1. Remotely-sensed photosynthetic
phenology and ecosystem
productivity studies informed by
tower eddy covariance CO2 fluxes
Presentation by
Natalia Restrepo-Coupe, Alfredo Huete, Kevin Davies, Jason Beringer,
James Cleverly, Derek Eamus, Eva van Gorsel, Lindsay Hutley, Ray Leuning

2. Motivation
Site-specific eddy covariance measurements rely on tools
like remote sensing products to scale CO2, energy and
H2O fluxes from local footprints (~1 – 4 km) to regions.
Flux tower data is a powerful validation tool of the
AusCover phenology products –they can inform if we are
able to capture the correct timing of green-up and other
transitional dates: Peak of Growing Season (POS), End of
Season (EOS), Length of Season (LOS) and derivatives

3. Motivation
Learn more about what we are measuring:
• What Vegetation Indices (VIs) mean? Qualitative it is
associated to greening and increase of photosynthetic
activity.
• Quantitatively?
• Relations between in-situ measurements of ecosystem
behavior and VIs are biome specific or one relation fits
all?
If RS products inform land surface models any improvements
on the understanding of the seasonality, phenology and
relations ecosystem capacity – VIs could translate on more
robust models.

4. Background

5. GEP GEP
Pc sat GEP
Pc sat
I EVI-2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1
LAI-2 -1
(gC m d ) (gC m d ) (gC -2 -1
(gC mm d d ) ) (gC m d ) (g
0
10
20
0
20
40
0
6
12
0.45
3.5
0.1
0.8
0
7
0
10
0
20
40
0
20 HSP
0.8 JFMAMJ J ASOND
0
0
2
4
0
0
0
2
4
12
24
12
24
0.8
0.6
0.2
0.5
0.8
100
400
700
100
LUE LUE
VI GEP/PAR
fPAR (-) NDVI GEP/PAR
(gC/MJ) PAR (gC/MJ)
fPAR (--)
(mmolCO2/mmol) (mmolCO2/mmol)
CS
(mmol m-2 s-1) (m
Challenge

6. GEP GEP
Pc sat GEP
Pc Pc sat
I EVI-2 -1 EVI -2 -1-1 -2 -1
-2 -1
LAI-2 -1
(gC m d ) LAI
(gC m d ) (gC -2
(gC mm d d ) ) (gC m dd ) )
(gC m (gC
(g
0
10
20
0
20
40
0
6
12
0.45
3.5
0.45
0.1
3.5
0
0.1
7
0.8
0
10
20
0
0
0
10
20
0
20
40
0
0.8 HSP
7JFMAMJ J ASOND
0.8 JFMAMJ J ASOND
0
0
2
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
12
24
12
24
12
24
0.8
0.6
0.2
0.5
0.8
0.6
0.2
0.5
0.8
100
400
700
100
LUE LUE
VI GEP/PAR
fPAR (-) fPAR (-)
NDVI GEP/PAR
NDVI GEP/PAR
(gC/MJ) (gC/MJ)
PAR (mmolCO /mmol) (
fPAR (--)
(mmolCO2/mmol)fPAR (--) (mmolCO /mmol)
CS 2 2
CS
(mmol m-2 s-1) (m
GEP GEP
Pc sat Pc
GEP Pc sat
I EVI-2 -1 EVI -2-1 -1
-2 -2 -1
-2 -1
Challenge
LAI -2 -1
(gC m d ) LAI
(gC m d ) (gC mm d d) ) (gC m dd ) )
(gC (gC m (gC
(g
0.45
0.45
3.5
0.1
3.5
0.8
0.1
0.8
0
0
10
200
0
20
7
400
0
10
6
120
0
10
20
20
40
0
0
20 TBR
7JFMAMJ J ASOND
0.8JFMAMJ J ASOND 0
0
0
0
2
4
0
0
0
2
4
0
12
24
12
24
12
24
0.8
0.6
0.2
0.5
0.6
0.8
0.2
0.5
0.8
100
400
700
100
LUE LUE
VI GEP/PAR
fPAR (-) fPAR (-)
NDVI GEP/PAR
NDVI GEP/PAR
(gC/MJ) (gC/MJ)
PAR (mmolCO /mmol) (
fPAR (--)
(mmolCO2/mmol)fPAR (--) (mmolCO2/mmol) 2
CS CS
(mmol m-2 s-1) (m

