Photoprotection dynamics observed at leaf level from fast temporal reflectance changes

Vegetation dynamically reacts to the available photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) by adjusting the photosynthetic apparatus to either a light harvesting or a photoprotective modus. When activating the photoprotection mechanism, either minor or major pigment-protein interactions may occur at the leaf level, resulting in different light absorption and consequently reflectance intensities. The reflectance changes were measured during sudden illumination transients designed to provoke fast adaptation to high irradiance. Different spectral reflectance change features were observed during different stages of photoprotection activation, extending over part of the visible spectral range (i.e. 490-650 nm). Due to this multiple wavelength reflectance modification, which affects also the reference band at 570 nm, the commonly used Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI) is unable to trace and quantify such strong photoprotection mechanism. To quantify the entire photoprotection with a required accuracy, the spectral changes in the full visible range must be characterized

In vivo photoprotection mechanisms observed from leaf spectral absorbance changes showing VIS-NIR slow-induced conformational pigment bed changes

Regulated heat dissipation under excessive light comprises a complexity of mechanisms, whereby the supramolecular light-harvesting pigment-protein complex (LHC) shifts state from light harvesting towards heat dissipation, quenching the excess of photo-induced excitation energy in a non-photochemical way. Based on whole-leaf spectroscopy measuring upward and downward spectral radiance fluxes, we studied spectrally contiguous (hyperspectral) transient time series of absorbance A(λ,t) and passively induced chlorophyll fluorescence F(λ,t) dynamics of intact leaves in the visible and near-infrared wavelengths (VIS-NIR, 400-800 nm) after sudden strong natural-like illumination exposure. Besides light avoidance mechanism, we observed on absorbance signatures, calculated from simultaneous reflectance R(λ,t) and transmittance T(λ,t) measurements as A(λ,t) = 1 − R(λ,t) − T(λ,t), major dynamic events with specific onsets and kinetical behaviour. A consistent well-known fast carotenoid absorbance feature (500-570 nm) appears within the first seconds to minutes, seen from both the reflected (backscattered) and transmitted (forward scattered) radiance differences. Simultaneous fast Chl features are observed, either as an increased or decreased scattering behaviour during quick light adjustment consistent with re-organizations of the membrane. The carotenoid absorbance feature shows up simultaneously with a major F decrease and corresponds to the xanthophyll conversion, as quick response to the proton gradient build-up. After xanthophyll conversion (t = 3 min), a kinetically slower but major and smooth absorbance increase was occasionally observed from the transmitted radiance measurements as wide peaks in the green (~ 550 nm) and the near-infrared (~ 750 nm) wavelengths, involving no further F quenching. Surprisingly, in relation to the response to high light, this broad and consistent VIS-NIR feature indicates a slowly induced absorbance increase with a sigmoid kinetical behaviour. In analogy to sub-leaf-level observations, we suggest that this mechanism can be explained by a structure-induced low-energy-shifted energy redistribution involving both Car and Chl. These findings might pave the way towards a further non-invasive spectral investigation of antenna conformations and their relations with energy quenching at the intact leaf level, which is, in combination with F measurements, of a high importance for assessing plant photosynthesis in vivo and in addition from remote observations

Atmospheric correction algorithm for POLDER data. Case study: DAISEX 1999 campaign

RESUMEN Este artículo presenta un algoritmo para corregir los efectos de la atmósfera de la reflectividad multiangulare hiperespectral de POLDER, prestando especial atención al efecto de los aerosoles. Los datos fueron adquiridos durante la campaña DAISEX-99 de la Agencia Espacial Europea. El algoritmo está basado en la inversión de la reflectividad medida en dos pasos. Primero, se invierte la reflectividad de POLDER para determinar los tres parámetros de la función de distribución de la reflectividad bidireccional de la superficie (BRDF). Estos valores son los datos de entrada de la superficie para el segundo paso. En este segundo paso, invertimos de nuevo la reflectividad para obtener tres parámetros de la superficie y cuatro parámetros de los aerosoles para localidades rurales y cinco en el resto. Los parámetros de los aerosoles son la densidad de partículas de los componentes básicos de los aerosoles: insoluble en agua, soluble en agua, hollín, sales marina es modo de acumulación y sales marinas en modo grueso. Por tanto, la salida del algoritmo es el contenido de varios componentes básicos y los parámetros del modelo de BRDF. Aplicando la teoría de dispersión de Mie hemos obtenido el espesor óptico de los aerosoles (AOD) y comparado el resultado con los valores determinados a partir de medidas de extinción de la radiación solar a nivel del suelo. Se ha obtenido como condición de contorno para la inversión la información disponible sobre los aerosoles obtenida a partir de las retrotrayectorias de las masas de aire. Utilizando esta información mostramos que los valores del AOD están más próximos a la medida y que por tanto el funcionamiento del algoritmo es mejor. ABSTRACT This paper presents an algorithm to correct the effects of the atmosphere of POLDER hyperspectral and multiangular reflectance, paying particular emphasis to the aerosol effect. The data were acquired during the European Space Agency campaign DAISEX-99. The algorithm is based on the inversion of measured reflectance in two steps. First, we invert the POLDER reflectances to determine the three parameters of a bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of the surface. These values are the first guess of the surface parameters for the second step. In the second step, we invert again the reflectance to obtain three surface parameters and four aerosol variables, in rural sites, and five variables in the rest. The aerosol variables are the particle density of the basic aerosol components: water-insoluble, water soluble and soot particles, sea-salt in accumulation mode and sea-salt in coarse mode. Thus, the algorithm output is the content of some aerosol basic components and the BRDF parameters of the surface. Applying the Mie scattering theory we have obtained the aerosol optical depth (AOD) of the retrieved aerosols and compared it with the values obtained from ground-based solar irradiance extinction measurements. The available information about the aerosols coming from airmass backtrajectories and isobaric maps provides a boundary condition for the inversion. Using this information we show that the AOD values are closer to the measured values and thus the performance of the algorithm is better. icon

