CALCULATION OF CANOPY BIDIRECTIONAL REFLECTANCE USING THE MONTE-CARLO METHOD

For a calculation of the plant canopy bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) the Monte Carlo method is used. The plant architecture is given by a rather universal mathematical model which allows to consider such structural parameters as canopy density and height, the number of leaves per plant, distance between leaves dimensions and orientations of leaves and stems, etc. , and their influence on the shape of the BRDF as a function of solar and view directions. To quantify these effects, a series of numerical experiments has been carried out. The information content of the BRDF about canopy architecture is the largest, if it is determined in the principal plane.