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Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) is a remotely sensed optical signal emitted during the light reactions of photosynthesis. The past two decades have witnessed an explosion in availability of SIF data at increasingly higher spatial and temporal resolutions, sparking applications in diverse research sectors (e.g., ecology, agriculture, hydrology, climate, and socioeconomics). These applications must deal with complexities caused by tremendous variations in scale and the impacts of interacting and superimposing plant physiology and three-dimensional vegetation structure on the emission and scattering of SIF. At present, these complexities have not been overcome. To advance future research, the two companion reviews aim to (1) develop an analytical framework for inferring terrestrial vegetation structures and function that are tied to SIF emission, (2) synthesize progress and identify challenges in SIF research via the lens of multi-sector applications, and (3) map out actionable solutions to tackle these challenges and offer our vision for research priorities over the next 5-10 years based on the proposed analytical framework. This paper is the first of the two companion reviews, and theory oriented. It introduces a theoretically rigorous yet practically applicable analytical framework. Guided by this framework, we offer theoretical perspectives on three overarching questions: (1) The forward (mechanism) question-How are the dynamics of SIF affected by terrestrial ecosystem structure and function? (2) The inference question: What aspects of terrestrial ecosystem structure, function, and service can be reliably inferred from remotely sensed SIF and how? (3) The innovation question: What innovations are needed to realize the full potential of SIF remote sensing for real-world applications under climate change? The analytical framework elucidates that process complexity must be appreciated in inferring ecosystem structure and function from the observed SIF; this framework can serve as a diagnosis and inference tool for versatile applications across diverse spatial and temporal scales., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) is used as a proxy of photosynthetic efficiency. However, interpreting top-of-canopy (TOC) SIF in relation to photosynthesis remains challenging due to the distortion introduced by the canopy's structural effects (i.e., fluorescence re-absorption, sunlit-shaded leaves, etc.) and sun-canopy-sensor geometry (i.e., direct radiation infilling). Therefore, ground-based, high-spatial-resolution data sets are needed to characterize the described effects and to be able to downscale TOC SIF to the leafs where the photosynthetic processes are taking place. We herein introduce HyScreen, a ground-based push-broom hyperspectral imaging system designed to measure red (F687) and far-red (F760) SIF and vegetation indices from TOC with single-leaf spatial resolution. This paper presents measurement protocols, the data processing chain and a case study of SIF retrieval. Raw data from two imaging sensors were processed to top-of-canopy radiance by dark-current correction, radiometric calibration, and empirical line correction. In the next step, the improved Fraunhofer line descrimination (iFLD) and spectral-fitting method (SFM) were used for SIF retrieval, and vegetation indices were calculated. With the developed protocol and data processing chain, we estimated a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) between 50 and 200 from reference panels with reflectance from 5% to 95% and noise equivalent radiance (NER) of 0.04 (5%) to 0.18 (95%) mW m-2 sr-1 nm-1. The results from the case study showed that non-vegetation targets had SIF values close to 0 mW m-2 sr-1 nm-1, whereas vegetation targets had a mean F687 of 1.13 and F760 of 1.96 mW m-2 sr-1 nm-1 from the SFM method. HyScreen showed good performance for SIF retrievals at both F687 and F760; nevertheless, we recommend further adaptations to correct for the effects of noise, varying illumination and sensor optics. In conclusion, due to its high spatial resolution, Hyscreen is a promising tool for investigating the relationship between leafs and TOC SIF as well as their relationship with plants' photosynthetic capacity.

Sun-induced fluorescence in the far-red region (SIF) is increasingly used as a remote and proximal-sensing tool capable of tracking vegetation gross primary production (GPP). However, the use of SIF to probe changes in GPP is challenged during extreme climatic events, such as heatwaves. Here, we examined how the 2018 European heatwave (HW) affected the GPP-SIF relationship in evergreen broadleaved trees with a relatively invariant canopy structure. To do so, we combined canopy-scale SIF measurements, GPP estimated from an eddy covariance tower, and active pulse amplitude modulation fluorescence. The HW caused an inversion of the photosynthesis-fluorescence relationship at both the canopy and leaf scales. The highly nonlinear relationship was strongly shaped by nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ), that is, a dissipation mechanism to protect from the adverse effects of high light intensity. During the extreme heat stress, plants experienced a saturation of NPQ, causing a change in the allocation of energy dissipation pathways towards SIF. Our results show the complex modulation of the NPQ-SIF-GPP relationship at an extreme level of heat stress, which is not completely represented in state-of-the-art coupled radiative transfer and photosynthesis models., (© 2021 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2021 New Phytologist Foundation.)