7. Methods

8. Methods

9. Methods

10. Methods

11. Methods
5
4
GEPsat
GEP (μmolCO2 m-2 s-1)
3
2
LUE
1 Pc
0
-1
-2
0 500 1000 1500
PAR (μmol m-2 s-1)

12. Methods
HSP
Aw
BSh
Cwa
ASP
BWh
Cfa
BWk
Csb CHO TBR
Cfb

13. Seasonality of productivity and
ecosystem drivers
12 700
(mmol m-2 s-1)
(gC m d )
HSP
-2 -1
GEP
PAR
6 400 HSP
Aw
0 100 BSh
40 4
Cwa
(gC m d )
-2 -1
ASP
(gC/MJ)
sat
LUE
GEP
20 2
BWh
Cfa
0 0
(mmolCO2/mmol)
20 24 BWk
(gC m d )
-2 -1
GEP/PAR
Csb CHO TBR
Pc
10 12 Cfb
0 0
0.8
0.8
NDVI
EVI
0.45 0.5

14. 20 24
(mmolCO2/mm
(gC m d )
-2 -1
GEP/PAR
Seasonality of productivity and
Pc
10 12
0 0 ecosystem drivers
0.8
HSP 0.8
NDVI
EVI
0.45 0.5 HSP
Aw
0.1 0.2
7 BSh
fPAR (--) Cwa
fPAR (-)
ASP
CS
0.6
LAI
3.5
BWh
Cfa
0 0
JFMAMJ J ASOND
BWk
Csb CHO TBR
Cfb

15. Seasonality of productivity and
ecosystem drivers
12 700
(mmol m-2 s-1)
(gC m d )
TBR
-2 -1
GEP
PAR
6 400 HSP
Aw
0 100
BSh
40 4
(gC m d )
Cwa
-2 -1
(gC/MJ)
ASP
sat
LUE
GEP
20 2
BWh
Cfa
0 0
(mmolCO2/mmol)
20 24 BWk
(gC m d )
-2 -1
GEP/PAR
Csb CHO TBR
Pc
10 12 Cfb
0 0
0.8
0.8
NDVI
EVI
0.45 0.5

16. ( 0 0
(mmolCO2/mmol)
20
Seasonality of productivity and
24
(gC m d )
-2 -1
GEP/PAR
ecosystem drivers
Pc
10 12
0 HSP 0
0.8
0.8 HSP
Aw
NDVI
EVI
0.45 0.5
BSh
0.1 0.2 Cwa
7 ASP
fPAR (--)
fPAR (-)
BWh
CS
0.6
LAI
3.5 Cfa
TMB
BWk
0 0
JFMAMJ J ASOND Csb CHO TBR
Cfb

17. Seasonality of productivity and
ecosystem drivers
12 700
(mmol m-2 s-1)
(gC m d )
ASP
-2 -1
GEP
PAR
HSP 6 400
Aw
BSh 0 100
40 Cwa 4
(gC m d )
ASP
-2 -1
(gC/MJ)
sat
LUE
GEP
BWh 20 2
Cfa
0 0
(mmolCO2/mmol)
BWk 20 24
(gC m d )
CHO
-2 -1
GEP/PAR
Csb TBR
Cfb
Pc
10 12
0 0
0.8
0.8
NDVI
EVI
0.45 0.5

18. 0 0
(mmolCO2/mmol)
20 24
(gC m d ) Seasonality of productivity and
-2 -1
GEP/PAR
Pc
10 12
0 0
ecosystem drivers
0.8
0.8
ASP
NDVI
HSP
EVI
0.45 0.5 Aw
0.1 0.2 BSh
7 Cwa
fPAR (--) ASP
fPAR (-)
CS
0.6
LAI
3.5 BWh
Cfa
0 0
JFMAMJ J ASOND BWk
Csb CHO TBR
Cfb

19. Seasonality of productivity and
ecosystem drivers
12 700
(gC m d )
CHO
-2 -1
HSP
GEP
Aw 6 400
BSh 0 100
Cwa 40 4
ASP
(gC m d )
-2 -1
sat
LUE
GEP
BWh 20 2
Cfa
0 0
BWk
20 24
CHO TBR
(gC m d )
Csb
-2 -1
Cfb
Pc
10 12
0 0
0.8
0.8
EVI
0.45 0.5