A New Algorithm for the Retrieval of Sun Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence of Water Bodies Exploiting the Detailed Spectral Shape of Water-Leaving Radiance

Sun induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SICF) emitted by phytoplankton provides considerable insights into the vital role of the carbon productivity of the earth's aquatic ecosystems. However, the SICF signal leaving a water body is highly affected by the high spectral variability of its optically active constituents. To disentangle the SICF emission from the water-leaving radiance, a new high spectral resolution retrieval algorithm is presented, which significantly improves the fluorescence line height (FLH) method commonly used so far. The proposed algorithm retrieves the reflectance without SICF contribution by the extrapolation of the reflectance from the adjacent regions. Then, the SICF emission curve is obtained as the difference of the reflectance with SICF, the one actually obtained by any remote sensor (apparent reflectance), and the reflectance without SICF, the one estimated by the algorithm (true reflectance). The algorithm first normalizes the reflectance spectrum at 780 nm, following the similarity index approximation, to minimize the variability due to other optically active constituents different from chlorophyll. Then, the true reflectance is estimated empirically from the normalized reflectance at three wavelengths using a machine learning regression algorithm (MLRA) and a cubic spline fitting adjustment. Two large reflectance databases, representing a wide range of coastal and ocean water components and scattering conditions, were independently simulated with the radiative transfer model HydroLight and used for training and validation of the MLRA fitting strategy. The best results for the high spectral resolution SICF retrieval were obtained using support vector regression, with relative errors lower than 2% for the SICF peak value in 81% of the samples. This represents a significant improvement with respect to the classic FLH algorithm, applied for OLCI bands, for which the relative errors were higher than 40% in 59% of the samples

Impact of Structural, Photochemical and Instrumental Effects on Leaf and Canopy Reflectance Variability in the 500-600 nm Range

Current rapid technological improvement in optical radiometric instrumentation provides an opportunity to develop innovative measurements protocols where the remote quantification of the plant physiological status can be determined with higher accuracy. In this study, the leaf and canopy reflectance variability in the PRI spectral region (i.e., 500-600 nm) is quantified using different laboratory protocols that consider both instrumental and experimental set-up aspects, as well as canopy structural effects and vegetation photoprotection dynamics. First, we studied how an incorrect characterization of the at-target incoming radiance translated into an erroneous vegetation reflectance spectrum and consequently in an incorrect quantification of reflectance indices such as PRI. The erroneous characterization of the at-target incoming radiance translated into a 2% overestimation and a 31% underestimation of estimated chlorophyll content and PRI-related vegetation indexes, respectively. Second, we investigated the dynamic xanthophyll pool and intrinsic Chl vs. Car long-term pool changes affecting the entire 500-600 nm spectral region. Consistent spectral behaviors were observed for leaf and canopy experiments. Sun-adapted plants showed a larger optical change in the PRI range and a higher capacity for photoprotection during the light transient time when compared to shade-adapted plants. Outcomes of this work highlight the importance of well-established spectroscopy sampling protocols to detect the subtle photochemical features which need to be disentangled from the structural and biological effects

Retrieval of canopy water content of different crop types with two new hyperspectral indices: Water Absorption Area Index and Depth Water Index

Crop canopy water content (CWC) is an essential indicator of the crop's physiological state. While a diverse range of vegetation indices have earlier been developed for the remote estimation of CWC, most of them are defined for specific crop types and areas, making them less universally applicable. We propose two new water content indices applicable to a wide variety of crop types, allowing to derive CWC maps at a large spatial scale. These indices were developed based on PROSAIL simulations and then optimized with an experimental dataset (SPARC03; Barrax, Spain). This dataset consists of water content and other biophysical variables for five common crop types (lucerne, corn, potato, sugar beet and onion) and corresponding top-of-canopy (TOC) reflectance spectra acquired by the hyperspectral HyMap airborne sensor. First, commonly used water content index formulations were analysed and validated for the variety of crops, overall resulting in a R2 lower than 0.6. In an attempt to move towards more generically applicable indices, the two new CWC indices exploit the principal water absorption features in the near-infrared by using multiple bands sensitive to water content. We propose the Water Absorption Area Index (WAAI) as the difference between the area under the null water content of TOC reflectance (reference line) simulated with PROSAIL and the area under measured TOC reflectance between 911 and 1271 nm. We also propose the Depth Water Index (DWI), a simplified four-band index based on the spectral depths produced by the water absorption at 970 and 1200 nm and two reference bands. Both the WAAI and DWI outperform established indices in predicting CWC when applied to heterogeneous croplands, with a R2 of 0.8 and 0.7, respectively, using an exponential fit. However, these indices did not perform well for species with a low fractional vegetation cover (<30%). HyMap CWC maps calculated with both indices are shown for the Barrax region. The results confirmed the potential of using generically applicable indices for calculating CWC over a great variety of crops