Passive measurement of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (F) represents the most promising tool to quantify changes in photosynthetic functioning on a large scale. However, the complex relationship between this signal and other photosynthesis-related processes restricts its interpretation under stress conditions. To address this issue, we conducted a field campaign by combining daily airborne and ground-based measurements of F (normalized to photosynthetically active radiation), reflectance and surface temperature and related the observed changes to stress-induced variations in photosynthesis. A lawn carpet was sprayed with different doses of the herbicide Dicuran. Canopy-level measurements of gross primary productivity indicated dosage-dependent inhibition of photosynthesis by the herbicide. Dosage-dependent changes in normalized F were also detected. After spraying, we first observed a rapid increase in normalized F and in the Photochemical Reflectance Index, possibly due to the blockage of electron transport by Dicuran and the resultant impairment of xanthophyll-mediated non-photochemical quenching. This initial increase was followed by a gradual decrease in both signals, which coincided with a decline in pigment-related reflectance indices. In parallel, we also detected a canopy temperature increase after the treatment. These results demonstrate the potential of using F coupled with relevant reflectance indices to estimate stress-induced changes in canopy photosynthesis., (© 2020 The Authors. Plant, Cell & Environment published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Leaf fluorescence can be used to track plant development and stress, and is considered the most direct measurement of photosynthetic activity available from remote sensing techniques. Red and far-red sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) maps were generated from high spatial resolution images collected with the HyPlant airborne spectrometer over even-aged loblolly pine plantations in North Carolina (United States). Canopy fluorescence yield (i.e., the fluorescence flux normalized by the light absorbed) in the red and far-red peaks was computed. This quantifies the fluorescence emission efficiencies that are more directly linked to canopy function compared to SIF radiances. Fluorescence fluxes and yields were investigated in relation to tree age to infer new insights on the potential of those measurements in better describing ecosystem processes. The results showed that red fluorescence yield varies with stand age. Young stands exhibited a nearly twofold higher red fluorescence yield than mature forest plantations, while the far-red fluorescence yield remained constant. We interpreted this finding in a context of photosynthetic stomatal limitation in aging loblolly pine stands. Current and future satellite missions provide global datasets of SIF at coarse spatial resolution, resulting in intrapixel mixture effects, which could be a confounding factor for fluorescence signal interpretation. To mitigate this effect, we propose a surrogate of the fluorescence yield, namely the Canopy Cover Fluorescence Index (CCFI) that accounts for the spatial variability in canopy structure by exploiting the vegetation fractional cover. It was found that spatial aggregation tended to mask the effective relationships, while the CCFI was still able to maintain this link. This study is a first attempt in interpreting the fluorescence variability in aging forest stands and it may open new perspectives in understanding long-term forest dynamics in response to future climatic conditions from remote sensing of SIF., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The photosynthetic, optical, and morphological characteristics of a chlorophyll-deficient (Chl-deficient) "yellow" soybean mutant (MinnGold) were examined in comparison with 2 green varieties (MN0095 and Eiko). Despite the large difference in Chl content, similar leaf photosynthesis rates were maintained in the Chl-deficient mutant by offsetting the reduced absorption of red photons by a small increase in photochemical efficiency and lower non-photochemical quenching. When grown in the field, at full canopy cover, the mutants reflected a significantly larger proportion of incoming shortwave radiation, but the total canopy light absorption was only slightly reduced, most likely due to a deeper penetration of light into the canopy space. As a consequence, canopy-scale gross primary production and ecosystem respiration were comparable between the Chl-deficient mutant and the green variety. However, total biomass production was lower in the mutant, which indicates that processes other than steady state photosynthesis caused a reduction in biomass accumulation over time. Analysis of non-photochemical quenching relaxation and gas exchange in Chl-deficient and green leaves after transitions from high to low light conditions suggested that dynamic photosynthesis might be responsible for the reduced biomass production in the Chl-deficient mutant under field conditions., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Passive detection of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) using spectroscopy has been proposed as a proxy to quantify changes in photochemical efficiency at canopy level under natural light conditions. In this study, we explored the use of imaging spectroscopy to quantify spatio-temporal dynamics of SIF within crop canopies and its