Estimation of crown volume for a geometric radiation model from detailed measurements of tree structure

摘要

A stochastic statistical reconstruction model of gray alder (Alnus incana) was used to describe the architecture of a 5-year-old stand in Toravere, Estonia. Using the modelled distribution of foliage, crown volume for alder trees was calculated. As the distribution of foliage in alder crowns was very inhomogeneous and leaf area density decreased rapidly with distance from the stem, the crown threshold alpha was defined as the fraction of foliage contained in the crown volume. Using different values of alpha, crowns of different shapes and sizes were generated.