authority: gcos
slug: leaf-area-index
name: Leaf Area Index
domain: land
subdomain: biosphere
authority_id: gcos:leaf-area-index
external_ids:
  nvs_uri: null
  cf_standard_name: leaf_area_index
  iadopt_concepts:
    property: leaf-area-density
    entity: canopy
canonical_units: m2 m-2
gcos_requirement_tier:
  threshold: null
  breakthrough: null
  goal: null
description: |
  One-sided green leaf area per unit ground surface area, retrieved from
  MODIS, VIIRS, Sentinel-3 OLCI, PROBA-V and Sentinel-2. A primary input
  to land-surface, hydrology and crop models.
theme: vegetation
demos: []
status: documented
sources:
  - https://gcos.wmo.int/site/global-climate-observing-system-gcos/essential-climate-variables/leaf-area-index