Imaging canopy temperature: shedding (thermal) light on ecosystem processes

Abstract

Canopy temperature T_can is a key driver of plant function that emerges as a result ofinteracting biotic and abiotic processes and properties. However, understanding controls on T_can and forecasting canopy responses to weather extremes and climate change are difficultdue to sparse measurements of T_can at appropriate spatial and temporal scales. Burgeoning observations of T_can from thermal cameras enable evaluation of energy budget theory andbetter understanding of how environmental controls, leaf traits and canopy structure influence temperature patterns. The canopy scale is relevant for connecting to remotesensing and testing biosphere model predictions. We anticipate that future breakthroughs in understanding of ecosystem responses to climate change will result from multiscale observations of T_can across a range of ecosystems.

Citation

Still, Christopher J.; Rastogi, Bharat; Page, Gerald F. M.; Griffith, Dan M.; Sibley, Adam; Schulze, Mark; Hawkins, Linnia; Pau, Stephanie; Detto, Matteo; Helliker, Brent R. 2021. Imaging canopy temperature: shedding (thermal) light on ecosystem processes. New Phytologist. 230(5): 1746-1753. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17321.