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Tundra photosynthesis captured by satellite‐observed solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence
Author(s) -
Luus K. A.,
Commane R.,
Parazoo N. C.,
Benmergui J.,
Euskirchen E. S.,
Frankenberg C.,
Joiner J.,
Lindaas J.,
Miller C. E.,
Oechel W. C.,
Zona D.,
Wofsy S.,
Lin J. C.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl070842
Subject(s) - tundra , environmental science , carbon cycle , photosynthesis , atmospheric sciences , shortwave , chlorophyll fluorescence , vegetation (pathology) , shortwave radiation , arctic , moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer , climatology , satellite , ecosystem , ecology , radiative transfer , biology , botany , physics , radiation , geology , medicine , pathology , quantum mechanics , astronomy
Accurately quantifying the timing and magnitude of respiration and photosynthesis by high‐latitude ecosystems is important for understanding how a warming climate influences global carbon cycling. Data‐driven estimates of photosynthesis across Arctic regions often rely on satellite‐derived enhanced vegetation index (EVI); we find that satellite observations of solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) provide a more direct proxy for photosynthesis. We model Alaskan tundra CO 2 cycling (2012–2014) according to temperature and shortwave radiation and alternately input EVI or SIF to prescribe the annual seasonal cycle of photosynthesis. We find that EVI‐based seasonality indicates spring “green‐up” to occur 9 days prior to SIF‐based estimates, and that SIF‐based estimates agree with aircraft and tower measurements of CO 2 . Adopting SIF, instead of EVI, for modeling the seasonal cycle of tundra photosynthesis can result in more accurate estimates of growing season duration and net carbon uptake by arctic vegetation.