sensitivity to track patterns of photosynthetic activity originating from the interaction between vegetation structure and incoming radiation as well as variations in plant function. SIF was retrieved using the Fraunhofer Line Depth (FLD) principle from imaging spectroscopy data acquired at different time scales a few metres above several crop canopies growing under natural illumination. We report the first maps of canopy SIF in high spatial resolution. Changes of SIF were monitored at different time scales ranging from quick variations under induced stress conditions to seasonal dynamics. Natural changes were primarily determined by varying levels and distribution of photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). However, this relationship changed throughout the day demonstrating an additional physiological component modulating spatio-temporal patterns of SIF emission. We successfully used detailed SIF maps to track changes in the canopy's photochemical activity under field conditions, providing a new tool to evaluate complex patterns of photosynthesis within the canopy., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The photosynthesis of various species or even a single plant varies dramatically in time and space, creating great spatial heterogeneity within a plant canopy. Continuous and spatially explicit monitoring is, therefore, required to assess the dynamic response of plant photosynthesis to the changing environment. This is a very challenging task when using the existing portable field instrumentation. This paper reports on the application of a technique, laser-induced fluorescence transient (LIFT), developed for ground remote measurement of photosynthetic efficiency at a distance of up to 50 m. The LIFT technique was used to monitor the seasonal dynamics of selected leaf groups within inaccessible canopies of deciduous and evergreen tree species. Electron transport rates computed from LIFT measurements varied over the growth period between the different species studied. The LIFT canopy data and light-use efficiency measured under field conditions correlated reasonably well with the single-leaf pulse amplitude-modulated measurements of broadleaf species, but differed significantly in the case of conifer tree species. The LIFT method has proven to be applicable for a remote sensing assessment of photosynthetic parameters on a diurnal and seasonal scale; further investigation is, however, needed to evaluate the influence of complex heterogeneous canopy structures on LIFT-measured chlorophyll fluorescence parameters., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Plants experiencing herbivory suffer indirect costs beyond direct loss of leaf area, but differentially so based on the herbivore involved. We used a combination of chlorophyll fluorescence imaging and gas exchange techniques to quantify photosynthetic performance, the efficiency of photochemistry, and heat dissipation to examine immediate and longer-term physiological responses in the desert perennial Datura wrightii to herbivory by tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Herbivory by colony-reared larvae yielded no significant reduction in carbon assimilation, whereas herbivory by wild larvae induced a fast and spreading down-regulation of photosynthetic efficiency, resulting in significant losses in carbon assimilation in eaten and uneaten leaves. We found both an 89 % reduction in net photosynthetic rates in herbivore-damaged leaves and a whole-plant response (79 % decrease in undamaged leaves from adjacent branches). Consequently, herbivory costs are higher than previously estimated in this well-studied plant-insect interaction. We used chlorophyll fluorescence imaging to elucidate the mechanisms of this down-regulation. Quantum yield decreased up to 70 % in a small concentric band surrounding the feeding area within minutes of the onset of herbivory. Non-photochemical energy dissipation by the plant to avoid permanent damage was elevated near the wound, and increased systematically in distant areas of the leaf away from the wound over subsequent hours. Together, the results underscore not only potential differences between colony-reared and wild-caught herbivores in experimental studies of herbivory but also the benefits of quantifying physiological responses of plants in unattacked leaves.

The interaction of plants with their environment is very dynamic. Studying the underlying processes is important for understanding and modeling plant response to changing environmental conditions. Photosynthesis varies largely between different plants and at different locations within a canopy of a single plant. Thus, continuous and spatially distributed monitoring is necessary to assess the dynamic response of photosynthesis to the environment. Limited scale of observation with portable instrumentation makes it difficult to examine large numbers of plants under different environmental conditions. We report here on the application of a recently developed technique, laser-induced fluorescence transient (LIFT), for continuous remote measurement of photosynthetic efficiency of selected leaves at a distance of up to 50 m. The ability to make continuous, automatic, and remote measurements of photosynthetic efficiency of leaves with the LIFT provides a new approach for studying the interaction of plants with the environment and may become an important tool in phenotyping photosynthetic properties in field applications.

