LAI-ESTIMATION OF BOREAL FORESTS USING C-BAND VV AND HH POLARIZATI RADAR IMAGES

摘要

The leaf area index (LAI) is directly related to the growth potential of a forest. Therefore it is an important parameter both from economical and environmental point of view. LAI determination using optical images is problematic in boreal forests, but ENVISAT ASAR should have potential in LAI estimation, as its wavelength is close to the needle size of boreal forests. While waiting for ENVISAT data the LAI estimation using VV and HH polarisation has been studied using ERS and Radarsat images. The first results of Scots pine are promising. This research is carried out in the ENVISAT AO-project "ENVISAT in boreal forest mapping and LAI estimation" (=ENBOR FORMAL).