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    • BOREAS RSS-19 1994 Seasonal Understory Reflectance Data

    Metadata Updated: September 19, 2025

    One objective of BOREAS is to further the understanding of the spectral bi-directional reflectance of typical boreal ecosystem stands in the visible/near-infrared regime. An essential input for any canopy BRDF model is an accurate estimate of the average understory reflectance, both for sunlit and shaded conditions. These variables can be expected to vary seasonally because of species-dependent differences in the phenological cycle of foliar display. In response to these requirements, the average understory reflectance for the flux tower sites of both the NSA (Thompson, Manitoba) and the SSA (Candle Lake, Saskatchewan) Study Areas (NSA and SSA) was observed throughout the year during five field campaigns. This was done by measuring the nadir reflectance (400 to 850 nm) of sunlit and shaded understory (vegetation and snow cover) along a surveyed LAI transect line (Chen, RSS-07) at each site near solar noon and documenting a average site reflectance. Comparisons between sites reveal differences in the green and infrared regions of the spectra, because of the differing species in the understory for each site. Temporal (seasonal) variation for each site was also observed, indicating the changing flora mixtures and changing spectral signatures as the understory matures during the growing season.

    Access & Use Information

    Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

    Downloads & Resources

    Dates

    Metadata Created Date April 11, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date September 19, 2025

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NASA Data.json

    Other Data Resources

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Created Date April 11, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date September 19, 2025
    Publisher ORNL_DAAC
    Maintainer
    Identifier 10.3334/ORNLDAAC/304
    Data Last Modified 2025-09-10
    Category Earth Science
    Public Access Level public
    Bureau Code 026:00
    Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
    Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
    Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
    Harvest Object Id fa26fa0d-4ed2-4858-94e1-695cc2b991d6
    Harvest Source Id 58f92550-7a01-4f00-b1b2-8dc953bd598f
    Harvest Source Title NASA Data.json
    Homepage URL https://search.earthdata.nasa.gov/search?q=und_refl_304&ac=true
    Old Spatial {"WestBoundingCoordinate":-105.12,"NorthBoundingCoordinate":55.93,"EastBoundingCoordinate":-98.29,"SouthBoundingCoordinate":53.8},"CARTESIAN"
    Program Code 026:000
    Source Datajson Identifier True
    Source Hash 87b28464714764a64e993025f6c7749ef96eb0dc91a436d9388e017ddd5e4e14
    Source Schema Version 1.1
    Spatial
    Temporal 1994-02-06/1994-02-06

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