Plants are exposed to a temporally and spatially heterogeneous environment, and photosynthesis is well adapted to these fluctuations. Understanding of the complex, non-linear dynamics of photosynthesis in fluctuating light requires novel-modeling approaches that involve not only the primary light and dark biochemical reactions, but also networks of regulatory interactions. This requirement exceeds the capacity of the existing molecular models that are typically reduced to describe a partial process, dynamics of a specific complex or its particular dynamic feature. We propose a concept of comprehensive model that would represent an internally consistent, integral framework combining information on the reduced models that led to its construction. This review explores approaches and tools that exist in engineering, mathematics, and in other domains of biology that can be used to develop a comprehensive model of photosynthesis. Equally important, we investigated techniques by which one can rigorously reduce such a comprehensive model to models of low dimensionality, which preserve dynamic features of interest and, thus, contribute to a better understanding of photosynthesis under natural and thus fluctuating conditions. The web-based platform www.e-photosynthesis.org is introduced as an arena where these concepts and tools are being introduced and tested.

In the context of climate change and global sustainable development goals, future wheat cultivation has to master various challenges at a time, including the rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]). To investigate growth and photosynthesis dynamics under the effects of ambient (-434 ppm) and elevated [CO2] (-622 ppm), a Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) facility was combined with an automated phenotyping platform and an array of sensors. Ten modern winter wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) were monitored over a vegetation period using a Light-induced Fluorescence Transient (LIFT) sensor, ground-based RGB cameras and a UAV equipped with an RGB and multispectral camera. The LIFT sensor enabled a fast quantification of the photosynthetic performance by measuring the operating efficiency of Photosystem II (Fq'/Fm') and the kinetics of electron transport, i.e. the reoxidation rates Fr1' and Fr2'. Our results suggest that elevated [CO2] significantly increased Fq'/Fm' and plant height during the vegetative growth phase. As the plants transitioned to the senescence phase, a pronounced decline in Fq'/Fm' was observed under elevated [CO2]. This was also reflected in the reoxidation rates Fr1' and Fr2'. A large majority of the cultivars showed a decrease in the harvest index, suggesting a different resource allocation and indicating a potential plateau in yield progression under e[CO2]. Our results indicate that the rise in atmospheric [CO2] has significant effects on the cultivation of winter wheat with strong manifestation during early and late growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sun-induced fluorescence ( SIF) in the far-red region provides a new noninvasive measurement approach that has the potential to quantify dynamic changes in light-use efficiency and gross primary production ( GPP). However, the mechanistic link between GPP and SIF is not completely understood., We analyzed the structural and functional factors controlling the emission of SIF at 760 nm (F760) in a Mediterranean grassland manipulated with nutrient addition of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) or nitrogen-phosphorous ( NP). Using the soil-canopy observation of photosynthesis and energy (SCOPE) model, we investigated how nutrient-induced changes in canopy structure (i.e. changes in plant forms abundance that influence leaf inclination distribution function, LIDF) and functional traits (e.g. N content in dry mass of leaves, N%, Chlorophyll a+b concentration ( Cab) and maximum carboxylation capacity ( Vcmax)) affected the observed linear relationship between F760 and GPP., We conclude that the addition of nutrients imposed a change in the abundance of different plant forms and biochemistry of the canopy that controls F760. Changes in canopy structure mainly control the GPP-F760 relationship, with a secondary effect of Cab and Vcmax., In order to exploit F760 data to model GPP at the global/regional scale, canopy structural variability, biodiversity and functional traits are important factors that have to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) over plant canopies provide a proxy for plant photosynthetic capacity and are of high interest for plant research. Together with spectral reflectance, SIF has the potential to act as a noninvasive approach to quantify photosynthetic plant traits from field to air and spaceborne scales. However, SIF is a small signal contribution to the reflected sunlight and often not distinguishable from sensor noise. SIF estimation is, therefore, affected by an unquantified uncertainty, making it difficult to estimate accurately how much SIF is truly emitted from the plant. To investigate and overcome this, we designed a device based on a spectrometer covering the visible range and equipped it with an LED emitting at the wavelength of SIF. Using this as a reference and applying thorough calibrations, we present consistent evidence of the instrument’s capability of SIF retrieval and accuracy estimations. The LED’s intensity was measured under sunlight with 1.27 \pm 0.27\textrm mW\times \textrm sr^-1\textm^-2 nm ^-1 stable over the day. The large increase of SIF due to the Kautsky effect was measured spectrally and temporally proving the biophysical origin of the signal. We propose rigorous tests for instruments intended to measure SIF and show ways to further improve the presented methods. