Open data sets on spectral properties of boreal forest components

Spectral libraries of different components forming forests – such as leaves, bark and forest floor – are needed in the development of remote sensing methods and land surface models, and for understanding the shortwave radiation regime and ecophysiological processes of forest canopies. This poster summarizes spectral libraries of boreal forest vegetation and lichens collected in several projects led by Aalto University. The spectral libraries comprise reflectance and transmittance spectra of leaves (or needles) of 25 tree species, reflectance spectra of tree bark, and reflectance spectra of different types of forest floor vegetation and lichens. The spectral libraries have been published as open data and are now readily available for the community to use.