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Vegetation Specification

GLDAS Leaf Area Index and Canopy Greenness


This page describes some vegetation specfications used in GLDAS, specifically Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Canopy greenness (fg). GLDAS has the capability to use both literature based and satellite derived products of LAI and fg. The table below illustrates a comparison of these two parameters for these two approaches. The figures are monthly data. The satellite data figures are based on a 20 year climatology from 1982 - 2001.

Month of Year Default   Leaf Area Index Satellite Derived   Leaf Area Index Default Canopy Greenness Satellite Derived Canopy Greenness
January January default leaf area index (LAI). Values ranging from 6-8 are present in evergreen forest areas in northern North America and Asia. The remainder of the northern hemisphere has values ranging from 0-1. The southern heisphere has its highest values (4-6) across most of South America, Africa, and parts of Australia. January satellite leaf area index. There are slightly higher values in the southern hemisphere in equivalent areas. In the northern hemisphere, LAI values are generally less in magnitude. January default canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. Highest values are located in South America with values over 90%. The lowest values are located across northern Africa and parts of central Asia. January satellite canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. The values are generally less with a maximum of 80-90% in South America with the lowest values across northern North America and Asia, northern Asia, and central Asia.
February February default leaf area index. Values ranging from 6-8 are present in evergreen forest areas in northern North America and Asia. The remainder of the northern hemisphere has values ranging from 0-2. The southern hemisphere has its highest values (4-5) across most of South America, Africa, and parts of Australia. February satellite leaf area index. There are higher values in the southern hemisphere in the equivalent areas. In the northern hemisphere, LAI values are generally less in magnitude. February default canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. Highest values are located in South America with values over 90%. The lowest values are located across northern Africa and parts of central Asia. February satellite canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. The values are generally less with a maximum of 80-90% in South America with the lowest values across northern North America and Asia, northern Asia, and central Asia.
March March default leaf area index. Values ranging from 6-8 are present in evergreen forest areas in northern North America and Asia. The remainder of the northern hemisphere has values ranging from 0-2. The southern hemisphere has its highest values (4-5) across most of South America, Africa, and parts of Australia. March satellite leaf area index. There are higher values in the southern hemisphere in the equivalent areas. In the northern hemisphere, LAI values begin to become larger in magnitude in the eastern US and Europe. March default canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. Highest values are located in South America with values over 90%. The lowest values are located across northern Africa and parts of central Asia. March satellite canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. The values are generally less with a maximum of 80-90% in South America with the lowest values across northern North America and Asia, northern Asia, and central Asia.
April April default leaf area index. Values ranging from 6-8 are present in evergreen forest areas in northern North America and Asia. The remainder of the northern hemisphere has values ranging from 0-2 with higher values in the easten US, Europe, and northern Asia as the greening up process begins. The southern hemisphere has its highest values (4-5) across most of South America, Africa, and parts of Australia. April satellite leaf area index. There are higher values in the southern hemisphere in the equivalent areas. In the northern hemisphere, LAI values begin to become larger in magnitudein the eastern US and Europe. April default canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. Highest values are located in South America and in the forest areas in northern Asia and North America with values at or above 90%. The lowest values are located across northern Africa and parts of central Asia. April satellite canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. The values are generally less with a maximum of 80-90% in South America. The values are higher, however, in the eastern US and Europe. The lowest values are across northern North America and Asia, northern Asia, and central Asia.
May May default leaf area index. Values ranging from 6-8 are present in evergreen forest areas in northern North America and Asia. The remainder of the northern hemisphere has values ranging from 0-2. The southern hemisphere has its highest values (4-5) across most of South America, Africa, and parts of Australia. May satellite leaf area index. There are higher values in the southern hemisphere in the equivalent areas. In the northern hemisphere, LAI values begin to become larger in magnitude in the eastern US and Europe. May default canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. Highest values are located in South America with values over 90%. The lowest values are located across northern Africa and parts of central Asia. May satellite canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. The values are generally equivalent with a maximum of 80-90% in South America with the lowest values across northern North America and Asia, northern Asia, and central Asia. The values are less, however, in parts of the southern hemisphere in southern Africa and parts of Australia.
June June default leaf area index. Values ranging from 6-8 are present in evergreen forest areas in northern North America and Asia. The remainder of the northern hemisphere has values ranging from 0-2. The southern hemisphere has its highest values (4-5) across most of South America, Africa, and parts of Australia. June satellite leaf area index. There are higher values in the southern hemisphere in the equivalent areas. In the northern hemisphere, LAI values are generally less in magnitude. June default canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. Highest values are located in South America and in the forest areas in northern Asia and North America with values at or above 90%. The lowest values are located across northern Africa and parts of central Asia. June satellite canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. The values are generally less with a maximum of 80-90% in South America. The values are higher, however, in parts of the eastern US and Europe in cropland areas. The lowest values are across northern North America and Asia, northern Asia, and central Asia. The values are less, however, in parts of the southern hemisphere in southern Africa and parts of Australia.