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• In tropical lowland forests, corticolous crustose green algal lichens are abundant and highly diverse. This may be related to adaptation to prevailing microenvironmental conditions including, for example, high precipitation and low light intensities. • In the understory of a tropical lowland rain forest in French Guiana, we studied the morphology of crustose green algal lichens and measured gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence. • We found that (i) periods of thallus suprasaturation with water were reduced by the presence of water-repelling surface structures of mycobiont hyphae at the thallus surface and the medulla; (ii) photosynthesis was adapted to the low light intensities present in the understory; and (iii) photosynthesis was rapidly activated in fluctuating light. • The combination of these three mechanisms enables corticolous lichens to implement specific morphological and physiological strategies, which may favour growth in the limiting understory habitat of tropical lowland rain forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinetics of response to strong light have been examined in deeply shaded leaves of the tropical tree legume (Inga sp.) which have extraordinarily high levels of the α-xanthophyll lutein-epoxide that are co-located in pigment–protein complexes of the photosynthetic apparatus with the β-xanthophyll violaxanthin. As in other species, rapidly reversible photoprotection (measured as non-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching) is initiated within the time frame of sun-flecks (minutes), before detectable conversion of violaxanthin to antheraxanthin or zeaxanthin. Photoprotection is stabilized within hours of exposure to strong light by simultaneously engaging the reversible violaxanthin cycle and a slowly reversible conversion of lutein-epoxide to lutein. It is proposed that this lutein ‘locks in’ a primary mechanism of photoprotection during photoacclimation in this species, converting efficient light-harvesting antennae of the shade plant into potential excitation dissipating centres. It is hypothesized that lutein occupies sites L2 and V1 in light-harvesting chlorophyll protein complexes of photosystem II, facilitating enhanced photoprotection through the superior singlet and/or triplet chlorophyll quenching capacity of lutein. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Photosynthesis of cyanobacteria is well characterized under laboratory conditions. We present a detailed study of photosynthetic capacity of cyanobacterial communities measured under natural conditions using chlorophyll fluorescence techniques. Cyanobacteria of extensive and diverse communities grow epi- and endolithically on the bare rock of inselbergs in the tropics where they are exposed to extreme and rapid fluctuations in irradiance, temperature and water availability. Extreme and rapidly changing environmental conditions impose various stresses on cyanobacteria and lead to small-scale niches of different communities along the furrows of an inselberg in French Guiana. These different cyanobacterial communities can easily be separated from each other by their species composition. Moreover, cyanobacteria of these zonal areas show significantly different rates of apparent quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII), are differently adapted to utilize early morning light energy and have different strategies to face rapid cycles of desiccation. These different physiological strategies have led to the development of different cyanobacterial communities in distinct zones which are determined by different resistance to dehydration, water transport and storage capacity. In spite of the extreme environmental conditions with very high solar radiation, predawn measurements of potential quantum yield of PS II showed that they are not photoinhibited. We describe the manifold photosynthetic strategies that have developed in cyanobacteria under these extreme and highly fluctuating natural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compact multi-spectral sensors that can be mounted on lightweight drones are now widely available and applied within the geo- and environmental sciences. However; the spatial consistency and radiometric quality of data from such sensors is relatively poorly explored beyond the lab; in operational settings and against other sensors. This study explores the extent to which accurate hemispherical-conical reflectance factors (HCRF) and vegetation indices (specifically: normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and chlorophyll red-edge index (CHL)) can be derived from a low-cost multispectral drone-mounted sensor (Parrot Sequoia). The drone datasets were assessed using reference panels and a high quality 1 m resolution reference dataset collected near-simultaneously by an airborne imaging spectrometer (HyPlant). Relative errors relating to the radiometric calibration to HCRF values were in the 4 to 15% range whereas deviations assessed for a maize field case study were larger (5 to 28%). Drone-derived vegetation indices showed relatively good agreement for NDVI with both HyPlant and Sentinel 2 products (R2 = 0.91). The HCRF; NDVI and CHL products from the Sequoia showed bias for high and low