Lead : N PHILIPPON (IGE) & T CASTEL (BGS)

Light availability (LA) is a key factor for forest photosynthesis - satellite-based work by Philippon et al. (2019) suggests that LA for forest functioning in Gabon is 25% lower than in the rest of Central Africa but with a high fraction of diffuse radiation - and indirectly for forest water balance (WB) - Gabon also singularizes in terms of potential evapotranspiration (PET), which is estimated to be 15% lower than during the dry season in the rest of Central Africa .
LA and WB will be analysed at different space and time scales relying on (i) long-term in-situ measurements at synoptic stations, dedicated in-situ measurements at Bambidie (plus two weather stations in northern Congo for comparison), re-analysis and satellite data, and (ii) a simple two-reservoir water balance model (WBM) adapted to the region.

Updated on 13 May 2020