20. 6 400
G
P
(gC
Seasonality of productivity and
0
40
100
4
(gC m d )
ecosystem drivers20
-2 -1
(gC/MJ)
sat
LUE
GEP
2
0 0
HSP
(mmolCO2/mmol)
Aw 20 24
(gC m d )
-2 -1
GEP/PAR
Pc
BSh 10 12
Cwa
ASP
0 0
BWh 0.8
CHO 0.8
Cfa
NDVI
EVI
0.45 0.5
BWk
Csb CHO TBR
0.1 0.2
Cfb
7
fPAR (--)
fPAR (-)
CS
0.6
LAI
3.5
0 0
JFMAMJ J ASOND

21. Satellite products – CO2 flux
Are they synchronous?
Peak at the same time
Do they underestimate the amplitude of the
seasonal cycle
Hysteresis
Cross site

22. Satellite products – CO2 flux

23. Satellite products – CO2 flux
9 9 9 9
GEP (gC m-2 d-1)
GEP=4.017 LAI-2.2 GEP=22.16 fPAR-7.36 GEP=21.27 NDVI-7.86 GEP=26.04 EVI-4.37
p=5.1e-055 p=8.5e-031 p=1.3e-077 p=6.6e-079
r2=0.78 r2=0.6 r2=0.76 r2=0.78
4.5 HSP 4.5 HSP 4.5 HSP 4.5 HSP
0 0 0 0
0 1.5 3 0.2 0.5 0.8 0.2 0.5 0.8 0.1 0.35 0.6
LAI fPAR NDVI EVI
43 43
9 9 9 9
GEP (gC m-2 d-1)
GEP (gC m-2 d-1)
GEP=20.86 NDVI-8.44 GEP=28.29 EVI-5.21 GEP=-5815Green+383
GEP=-0.2638 LSTam+12.4 GEP=-196.5Red+17.7
GEP=0.3303 LSTpm+-3.26
p=6.7e-052 p=1.8e-052 p=0.64 p=7.3e-035
p=4.2e-03 p=3.7e-020
r2=0.81 r2=0.82 r2=0.0009 r2=0.47
r2=0.32 r2=0.27
4.5 HSP 4.5 HSP 4.5 HSP 4.5 HSP HSP
HSP
0 0 0 0
0.3 0.6 0.9 0.1 0.35 0.6 0
17.7 0.1
33.4 0.2
49.1 0
6.7 0.1
16.6 0.2
26.5
NDVI EVI Green43
LST Red43
LST
am pm
9 9 9
GEP (gC m-2 d-1)
GEP=-5815Green+383 GEP=-196.5Red+17.7 GEP=60.8 NIR-11.2
p=0.64 p=7.3e-035 p=7.3e-051
r2=0.0009 r2=0.47 r2=0.59
4.5 HSP 4.5 HSP 4.5 HSP
0 0 0
0 0.1 0.2 0 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.25 0.4
Green Red NIR43
43 43
9
GEP=60.8 NIR-11.2

24. Satellite products – CO2 flux
0.021 0.021
EVI HSP NDVI
( molCO /mmol)
EVIoz NDVIoz
GEP/PAR
2
0.011 0.011
0.001 0.001
J FMAMJ J A SOND J FMAMJ J A SOND
0.021
0.035 0.021
0.035
GreenEVI TBR LAI
NDVI
( molCO /mmol)
( molCO 2/mmol)
Greenoz
EVIoz LAIoz
NDVI
GEP/PAR
GEP/PAR
oz
2
0.011
0.0205 0.011
0.0205
0.001
0.006 0.001
0.006
J FJM A M J JJ A S O N D D
FMAM J A SON J JFF M A M JJ JAASS O N D
MAMJ OND
0.035 0.035

25. Satellite products – CO2 flux
2
RfPARcs
0.2
GEP HSP
Normalized Standard Deviation
Model and observations
0.4
1.5 are out of phase
0.6
1
fPARcs
R43 Model and observations
are in phase
0.8
0.5 LSTpm
NIR43
LSTam
fPAR LAI NDVI
EVI
0
0 0.5 1
Obs 1.5 2
Model understimates the Model overestimates the
amplitude of GEP amplitude of GEP
seasonal cycle. seasonal cycle.

