The effect of elevated CO 2 on hyperspectral leaf reflectance in mature trees

Journal article

Key message: Experimentally elevated CO2 does not significantly alter the overall leaf reflectance of mature Quercus robur L., but increases Plant Senescence Reflectance Index (PSRI) suggesting a change in the ratio of chlorophyll to carotene content. Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations, driven by anthropogenic emissions, are projected to reach 550 ppm by 2050. Elevated CO2 (eCO2) is expected to have a fertilisation effect on forests, influencing productivity, water relations, and phenology. However, the impact of eCO2 on leaf reflectance in mature forests remains poorly understood, despite its critical role in radiative transfer processes and remote sensing of forest health. Utilising the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiment, we investigated the hyperspectral leaf reflectance of 180-year-old Quercus robur L. trees exposed to eCO2 for 7 years. Our results demonstrate that overall leaf reflectance under eCO2 is similar to that of leaves exposed to ambient CO2, but the Plant Senescence Reflectance Index (PSRI) is significantly higher under eCO2. This index relates to the ratio of foliar chlorophyll and carotene pigments. These findings suggest that Q. robur reflectance will not significantly shift under future CO2 conditions, but the relative content of pigments will change, altering the reflectance of specific wavelengths and providing insights into the leaf level physiological and phenological responses of mature trees to eCO2.

Authors: Lee Jones, A; Gardner, A; Hayes, F; Pfrang, C; Jeffers, ES

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Springer
• Journal: Trees More from this journal
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 4
• Article number: 69
• Publication date: 2025-07-10
• Acceptance date: 2025-06-30
• DOI: 10.1007/s00468-025-02650-w
• EISSN: 1432-2285
• ISSN: 0931-1890
• Language: English
• Keywords: Spectroscopy; Forests; Vegetation indices; Leaf reflectance; Climate change; Forest health