reflective surfaces. The spatial consistency of the products was high with minimal view angle effects in visible bands. In summary; compact multi-spectral sensors such as the Parrot Sequoia show good potential for use in index-based vegetation monitoring studies across scales but care must be taken when assuming derived HCRF to represent the true optical properties of the imaged surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging and non-imaging spectroscopy employed in the field and from aircraft is frequently used to assess biochemical, structural, and functional plant traits, as well as their dynamics in an environmental matrix. With the increasing availability of high-resolution spectroradiometers, it has become feasible to measure fine spectral features, such as those needed to estimate sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (F), which is a signal related to the photosynthetic process of plants. The measurement of F requires highly accurate and precise radiance measurements in combination with very sophisticated measurement protocols. Additionally, because F has a highly dynamic nature (compared with other vegetation information derived from spectral data) and low signal intensity, several environmental, physiological, and experimental aspects have to be considered during signal acquisition and are key for its reliable interpretation. The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action ES1309 OPTIMISE has produced three articles addressing the main challenges in the field of F measurements. In this paper, which is the second of three, we review approaches that are available to measure F from the leaf to the canopy scale using ground-based and airborne platforms. We put specific emphasis on instrumental aspects, measurement setups, protocols, quality checks, and data processing strategies. Furthermore, we review existing techniques that account for atmospheric influences on F retrieval, address spatial scaling effects, and assess quality checks and the metadata and ancillary data required to reliably interpret retrieved F signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) has long been regarded as a proxy for photosynthesis and has shown superiority in estimating gross primary production (GPP) compared to traditional vegetation indices, especially in evergreen ecosystems. However, current SIF-based GPP estimations regard the canopy as a large leaf and seldom consider the impact of interactions among light, canopy structure, and leaf physiology. In this study, we proposed GPP estimation models with different descriptions of light–structure–physiology interactions (including the layered model, the two-leaf model, and the layered two-leaf model) and compared their performances with the big-leaf model using half-hourly (or hourly) observations at evergreen needleleaf forest sites. First, we found that the big-leaf model underestimated GPP, especially at noon. All models showed higher accuracy than that of the big-leaf model. Second, we investigated the diurnal dynamics of GPP estimations in each canopy layer and found that models with a two-leaf assumption captured the diurnal variations in GPP better than that with the layered assumption. We also deduced that the poor performance of the big-leaf model was related to its overestimation of the overall light stress on the redox state of PSII reaction centers (qL). Finally, we noticed that the qL at the canopy scale had lower sensitivity to light change than the single-leaf qL and that the light response of canopy-scale qL was influenced by the leaf area index during seasonal cycles. Overall, this study describes methods to accurately estimate sub-daily GPP from SIF in evergreen needleleaf forests and demonstrates that the interactions among light, canopy structure, and leaf physiology regulate the SIF-GPP relationship at the canopy scale. Further, it indicates the need to consider the description of light distribution within the canopy in next-generation terrestrial biosphere models, even if they incorporate SIF to constrain their parameterization. Thus, upscaling the established leaf-scale mechanistic SIF-GPP relationship or findings to canopy-scale applications still requires much work, especially when there are significant changes in environmental conditions and their within-canopy distributions. • Considering vertical light gradient improves sub-daily GPP estimation via SIF. • Two-leaf assumption helps in capturing the diurnal variations in GPP. • Canopy-scale qL is less sensitive to PAR than the single-leaf qL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach to characterize the physiological conditions of plants from hyperspectral remote sensing data through the numerical inversion of a light version of the SCOPE model is proposed. The combined retrieval of vegetation biochemical and biophysical parameters and Sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence ( F ) was investigated exploiting high resolution spectral measurements in the visible and near-infrared spectral regions. First, the retrieval scheme was evaluated against a synthetic dataset. Then, it was applied to very high resolution (sub-nanometer) canopy level spectral measurements collected over a lawn treated with different doses of a herbicide (Chlorotoluron) known to instantaneously inhibit both Photochemical and Non-Photochemical Quenching (PQ and NPQ, respectively). For the first time the full spectrum of canopy F , the fluorescence quantum yield (Φ F ), as well as the main vegetation parameters that control