LTER Zöbelboden, Austria, Leaf Area Index (LAI)

Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) measurements were conducted with the ACCUPAR LP-80 PAR/LAI Ceptometer (Decagon Decives, Inc.). The LAIs were calculated by an Excel macro-based LAI-calculator (https://www.metergroup.com/de/environment/produkte/accupar-lp-80/). For detailed information concerning the theory behind the calculation of the LAI see the manual of the ACCUPAR LP-80 PAR/LAI Ceptometer provided by Decagon Devices, Inc. (http://ictinternational.com/content/uploads/2014/03/AccuPAR-LP-80-Manual.pdf)

Prior to the belowcanopy measurements, the aboveground PAR was measured four-fold (each compass direction) at a single point at a non-forested area nearby the intensive plots. Belowcanopy PAR measurements were conducted at previously defined 15 points evenly spread across each intensive plot. At each point the PAR was measured fourfold (each compass direction). So, each belowcanopy PAR measurement campaign covered 60 single PAR measurements. Deviations from the defined numbers of measurements are stated in the data