Towards the quantitative and physically-based interpretation of solar-induced vegetation fluorescence retrieved from global imaging

Due to emerging high spectral resolution, remote sensing techniques and ongoing developments to retrieve the spectrally resolved vegetation fluorescence spectrum from several scales, the light reactions of photosynthesis are receiving a boost of attention for the monitoring of the Earth's carbon balance. Sensor-retrieved vegetation fluorescence (from leaf, tower, airborne or satellite scale) originating from the excited antenna chlorophyll a molecule has become a new quantitative biophysical vegetation parameter retrievable from space using global imaging techniques. However, to retrieve the actual quantum efficiencies, and hence a true photosynthetic status of the observed vegetation, all signal distortions must be accounted for, and a high-precision true vegetation reflectance must be resolved. ESA's upcoming Fluorescence Explorer aims to deliver such novel products thanks to technological and instrumental advances, and by sophisticated approaches that will enable a deeper understanding of the mechanics of energy transfer underlying the photosynthetic process in plant canopies and ecosystems

Recensiones [Revista de Historia Económica Año VII Invierno 1989 n. 1 pp. 219-253]

Linda Newson. The Cost Of Conquest. Indian decline in Honduras under the Spanish rule e Indian survival in colonial Nicaragua (Por Pedro Pérez Herrero).-- Pedro Rodríguez Campomanes. Reflexiones sobre el comercio español a Indias. (Por Luis Perdices Blas).-- Josep Fontana y otros. El comercio libre entre España y América Latina, 1765- 1824 (Por Andrés José Moreno Mengíbar).-- David-Sven Reher. Familia, población y sociedad en la provincia de Cuenca, 1700- 1970 (Por Concepción De Castro).-- Harvey J. Graff. The labyrinths of literacy. Reflections on literacy past and present (Por Clara E. Núñez).-- Bernard Elbaum y William Lazonick (Eds.) The decline of the Brittish Economy (Por Antonio F. Cubel Montesinos).-- Antonio Gómez Mendoza. Ferrocarril y mercado interior, Vol. 1: cereales, harinas y vinos, y Vol. 2: Manufacturas textiles, materias textiles, minerales, combustibles y metales (Por James Simpson).-- Carmen Sanchís Deusa. El transporte en el País Valenciano. Carreteras y ferrocarriles (Por Javier Vidal Olivares).-- José Manuel Naredo. La economía en evolución. Historia y perspectivas de las categorías básicas del pensamiento Eeconómico (Por Manuel Santos Redondo).-- Roger Backhouse. Historia del análisis económico moderno (Por Fernando Méndez Ibisate).-- William N. Parker (Ed.). Economic History and the modern economist (Por Gabriel Tortella)Publicad

Clustering of Dietary Patterns and Lifestyles among Spanish Children in the EsNuPI Study

Dietary patterns (DPs) are known to be tied to lifestyle behaviors. Understanding DPs and their relationships with lifestyle factors can help to prevent children from engaging in unhealthy dietary practices. We aimed to describe DPs in Spanish children aged 1 to <10 years and to examine their associations with sociodemographic and lifestyle variables. The consumption of toddler and young children milk formulas, enriched and fortified milk within the Spanish pediatric population is increasing, and there is a lack of evidence whether the consumption of this type of milk is causing an impact on nutrient intakes and if they are helping to reach the nutrient recommendations. Within the Nutritional Study in the Spanish Pediatric Population (EsNuPI), we considered two study cohorts and three different age groups in three year-intervals in each of them. The study cohort included 740 children in a representative sample of the urban non-vegan Spanish population and 772 children in a convenience cohort of adapted milk consumers (AMS) (including follow-on formula, toddler’s milk, growing up milk, and fortified and enriched milks) who provided information about sociodemographics, lifestyle, and dietary habits; a food frequency questionnaire was used for the latter. Principal component analysis was performed to identify DPs from 18 food groups. Food groups and sociodemographic/lifestyle variables were combined through a hierarchical cluster algorithm. Three DPs predominated in every age group and study sample: a palatable energy-dense food dietary pattern, and two Mediterranean-like DPs. However, children from the AMS showed a predominant dietary pattern markedly related to the Mediterranean diet, with high consumption of cereals, fruits and vegetables, as well as milk and dairy products. The age of children and certain lifestyle factors, namely level of physical activity, parental education, and household income, correlated closely with the dietary clusters. Thus, the findings provide insight into designing lifestyle interventions that could reverse the appearance of unhealthy DPs in the Spanish child population