SITES Spectral

SITES Spectral is part of the Swedish Infrastructure for Ecosystem Science (SITES), a national research infrastructure designed to enable high quality, field based ecosystem research. SITES Spectral focuses on data collection using remote sensing instruments and cameras installed near the ground, carried on UAVs (drones), and on satellites. Spectral data are collected at a variety of locations in Sweden and other countries, in collaboration with several universities and research institutes.

Near-ground installed phenological cameras (Phenocams) and multispectral sensors are used for continuous, year round measurements, generating consistent time series of observations. In addition to these fixed installations, regular drone flights are carried out to collect multispectral data over selected areas. The quality controlled data support ecosystem understanding across Sweden and are used for calibration and validation of remotely sensed products from space.

While remote sensing is often associated with satellite observations, near surface measurements make it possible to study specific sites in detail and to collect consistent time series regardless of cloud cover. Such observations play an important role in linking field based measurements with satellite derived products, including land surface phenology and vegetation productivity. Time-series data and camera images can also be used for assessing health and status of the vegetation.

SITES Spectral measurements are carried out at nine SITES research stations across Sweden, spanning a wide latitudinal gradient from Skåne in southern Sweden to Lappland in the north, where the northernmost station is located in Abisko. Detailed information about each research station, including geographic setting and ecosystem characteristics, is available on the SITES website. All data collected by SITES Spectral are openly available at the SITES data portal - data.fieldsites.se

SITES Spectral is hosted by the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Lund University and is conducted in collaboration with the University of Gothenburg, SLU, Uppsala University, Sydvatten and the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.