Sensitivity of ERS-1 and JERS-1 radar data to biomass and stand structure in Alaskan boreal forest
- Duke Univ., Durham, NC (United States). School of the Environment
- Environmental Research Inst. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Center for Earth Sciences
As the boreal system is such an important component of the global carbon budget, it is important that the system and the potential changes be understood, whether from anthropogenic disturbances or global climate change. Thirty-two boreal forest sites were identified and sampled in the central region of Alaska to evaluate the sensitivity of the C-band ERS-1 and the L-band JERS-1 radar platforms to site biophysical properties. The sites selected represent black spruce (Picea mariana) and white spruce (Picea glauca) stands in a post-fire chronosequence. Black spruce biomass ranged from less than 1 kg/m{sup 2} to 5.6 kg/m{sup 2} and white spruce from 8.8 to 21.5 kg/m{sup 2}. Results indicate both ERS-1 and JERS-1 backscatter is responsive to biomass, density, and height, though other factors, principally surface moisture conditions, are often a stronger influence. Sensitivity to forest biomass and structure appears greatest when surface moisture conditions are minimized as a factor. Biomass correlations with the radar backscatter were strongest in the late winter imagery when all sites had a snow cover, and late summer when the surface is most dry. ERS-1 data may be more sensitive to surface moisture conditions than the JERS-1 data due to the shorter wavelength of the C-band sensor, though this is inconclusive because of limited JERS-1 L-band data for comparison.
- OSTI ID:
- 201143
- Journal Information:
- Remote Sensing of Environment, Vol. 54, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: Dec 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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