26. Satellite products – CO2 flux
2 2
RfPARcs
0.2
0.2
GEP HSP GEP TBR
Normalized Standard Deviation
Normalized Standard Deviation
0.4
0.4
1.5 1.5 R
NIR
43
0.6 0.6
1 1 R43
fPARcs
R43 G
43
0.8 0.8
0.5 LSTpm 0.5
NIR43
LSTam LSTpm
LSTam
fPAR LAI NDVI
EVI
0 0 Obs
0 0.5 1
Obs 1.5 2 0 0.5 1 1.5 2

27. Satellite products – CO2 flux
2 2
0.2
0.2
GEP - EVI GEP/PAR - EVI
Normalized Standard Deviation
Normalized Standard Deviation
0.4
0.4
1.5 R 1.5 R
0.6 0.6
1 1
CHO 0.8 0.8
0.5 0.5
ASP TBR
ASP
HSP HSP
CHO
0 Obs 0 Obs
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 0 0.5 1 1.5 2

28. Satellite products – CO2 flux
Are they synchronous?
Peak at the same time
Do they underestimate the amplitude of the
seasonal cycle
Cross site
Hysteresis

29. Satellite products – CO2 flux
50 50
(mmolCO2/mmol)
(mmolCO /mmol)
GEP/PAR
GEP/PAR
2
25 25
0 0
0 0.4 0.8 0.2 0.6 1
EVI NDVI
MOD16 MOD16
50 50
(mmolCO /mmol)
(mmolCO /mmol)
GEP/PAR
GEP/PAR
2
2
25 25
0 0
0 4 8 0 0.5 1
LAI fPAR

30. Satellite products – CO2 flux
50 50
(mmolCO2/mmol)
(mmolCO /mmol)
GEP/PAR =122.6EVIMOD16+-25.3 GEP/PAR =52.07NDVIMOD16+-20.7
p=5.8e-61 r 2=0.51 p=1.4e-110 r 2=0.73
GEP/PAR
GEP/PAR
2
25 25
0 0
0 0.4 0.8 0.2 0.6 1
EVI NDVI
MOD16 MOD16
50 50
(mmolCO2/mmol)
(mmolCO /mmol)
GEP/PAR =4.32LAI+-0.148 GEP/PAR =34.17fPAR+-10
p=6.6e-104 r 2=0.69 p=1.1e-116 r 2=0.73
GEP/PAR
GEP/PAR
25 2 25
0 0
0 4 8 0 0.5 1
LAI fPAR

31. Satellite products – CO2 flux fPAR oz
2 2 2
Normalized Standard Deviation
Normalized Standard Deviation
Normalized Standard Deviation
fPA
0.2
0.2
0.2
GEP/PAR [HSP] GEP/PAR [ASP]
HS
0.4
0.4
0.4
1.5 R 1.5 1.5 R
0.6 0.6
1 1 1
fPAR
oz
0.8 0.8
0.5 NDVI 0.5 fPAR 0.5
fPAR oz fPAR EVI oz GreenNDVIoz Red oz NDVI
EVI
NDVI
fPAR
EVI Red NDVI Green
EVIoz EVI oz
RedGreenoz NDVI oz Green EVI Greenoz
0 Green oz 0
0 Obs
0 0.5 1
Obs 1.5 2 0 0.5 1
Obs 0
1.5 0.5
2 1
2 2
Normalized Standard Deviation
Normalized Standard Deviation
2 fPA
0.2
0.2
Normalized Standard Deviation
0.2
GEP/PAR [CHO] GEP/PAR [TBR] CH
0.4
0.4
0.4
1.5 R 1.5 1.5
R
0.6 0.6
1 1 1
Green
0.8 oz
0.8
0.5 0.5 EVIoz 0.5
fPAR
Red Green oz Red NDVI Green fPAR
EVIRed
fPAR EVI EVI Red
NDVI
Greenoz NDVI Green fPAR NDVI oz
NDVI EVIoz oz NDVI EVIoz
Greenoz oz
0 fPAR oz oz 0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 0 Obs 0 1.5 0.5 2 Obs
1
Obs 0 0.5 1

32. Satellite products – CO2 flux
Are they synchronous?
Peak at the same time
Do they underestimate the amplitude of the
seasonal cycle
Cross site
Hysteresis

