# The effect of elevated CO2 on hyperspectral leaf reflectance in mature trees

## TL;DR

Mature oak trees exposed to higher CO2 levels show no major changes in leaf reflectance but have altered pigment ratios.

## Contribution

The study reveals that elevated CO2 affects pigment ratios in mature oak leaves without changing overall reflectance.

## Key findings

- Elevated CO2 does not significantly alter overall leaf reflectance in mature oak trees.
- Elevated CO2 increases the Plant Senescence Reflectance Index (PSRI), indicating a shift in chlorophyll to carotene ratios.

## Abstract

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.