Retrieval of stem volume in coniferous forest from low VHF-band SAR

Abstract

Retrieval of forest stem volume using SAR in the lower VHF-band holds great promise. The basic idea is that coniferous trees behave as Rayleigh scatterers with a backscatter proportional to stem volume. In the paper, measurements using the CARABAS SAR at five different test sites are compared. We conclude that backscatter on horizontal ground indeed has a simple linear relation with stem volume. No signs of saturation is found up to 10oom(3)/ha. The proportionality factor is however slightly dependent on ground reflection coefficient. The paper also evaluates temporal stability using repeat-tracks. High repeatability is found after I hour (R-2=99%) and 20 months (R-2=91 %) implying good system and scene stability.

Keywords

Testing; Space technology; Rayleigh scattering; Stability; Remote sensing; Biomass; Carbon dioxide; Protocols; Forestry; Frequency

Published in

IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium proceedings
2000, pages: 441-443
Title: IGARSS 2000 : proceedings : IEEE 2000 International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium : taking the pulse of the planet, the role of remote sensing in managing the environment : 24-28 July, 2000, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Publisher: IEEE

Conference

IGARSS 2000 Symposium, Taking the Pulse of the Planet: The Role of Remote Sensing in Managing the Environment, Honolulu, USA, 24-28 July, 2000

SLU Authors

• Fransson, Johan

  • Department of Forest Resource Management and Geomatics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Remningstorp

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science
Earth Observation

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/IGARSS.2000.860558
• ISBN: 0-7803-6359-0

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/139279