.jpg "Blue Spruce / Dan Pernokis 2014")
ESA Earth Explorer 8
FLEX/Sentinel 3 Tandem Mission
FLEX Bridge Study
ESA FLEX Earth Explorer 8 Concept / ESA Image
.jpg "CANADA: P&M Technologies (PMT) – Prime Contractor"){kind=logo}
.jpg "GERMANY: Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ)"){kind=logo}
.jpg "SPAIN: University of Valčncia (UVAL)"){kind=logo}
.png "ITALY: University of Bologna (UNIBO)"){kind=logo}
_czech.jpg "CZECH REPUBLIC: Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic – Global Change Research Centre (CzechGlobe) (ASCR-GCRC)"){kind=logo}
.jpg "The NETHERLANDS: University of Twente Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (UT-ITC)"){kind=logo}
.jpg "SWITZERLAND: University of Zurich (UZH)"){kind=logo}
.png "The UNITED KINGDOM: University College London (UCL)"){kind=logo}
.jpg "ITALY: University of Milano Bicocca (UNIMIB)"){kind=logo}
Nine organizations from eight countries
were involved in the FLEX Bridge Study.
Click the logos to visit their websites.
About FLEX/Sentinel 3
ESA's FLEX – now also known as Earth Explorer 8 – will be the first mission designed to observe fluorescence by using a novel technique measuring the main part of the chlorophyll fluorescence spectrum that originates from the core of the photosynthetic machinery. This offers the opportunity to derive the photosynthetic activity of the terrestrial vegetation layer. Therefore, FLEX observations will provide a new possibility to assess the dynamics of actual photosynthesis through sun-induced fluorescence. The enhanced information content from the spectrum originating from the two different photosystems offers a great advancement over current capabilities that can only detect potential photosynthesis as derived from passive reflectance measurements by conventional land surface monitoring satellites.
The FLEX mission aims to provide global maps of vegetation fluorescence, which can be converted into an indicator of photosynthetic activity. These data would improve our understanding of how much carbon is stored in plants and their role in the carbon and water cycles.
By flying in tandem with Sentinel-3, the mission would work in combination with Sentinel's Ocean and Land Colour Instrument and Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer to improve models of future atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
About the European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe's gateway to space, with the mission to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA undertakes programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country, keeping Europe at the forefront of global space activities.
For further information, please visit www.ESA.int
About Chlorophyll Fluorescence
The potential of fluorescence to serve as an early indicator of stress – that is, before damage is irreversible – is a major aspect to be considered in the exploitation of FLEX measurements, since reflectance changes often are detectable only in dramatic and/or advanced cases of physiological strain when remediation likely is too late.
To read a 50-year review of Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF), click HERE.
About the FLEX Bridge Study
The FLEX Bridge Study advanced the work of the PS Study and PARCS projects by addressing priorities identified in these studies and in ongoing FLEX preparatory activities. The goal of the FLEX Bridge Study was to optimize approaches for SIF retrievals and applications in the assessment of photosynthesis and stress status in terrestrial vegetation, including the development of a calibration/validation strategy for FLEX products.
Scientific objectives of the study were:
- To address priorities identified by previous studies and in ongoing FLEX preparatory activities.
- To optimize the fluorescence retrieval algorithm developed under the PARCS project.
- To optimize the photosynthesis retrieval model (SCOPE v1.53) and its related algorithm developed under the PS Study.
- To consolidate and develop retrievals for additional Level 2 data products.
- To further exploit applications in photoynthesis modelling and stress detection.
- To develop a calibration/validation strategy for FLEX products.
A key finding in our previous work is the inherent value of having both the red and the far-red fluorescence emission peaks for applications. This underscores the unique advantages of FLEX and its FLORIS sensor which will be optimized to extract these spectral features with appropriate spatial and spectral detail. Furthermore, visible plant colour does not matter to fluorescence.
FLEX Bridge formed a foundation for subsequent science & applications development during mission development and deployment.
To read or download the Final Project Report, see below.
Find out more about Earth Explorer 8 by clicking HERE (or HERE).
You can visit the ESA FLEX Project Page by clicking HERE.
FLEX Bridge Study Project – Final Report
2014 FLEX/Sentinel-3 Tandem Mission FLEX Bridge Study – FINAL REPORT
PMT / Gina Mohammed – 2016-01-14
Gina H. Mohammed (Study Manager), Roberto Colombo, José Moreno, Christiaan van der Tol, Uwe Rascher; Alexander Ač, Luis Alonso, Marco Celesti, Sergio Cogliati, Alexander Damm, Dominic Fawcett, José Gomez-Dans, Claudio Henry, Philip Lewis, Natasha MacBean, Federico Magnani, Jacques Malaprade, Maria Matveeva, Julie Olejnícková, Dan Pernokis, Francisco Pinto, Sabrina Raddi, Nastassia Rajh Vilfan, Juan Pablo Rivera, Micol Rossini, Neus Sabater, Anke Schickling, Carolina Tenjo, Wout Verhoef, Jochem Verrelst, Jorge Vicent Servera; Matthias Drusch (ESA/ESTEC Technical Officer).
Acknowledgements: Gustau Camps-Valls, Daniel Kovác, MaPilar Cendrero Mateo, Silvia Garbari, Luis Guanter, Ari Kornfeld, Jordi Muńoz-Marí, Caroline Nichol, Cinzia Panigada, Patrick Rademske, Fabian Schneider, Giulia Tagliabue, Sebastian Wieneke, and Mat Williams; FLEX Mission Advisory Group, including Yves Goulas, Andreas Huth, Elizabeth (Betsy) Middleton, Franco Miglietta, and Ladislav Nedbal; ESA: Stefan Kraft, Umberto Del Bello, and Dirk Schüettemeyer.
The FB Study has advanced approaches for retrieval & applications of solar-induced fluorescence (SIF)
for assessment of photosynthesis & stress status in terrestrial vegetation, including development of a calibration/validation
strategy for FLEX products.
Specific advances include:
(i) optimisation of SIF retrieval algorithms, formalisation of fluorescence-derived indices, and development of
biophysical products;
(ii) SIF-photosynthesis model improvements and evaluation of data assimilation techniques;
(iii) testing of stress indices, extension of the range of potential applications, and evaluation of non-photochemical
protection mechanisms; and
(iv) development of calibration/validation strategies, including metrics for validation error & product accuracies,
definition of FLEX Level 2/3 products and their validation plan, and definition of a common protocol and
state-of-the-art instruments to be used for estimation of fluorescence in the context of cal/val activities.
This activity now forms the foundation for subsequent science & applications development during
FLEX mission development & deployment.
Whereas much of the space-based SIF detection to date has focused on the far-red fluorescence – owing to the fact that the sensors were not specialised for full fluorescence retrievals – current information is incomplete and limits the ability to derive important interpretive information for identifying & tracking stress effects and also for quantification of photosynthetic rates. Both the visible and near-infrared spectra are important for retrieval of both red and far-red fluorescence peaks, peak wavelength positions & shifts, and ancillary indices such as PRI and NDVI (or EVI).
The FULL REPORT file contains the Abstract and Executive Summary (and the latest Errata sheet if applicable),
although these are also provided as separate files. The Cover Title Page is intended only for printing a cover on cardstock,
so it is not included within the main document.
To download an item, right-click the VIEW link and use your web browser's "Save As" or "Save Link As" function.
The Final Report is laid out with page parity (all sections start on an odd page), so there are alternating blank pages at the very beginning of the PDF file.
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