33. (mmolCO2/mmol) (mmolCO2/mmol)
GEP/PAR GEP/PAR
1
11
21
1
11
21
0
0.2
(mmolCO2/mmol) (mmolCO2/mmol)
1
11
21
1
11
21
0
0.2
HSP HSP
fPAR fPAR
NDVI NDVI
0.6 0.6 1
0.3 0.3 0.6
GEP/PAR GEP/PAR
1
(mmolCO /mmol) (mmolCO /mmol)
0.6
2 2
GEP/PAR GEP/PAR
1
11
21
1
11
21
0
(mmolCO /mmol) (mmolCO /mmol)
0.6
2 2
1
11
21
1
11
21
0
2 0.6
0.3
LAI
EVI
LAI
EVI
2 3.4
0.3 0.6
3.4
0.6
GEP/PAR GEP/PAR
(mmolCO2/mmol) (mmolCO2/mmol)
5.5
5.5
0
0
11
11
0
0.2
ASP
0.3
0.4
fPAR
NDVI
0.6
0.6
GEP/PAR GEP/PAR
(mmolCO /mmol) (mmolCO /mmol)
2 2
5.5
5.5
0
0
11
11
0
0
Satellite products – CO2 flux
0.5
0.2
LAI
EVI
1
0.4

34. GEP/PAR GEP/PAR
(mmolCO2/mmol) (mmolCO2/mmol)
23.5
23.5
6
41
6
41
0
0.6
TBR
0.3
0.8
fPAR
NDVI
1
0.6
GEP/PAR GEP/PAR
(mmolCO /mmol) (mmolCO /mmol)
2 2
23.5
23.5
6
41
6
41
2
0.2
4.5
0.4
LAI
EVI
7
0.6
GEP/PAR GEP/PAR
(mmolCO /mmol) (mmolCO /mmol)
1 2 2
5
9
1
5
9
0
0.2
CHO
0.3
0.4
fPAR
NDVI
0.6
0.6
GEP/PAR GEP/PAR
(mmolCO /mmol) (mmolCO /mmol)
2 2
1
5
9
1
5
9
0
0.2
Satellite products – CO2 flux
0.5
0.2
LAI
EVI
0.8
0.4

35. Conclusions
MODIS Vis show are synchronous to measures
of ecosystem photosynthetic capacity
(GEP/PAR** and LUE)
Predictive power of RS data on describing
ecosystem photosynthetic activity when cross-
site values inform the regressions.

36. Acknowledgements
AusCover: Sydney node - Phenology validation
Ozflux: J. Beringer, D. Chittleborough, J. Cleverly, D.
Eamus, E. van Gorsel, L. Hutley, R. Leuning, W. Meyer, G.
Whiteman.
ANDS project AP28 Primary production in space and time
I. C. Prentice e et al.
ARC DP110105479: Integrating remote sensing,
landscape flux measurements, and phenology to
understand the impacts of climate change on Australian
landscapes.

37. Thank you

38. Seasonality of physical drivers
HSP
Aw
BSh
1100 36 Cwa
ASP
HSP
Jan Savanna
SW (W m )
-2
Jul
BWh
Ta ( C)
550 25 Cfa
in
BWk
0 Csb 14 CHO TBR
00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00
5 11 Cfb
NEE (gC m d )
-2 -1
VPD (kPa)
2.5 -4
Jan
Jul
0 -19
00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00

39. Seasonality of physical drivers
HSP
Aw
BSh
1100 (c) Mulga 36 Cwa
ASP
Jan
HSP
SW (W m )
-2
Jul
BWh
Ta ( C)
550 25 Cfa
in
BWk
0 Csb 14 CHO TBR
00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00
5 11 Cfb
NEE (gC m d )
-2 -1
VPD (kPa)
2.5 -4
Jan
Jul
0 -19
00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00

40. Seasonality of physical drivers
HSP
Aw
BSh
1100 36 Cwa
(d) Malle
ASP
Jan
HSP
SW (W m )
-2
Jul
BWh
Ta ( C)
550 25 Cfa
in
BWk
0 Csb 14 CHO TBR
00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00
5 11 Cfb
NEE (gC m d )
-2 -1
VPD (kPa)
2.5 -4
Jan
Jul
0 -19
00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00

41. Seasonality of physical drivers
1000 24
Jan
TBR
SW (W m )
-2
Jul
Ta ( C)
500 11 HSP
Wet schlerophill
in
Aw
0 -2 BSh
00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00
Cwa
2 9 ASP
NEE (gC m d )
-2 -1
VPD (kPa)
BWh
1 -7 Cfa
Jan
BWk
Jul
0 Csb -23 CHO TBR
00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00
Cfb