July July default leaf area index. Values ranging from 6-8 are present in evergreen forest areas in northern North America and Asia. The remainder of the northern hemisphere has values ranging from 0-2. The southern hemisphere has its highest values (4-5) across most of South America, Africa, and parts of Australia. July satellite leaf area index. There are higher values in the southern hemisphere in the equivalent areas. In the northern hemisphere, LAI values begin to become larger in magnitude in the eastern US and Europe. July default canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. Highest values are located in South America with values over 90%. The lowest values are located across northern Africa and parts of central Asia. July satellite canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. The values are generally equivalent with a maximum of 80-90% in South America with the lowest values across northern North America and Asia, northern Asia, and central Asia. The values are less, however, in parts of the southern hemisphere in southern Africa and parts of Australia.
August August default leaf area index. Values ranging from 6-8 are present in evergreen forest areas in northern North America and Asia. The remainder of the northern hemisphere has values ranging from 0-2. The southern hemisphere has its highest values (4-5) across most of South America, Africa, and parts of Australia. August satellite leaf area index. There are higher values in the southern hemisphere in the equivalent areas. In the northern hemisphere, LAI values begin to become larger in magnitude in the eastern US and Europe. August default canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. Highest values are located in South America and in the forest areas in northern Asia and North America with values at or above 90%. The lowest values are located across northern Africa and parts of central Asia. August satellite canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. The values are generally greater in the northern hemisphere while similar for most of the southern hemisphere.
September September default leaf area index. Values ranging from 6-8 are present in evergreen forest areas in northern North America and Asia. The remainder of the northern hemisphere has values ranging from 0-2. The southern hemisphere has its highest values (4-5) across most of South America, Africa, and parts of Australia. September satellite leaf area index. There are higher values in the southern hemisphere in the equivalent areas. In the northern hemisphere, LAI values begin to become larger in magnitude in the eastern US and Europe. September default canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. Highest values are located in South America with values at or above 90%. The lowest values are located across northern Africa and parts of central Asia. September satellite canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. The values are generally greater in the northern hemisphere while similar for most of the southern hemisphere.
October October default leaf area index. Values ranging from 6-8 are present in evergreen forest areas in northern North America and Asia. The remainder of the northern hemisphere has values ranging from 0-2. The southern hemisphere has its highest values (4-5) across most of South America, Africa, and parts of Australia. October satellite leaf area index. There are higher values in the southern hemisphere in the equivalent areas. In the northern hemisphere, LAI values are generally greater in magnitude. October default canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. Highest values are located in South America with values at or above 90%. The lowest values are located across northern Africa and parts of central Asia. October satellite canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. The values are generally greater in the northern hemisphere while similar for most of the southern hemisphere.
November November default leaf area index. Values ranging from 6-8 are present in evergreen forest areas in northern North America and Asia. The remainder of the northern hemisphere has values ranging from 0-1. The southern heisphere has its highest values (4-6) across most of South America, Africa, and parts of Australia. November satellite leaf area index. There are slightly higher values in the southern hemisphere in equivalent areas. In the northern hemisphere, LAI values are generally greater especially in parts of the US and Europe. November default canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. Highest values are located in South America with values over 90%. The lowest values are located across northern Africa and parts of central Asia. November satellite canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. The values are generally less with a maximum of 80-90% in South America with the lowest values across northern North America and Asia, northern Asia, and central Asia.
December December default leaf area index. Values ranging from 6-8 are present in evergreen forest areas in northern North America and Asia. The remainder of the northern hemisphere has values ranging from 0-1. The southern heisphere has its highest values (4-6) across most of South America, Africa, and parts of Australia. December satellite leaf area index. There are slightly higher values in the southern hemisphere in equivalent areas. In the northern hemisphere, LAI values are generally greater especially in parts of the US and Europe. December default canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. Highest values are located in South America with values over 90%. The lowest values are located across northern Africa and parts of central Asia. December satellite canopy greenness. The scale ranges from 10-100%. The values are generally less with a maximum of 80-90% in South America with the lowest values across northern North America and Asia, northern Asia, and central Asia.


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