Angular distribution of radiation beneath forest canopies using a CCD-radiometer

An astronomical digital camera is equipped with a fish-eye lens and exchangeable filters to study the fine angular structure of radiation field in forests in the red and near infrared (NIR) spectral bands. A few examples of the angular distribution of downward radiances in conifer and broadleaf forests are given. The results of field measurements are compared with the spectral flux measurements by a field radiometer and with the calculations of radiance by a combined geometric-optical/radiative transfer (RT) model. The test measurements demonstrated that the hemispheric-view imaging radiometer is a good tool to validate canopy RT models.