Question 8.2: A forest canopy with a leaf area index of 3.0 intercepted ab...
A forest canopy with a leaf area index of 3.0 intercepted about 80% of the incident direct solar radiation when the solar elevation was 60°. Determine whether the leaf angle distribution function was spherical or vertical (cylindrical). What assumptions about the foliage properties have you needed to make, and how might they influence interception in a “real” situation?
When β = 60◦, \mathcal{K} _{s} would be 0.5/ sin 60°(=0.577) if the leaf distribution was spherical, and 2( cot 60◦)/π(= 0.368) if the distribution was cylindrical.
The observed S(L)/S(0) = 1 − 0.8 = 0.2 = exp (−\mathcal{K} _{s} × 3). Hence observed transmission corresponds to \mathcal{K} _{s} = − ln 0.2/3 = 0.54, so the distribution most closely corresponds to spherical.
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