Leaf Area Index

Benefits

8-daily, free. Pre-processed to LAI with standardized, accepted guideline document.

Limitations

Steep learning curve for a non-satellite expert, e.g., using the Google Earth Engine requires some investment in time.

Applicability for Northland

Yes, applicable as regionwide dynamic coverage of vegetation properties for use in hydrologic modeling.

Techniques applying optical data will be limited in coverage and temporal granularity by the persistent cloud cover in the region, particularly during the winter months. Mature cloud-masking techniques are directly available for open access multispectral data (e.g. Landsat and Sentinel-2). When using commercial data, care must be taken to ensure that there is sufficiently cloud free imagery available, as cloud masking is not as mature, and ordering a large volume of imagery to ensure complete cloud free coverage between multiple observations can become cost prohibitive.