Combining hyperspectral remote sensing and eddy covariance data streams for estimation of vegetation functional traits

Abstract. Remote Sensing (RS) has traditionally provided estimates of key biophysical properties controlling light interaction with the canopy (e.g., chlorophyll content (Cab) or leaf area index (LAI)). However, recent and upcoming developments in hyperspectral RS are expected to lead to a new generation of products such as vegetation functional traits that control leaf carbon and water gas exchange. This information is pivotal to improve our understanding and capability to predict biosphere-atmosphere fluxes at global scale. Yet, the retrieval of key functional traits such as maximum carboxylation rate (Vcmax) or the Ball-Berry stomatal sensitivity parameter (m) remains challenging, as they only have a weak and indirect influence on optical reflectance factors. Recently, the assimilation of different observations in coupled soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer (SVAT) and radiative transfer models (RTM) is allowing Vcmax and m estimates; notably using the Soil Canopy Observation of Photosynthesis and Energy fluxes (SCOPE) model. In this work we assess the potential of airborne and satellite emulated hyperspectral imagery jointly with eddy covariance (EC) data for the retrieval of functional traits. Specifically, we made use of time series of gross primary production (GPP) and thermal irradiance measured with net radiometers, together with 17 hyperspectral airborne images. The potential of satellite-borne sensors was tested with emulated EnMAP imagery from the airborne data. EnMAP was selected because of the availability of the emulator, and because is one of the foreseen hyperspectral satellite missions expected to contribute to a new generation of RS products. We estimated ecosystem functional traits by inverting the senSCOPE model, a novel version of SCOPE adapted to represent partly senescent canopies. The experiment takes place in a Mediterranean tree-grass ecosystem subject of a large scale manipulation experiment with nitrogen and nitrogen plus phosphorus, monitored by three EC towers. Parameter estimates and predicted fluxes were evaluated using both ground observations and pattern-oriented model evaluation approach. The method developed in this study provided robust estimates of functional and biophysical parameters for both airborne and synthetic EnMAP datasets. Cab and Vcmax estimates followed observed relationships with leaf nitrogen concentration; whereas m and predicted underlying water use efficiency showed expected relationships with discrimination of 13C isotope in leaves. Results prove that the inversion of coupled RTM-SVAT models against a combination of hyperspectral imagery (e.g., EnMAP), and time series of GPP and thermal irradiance provides reliable estimates of key functional parameters of vegetation that are robust to several sources of uncertainty. The forthcoming satellite hyperspectral missions combined with ecosystem station networks (e.g. Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS), NEON, FLUXNET, etc…), offers unique possibilities to characterize the spatiotemporal distribution of functional parameters relevant for terrestrial biosphere modeling.