light absorption and reabsorption, were retrieved concurrently using canopy-level high resolution apparent reflectance ( ρ * ) spectra. The effects of pigment content, leaf/canopy structural properties and physiology were effectively discriminated. Their combined observation over time led to the recognition of dynamic patterns of stress adaptation and stress recovery. As a reference, F values obtained with the model inversion were compared to those retrieved with state of the art Spectral Fitting Methods (SFM) and SpecFit retrieval algorithms applied on field data. Φ F retrieved from ρ * was eventually compared with an independent biophysical model of photosynthesis and fluorescence. These results foster the use of repeated hyperspectral remote sensing observations together with radiative transfer and biochemical models for plant status monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many laboratory studies investigating chlorophyll fluorescence (F) of plants have provided sufficient evidence of the functional link between dynamic changes in photosynthetic activity and F emissions. Far fewer studies, however, have been devoted to detailed analysis of F emission under steady-state conditions, which may be amenable to measurement by passive spectroradiometers onboard airborne or satellite missions. Here, we provide a random-effects meta-analysis of studies using both passively (sun-induced) and actively (e.g. laser-induced) measured steady-state F for detecting stress reactions in terrestrial vegetation. Specifically, we review behaviour of F in red and far-red wavelengths, and also the red to far-red F ratio, for plants physiologically stressed by water deficit, temperature extremes, and nitrogen insufficiency. Results suggest that water stress is, in general, associated with a decline in red and far-red F signal intensity measured at both leaf and canopy levels, whereas the red to far-red F ratio displays an inconsistent behaviour. Chilling, for which only studies with active measurements at the leaf level are available, significantly increased red and far-red F, whereas heat stress produced a less convincing decrease in both F emissions, notably in canopies measured passively. The clearest indicator of temperature stress was the F ratio, which declined significantly and consistently. The F ratio was also the strongest indicator of nitrogen deficiency, revealing a nearly uniformly increasing pattern driven by predominantly declining far-red F. Although significant knowledge gaps were encountered for certain scales and F measurement techniques, the analyses indicate that future airborne or space-borne acquisitions of both red and far-red F signals would be beneficial for timely detection of plant stress events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Chlorophyll fluorescence is related to photosynthesis and can serve as a remote sensing proxy for estimating photosynthetic energy conversion and carbon uptake. Recent advances in sensor technology allow remote measurements of the sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence signal (Fs) at leaf and canopy scale. The commonly used Fraunhofer Line Depth (FLD) principle exploits spectrally narrow atmospheric oxygen absorption bands and relates Fs to the difference of the absorption feature depth of a fluorescensing and a non-fluorescensing surface. However, due to the nature of these narrow bands, Fs retrieval results depend not only on vegetation species type or environmental conditions, but also on instrument technology and processing algorithms. Thus, an evaluation of all influencing factors and their separate quantification is required to further improve Fs retrieval and to allow a reproducible interpretation of Fs signals. Here we present a modeling study that isolates and quantifies the impacts of sensor characteristics, such as spectral sampling interval (SSI), spectral resolution (SR), signal to noise ratio (SNR), and spectral shift (SS) on the accuracy of Fs measurements in the oxygen A band centered at 760nm (O2-A). Modeled high resolution radiance spectra associated with known Fs were spectrally resampled, taking into consideration the various sensor properties. Fs was retrieved using the three most common FLD retrieval methods, namely the original FLD method (sFLD), the modified FLD (3FLD) and the improved FLD (iFLD). The analysis investigates parameter ranges, which are representative for field and airborne instruments currently used in Fs research (e.g., ASD FieldSpec, OceanOptics HR, AirFLEX, AISA, APEX, CASI, and MERIS). Our results show that the most important parameter affecting the retrieval accuracy is SNR, SR accounts for≤40% of the error, the SSI for≤12%, and SS for≤7% of the error. A trade-off study revealed that high SR can partly compensate for low SNR. There is a strong interrelation between all parameters and the impact of specific parameters can compensate or amplify the influence of others. Hence, the combination of all parameters must be considered by the evaluation of sensors and their potential for Fs retrieval. In general, the standard FLD method strongly overestimates Fs, while 3FLD and iFLD provide a more accurate estimation of Fs. We conclude that technical sensor specifications and the retrieval methods cause a significant variability in retrieved Fs signals. Results are intended to be one relevant component of the total uncertainty budget of Fs retrieval and have to be considered in the interpretation of retrieved Fs signals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]