CHLOROPHYLL INDEX AS AN INDICATOR OF THE ANNUAL CARBON ACCUMULATION IN FOREST STANDS

The literature data is analyzed in order to elucidate the relationship between the amount of chlorophyll per hectare of forest area (chlorop hyll index - CI) and the weight of carbon accumulated in a stand in on e year. CI values amounting to 9 - 15 kg/ha were recorded in about hal f of the stands, which varied in composition and productivity. The max imum CI attained was 24 kg/ha in the pine, birch, and aspen stands, an d 35 kg/ha in the spruce stands. A linear dependence was observed betw een CI, ranging from 6 to 24 kg/ha, and accumulated carbon, with corre lation coefficients of 0.86 +/- 0.05 for the spruce and 0.81 +/- 0.04 for all the other stands. One kilogramm of chlorophyll produced 215 kg C per year in the spruce and 305 - 335 kg C per year in the other sta nds. The feasibility of CI determination by satellite-based measuremen ts of the spectral brightness of forest canopy is discussed.