Comparing ground below-canopy and satellite spectral data for an improved and integrated forest phenology monitoring system

Phenology monitoring allows a better understanding of forest functioning and climate impacts. Satellite in-dicators are used to upscale ground phenological observations, but often differential responses are observed, anddata availability can be limited. In view of climate impacts, new tools capable to detect rapid phenologicalchanges and to work at single species level are needed. This research compares indices derived by the Tree-Talker© (TT + ) below canopy upward-looking spectral data and Sentinel 2 satellite data, used to assess thephenological behavior and changepoints in several European beech forests. Overall, a mismatch between theinformation derived by the two sensor types is evidenced, with main differences in: start/end and length ofseason and phenology changepoints; larger variability captured by TT + with respect to Sentinel 2 especially inthe leaf on period; mixed signal response from multiple vegetation layers in Sentinel 2 data. The complemen-tarity of satellite and TT + indices allow exploring the phenological responses from different vegetation layers.TT + higher temporal resolution demonstrates precision in capturing the phenological changepoints in beechforests, especially if satellite image availability is limited by cloud cover and leads to miss critical phenologicaldates. The best settings for TT + data collection and the advantages to have two spectral data sources forimproved forest phenology monitoring are also commented. The TT+, collecting additional tree parameters, canbe a valuable tool for an integrated monitoring system based on spectral signals from above and below thecanopy, at high temporal frequency and high spatial resolution.