Seasonal Variation in Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Actic Radiation and Vegetation Properties in Burned Forests in Interior Alaska

Abstract

Fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (FAPAR) is an important ecophysiological parameter for carbon and water exchange modeling. However, validation studies of FAPAR are scarce, especially for disturbance area. One study (Steinberg et al., 2006) revealed that the MODIS FAPAR product is overestimated for burned boreal forests. Wildfire is a major disturbance in boreal forest ecosystems, and it significantly influences carbon and water exchange processes. It is important to explicitly incorporate burned areas in estimating regional exchanges.

This study aims to provide a validation data for FAPAR by collecting data regarding absorption of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in burned boreal forests. It also focuses on obtaining an empirical relationship to estimate seasonal and interannual variations in FAPAR from vegetation indices in the early stage of recovery after wildfire.