Above-ground Forest Biomass Estimation by ALOS/PALSAR over Boreal Forest in Alaska Accompanied with Ground-based Forest Survey

摘要

The sensor "Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR)" of the satellite "Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS)" provides the information which can be used for the above-ground forest biomass (AGFB) estimation. In July 2007, a ground-based forest survey was carried out in the south-north transect (about 500km long) along a trans-Alaska pipeline which profiles the ecotone from boreal forest to tundra in Alaska. 29 forests along the transect were targeted for the survey, and their in situ AGFB were measured. Consequently, it was revealed that the AGFB distribute from 5 to 100 ton/ha (dried matter). These values were compared with the backscatter intensity of HV-mode of ALOS/PALSAR. The result showed strong linear relationship between them, and AGFB over the transect was mapped according to the relation.