LIFT - Laser-Induced Fluorescence Transient
A remote sensing approach to scale and quantify photosynthetic light use efficiency in ecosystems

Motivation

Determining the spatial and temporal diversity of photosynthetic processes, water and energy exchange of complex plant canopies is challenging, yet this information is required to improve carbon and climate models. Remote sensing from space is the only practical way to characterize the vast extent of plant canopies, but the basis for relating physiological processes to remote sensing is still largely theoretical. Experiments that bridge this gap are needed.

The LIFT-System

We use a laser-based chlorophyll fluorescence measurement system (LIFT), developed in cooperation with Dr. Zbigniew Kolber (MBARI, Moss Landing, USA) und Dr. Joe Berry (Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, USA) for remote measurement of photosynthetic light use efficiency in ecosystems. The approach uses a laser to make small but highly replicated modification of the light regime and induce a chlorophyll fluorescence transient which is analyzed by a theoretical model. This technique compares well with leaf level measurements, and can be used for measuring spatial and temporal dynamics of light use efficiency of selected leaves in spatially extended canopies - each leaf in its unique environment and all contributing to the overall performance of the canopy.

Objective

This technique will be integrated with established methods used to understand canopy processes, namely well-established biochemical leaf level models, canopy integration schemes, and hyperspectral remote sensing. We will compare the observed variations of light use efficiency within an ecosystem to the corresponding model simulations, and explore the effects of this variability on efforts to scale from leaf to ecosystem.

Jülich Plant Phenotyping Centre

overview

GROWMAP - leaf

GROWMAP - root

GROWSCREEN

GROWSCREEN root

GROWSCREEN fluoro

NMR

NMR portable

PLANTIS

LIFT

screening

Field Screen

growth chamber

glass house

Rascher, U.; Pieruschka, R.
Spatio-temporal variations of photosynthesis: the potential of optical remote sensing to better understand and scale light use efficiency and stresses of plant ecosystems
Precision Agriculture 9 (2008) 6, 355 - 366
10.1007/s11119-008-9074-0
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11119-008-9074-0