Using MODIS derived fPAR with ground based flux tower measurements to derive the light use efficiency for two Canadian peatlands

• We used satellite remote sensing data; fractionof photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by vegetation(fPAR) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrora-diometer (MODIS) in combination with tower eddy covari-ance and meteorological measurements to characterise theLight Use Efficiency parameter (ε)variability and the maxi-mumε(εmax)for two contrasting Canadian peatlands. Eight-day MODISfPAR data were acquired for the Mer Bleue(2000 to 2003) and Western Peatland (2004). Flux towereddy covariance and meteorological measurements were in-tegrated to the same eight-day time stamps as the MODISfPAR data. A light use efficiency model: GPP =ε×APAR(where GPP is Gross Primary Productivity and APAR is ab-sorbed photosynthetically active radiation) was used to cal-culateε. Theεmaxvalue for each year (2000 to 2003) at theMer Bleue bog ranged from 0.58 g C MJ−1to 0.78 g C MJ−1and was 0.91 g C MJ−1in 2004, for the Western Peatland.The average growing seasonεfor the Mer Bleue bog forthe four year period was 0.35 g C MJ−1and for the West-ern Peatland in 2004 was 0.57 g C MJ−1. The average snowfree period for the Mer Bleue bog over the four years was 0.27 g C MJ−1and for the Western Peatland in 2004 was0.39 g C MJ−1. Using the light use efficiency method wecalculated theεmaxand the annual variability inεfor twoCanadian peatlands. We determined that temperature was agrowth-limiting factor at both sites Vapour Pressure Deficit(VPD) however was not. MODISfPAR is a useful tool forthe characterization ofεat flux tower sites.

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