High spectral resolution fluorescence lidar: three years of experiments on vegetation

Successful experiments demonstrated the usefulness of laser induced fluorescence in the monitoring of vegetation. In order to better investigate the link between fluorescence and plant physiology, in vivo experiments under controlled conditions were carried out for different kinds of samples and vegetation stresses. This paper describes the employed measurement technique, and reports on the experimental results obtained during the last three years both in laboratory and in field. The data mainly refer to laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence lidar and passive remote sensing measurements compared with climatic and physiological parameters. Further research work is in progress for a full understanding of the physiological processes monitorable with fluorescence techniques.