear sky conditions.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite-based LAI/FPAR retrieval algorithms based on coincident ground measurements.
• Assessing vegetation structure and light absorption in a homogeneous dry grassland based on species-specific and height data.
• Calibrating radiative transfer models using ground reflectance data from PARABOLA and ASD instruments.
• Studying the spatial variability of vegetation parameters at both transect and subgrid (pixel) scales.

Strengths

• Provides detailed, coincident ground truth for a specific satellite validation campaign with explicit sample counts (135 LAI, 93 PAR).
• Includes measurements at two spatial scales (transect and pixel) for LAI, allowing analysis of spatial representativeness.
• Specifies the dominant grass species (Odyssea paucinervis and Sporobolus spicatus) and canopy height (20-100 cm) for ecological context.
• Data collection was focused over a short, defined period (August 20-28, 2000) under controlled, clear sky conditions.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is medium; column names and exact data structure are not provided in the available descriptions.
• Conflicting last-updated dates exist between platforms (2000-08-28 vs. 2026-04-09), creating uncertainty about data currency or maintenance.
• The dataset is spatially and temporally limited to a single 1 km site over a nine-day period in 2000.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) MISR Validation team

Collection Method

Ground measurements using LAI-2000 plant canopy analyzer and Sunfleck PAR ceptometer, with associated reflectance from PARABOLA and ASD instruments.

Time Range

2000-08-20 to 2000-08-28

Freshness

2026-04-09 22:49:35.103427

Geography

Sua Pan salt playa, Magkadigkadi region, Botswana