The Relationship between NDVI and Forest Leaf Area Index in MODIS Land Product

NDVI has been used to estimate several ecological variables including leaf area index (LAI). Global MODIS LAI data are partially produced by empirical model that is based on the assumption of high correlation between NDVI and LAI. This study attempts to evaluate the MODIS empirical model by comparing with the result obtained from field LAI measurement and Landsat ETM+ reflectance. MODIS LAI product and ancillary data were analyzed over a small forest watershed near the Seoul metropolitan area. The relationship between NDVI of ETM+ and field measured LAI did not correspond to MODIS LAI estimation. Since the study area is mostly covered by very dense and fully closed forest, the correlation between NDVI and LAI might not be high. Although MODIS LAI product has great potential for global environment studies, it needs to be cautious to use them in regional and local area in particular for the forest of dense canopy situation.