EcoRem

Plant ecophysiology and remote sensing

How plants work and respond to their environment, studied from the single leaf up to the view from orbit.

Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment
University of Thessaly

Illustrative yearly course of photosynthesis in a Mediterranean ecosystem JanFebMarApr MayJunJulAug SepOctNovDec spring peak summer drought autumn revival
The rhythm of a Mediterranean year: photosynthesis rises with spring, drops under summer drought and recovers with the autumn rains.

Two ways of looking at plants

Plant ecophysiology

Ecophysiology asks how plants respond and adapt to their surroundings. Processes such as photosynthesis, transpiration and nutrient uptake are measured directly on the plant, to understand growth, function and the responses to stress.

Remote sensing

Remote sensing observes the Earth's surface using satellites, drones and spectral sensors. It reveals the health, distribution and dynamics of vegetation over whole landscapes, and links plant responses at local and global scales.

Research areas

  • Plant–environment interactions

    The effects of light, temperature, water and nutrient availability on plant physiology and growth, and what they mean for better agricultural practice.

  • Remote sensing applications

    Methods that use spectral data and imagery to monitor plant health and productivity, and to detect and quantify water stress, nutrient deficiencies and disease.

  • Climate change impacts

    Long-term records, satellite tools and plant traits combined to assess how vulnerable species and ecosystems are, anticipate future trends and support conservation.

Explore the research

Daily photosynthesis of Greece, mapped from space

For every day since 2002, a light use efficiency model turns satellite and weather data into maps of Gross Primary Production for the whole country at 250 m resolution.

Read about the GPP project Open the dashboard