Remotely sensed solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) has emerged as a novel approach for terrestrial vegetation monitoring. The in situ continuous optical remote sensing tool in conjunction with concurrent eddy covariance (EC) flux measurements provides a new opportunity to advance terrestrial ecosystem science. Here we introduce a network of ground-based SIF observations at flux tower sites across the mainland China referred as ChinaSpec. Until now, it consists of 15 tower sites including 5 cropland sites, 4 grassland sites, 4 forest sites and 2 wetland sites. At each of these sites, an automated spectroscopy system was deployed to collect continuous super-high resolution spectra for high-frequency SIF retrievals in synergy with EC flux measurements. The goal of ChinaSpec is to provide ground SIF measurements and promote the collaborations between optical remote sensing and EC flux communities in China. We present here the details of instrument specifications, data collection and processing procedures, data sharing and utilization protocols, and future plans. Furthermore, we show the examples how ground SIF observations can be used to track vegetation photosynthesis from diurnal to seasonal scales, to assist in the validation of fluorescence models and satellite SIF products (e.g., from OCO-2, TanSat and TROPOMI) with the measurements from these sites since 2016. This network of SIF observations could improve our understanding of the controls on the biosphere-atmosphere carbon exchange and enable the improvement of carbon flux predictions. This SIF network will also help integrate ground SIF measurements with EC flux networks which will advance ecosystem and carbon cycle researches globally.

Photosynthetic capacity (leaf maximum carboxylation rate, Vcmax) is a critical parameter for accurately assessing carbon assimilation by plant canopies. Recent studies of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) show the potential to estimate Vcmax at the ecosystem level. However, the SIF-Vcmax relationship at leaf and canopy levels are still poorly understood. This study investigates the relationship between leaf or canopy SIF and leaf Vcmax and its controlling factors based on SIF and CO2 response measurements in rice. The results show that SIF (or its yield, SIFy) and Vcmax are strongly correlated during the growing season, though the relationship varies with rice growth stages. After the flowering period, SIFy has a stronger relationship with Vcmax than SIF flux at both leaf and canopy levels. Further analysis suggests that changes in canopy structure and leaf physiology lead to the divergence of the link between SIF and Vcmax from leaf to canopy level. Our findings highlight the need to account for plant physiology and canopy structure in interpreting the SIF signal across spatial scales. Our observation-based results provide evidence that remotely sensed SIF observations can be used to track seasonal variations of Vcmax at the leaf and canopy levels.