sCASE: A primary productivity monitoring system for the forests of North Pindus National Park (Epirus, Greece)

Abstract

sCASE is an automated continuous monitoring system that produces near real-time daily gross primary productivity (GPP) estimates of North Pindus National Park forests. The algorithm is based on the light use efficiency (ε) approach, incorporating species-specific maximum ε values (ε_o) and ε_o downscaling according to temperature, water scarcity and leaf developmental stage. sCASE was calibrated using a series of 2-year field ecophysiological measurements on the 4 dominant forest species of the Park and validated against a canopy photosynthesis model (R² = 0.9, RMSE = 1.29 g C m^-2 day^-1). sCASE offers a comprehensive view of the spatial distribution and the temporal progress of GPP and other products (e.g. LAI, FAPAR, ET_o) through a freely accessible online GIS platform (http://pindosgpp.bat.uoi.gr).

Keywords:

• Gross primary productivity
• light use efficiency
• remote sensing
• GIS
• MODIS