Project Funding: 2008 - 2011

NRA: 2007 NASA: Carbon Cycle Science   

Funded by NASA

Abstract:
We will develop current and retrospective wetlands maps of the North American boreal region, characterizing wetland spatio-temporal dynamics, and hence provide a major carbon modeling input data source to reduce the uncertainty of carbon exchange estimates. As such, the products, algorithms, and analyses produced here will directly benefit objectives of the NASA Earth Science Research Strategy, the US Climate Change Science Program, the North American Carbon Program (NACP), and the International Polar Year (IPY). Satellite remote sensing data are the only practical way to monitor wetland status in a timely and cost-effective fashion over this large remote area. Establishment of a high-resolution (100m) baseline of current wetland extent and distribution in this region is an essential requisite for estimating sources, sinks, and net fluxes of carbon dioxide and methane. It is also the first step in creating habitat classifications that will provide a baseline against which to compare future changes brought about by climate change. As part of a previous Carbon Cycle Science project, we have developed a robust algorithm for mapping boreal wetlands using L-band satellite radar imagery, and in particular have used the method to produce a complete vegetated wetlands map of Alaska using the JERS radar data. In this work, we plan to apply this algorithm and enhance it as needed to achieve the following primary objectives: 1. Produce a retrospective static map of Canadian wetlands from the 1990s JERS-era radar mosaic data set at 100-m resolution 2. Develop the 2007 static map of wetlands in the targeted boreal North America coverage area of ALOS PALSAR radar, at 100-m resolution 3. Develop the 2007-era (PALSAR) multitemporal wetlands extent and soil wetness regime maps for selected sites in Alaska and Canada at 100-m resolution 4. Assess the impact of these long- and short-term wetlands change products in reducing the carbon cycle uncertainties in the North American boreal region by integrating the results in a carbon modeling framework for examination of carbon fluxes and permafrost soil processes For the JERS-era temporally static wetlands map of Canada, we will also investigate possible improvements in wetlands mapping accuracy when near-contemporaneous Landsat TM data are used in conjunction with the L-band radar imagery. The work towards achieving these objectives will be carried out using the collective experience of the team and in collaboration with CCRS investigators involved with the major Canadian-led IPY project CiCAT, and investigators at the European Commission and JAXA leading the Kyoto and Carbon Initiative of ALOS/PALSAR.

Publications:

Clewley, D., Whitcomb, J., Moghaddam, M., McDonald, K., Chapman, B., Bunting, P. 2015. Evaluation of ALOS PALSAR Data for High-Resolution Mapping of Vegetated Wetlands in Alaska. Remote Sensing. 7(6), 7272-7297. DOI: 10.3390/rs70607272

Clewley, D., J. Whitcomb, M. Moghaddam, and K. McDonald, 2014. "Mapping the State and Dynamics of Boreal Wetlands using Synthetic Aperture Radar," in Advances in Wetlands Mapping, M. Lang and R. Tiner (Eds.)

Whitcomb, J., M. Moghaddam, K. McDonald, J. Kellndorfer, and E. Podest. 2009. "Mapping vegetated wetlands of Alaska using L-band radar satellite imagery," C. J. Remote Sensing, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 54-72.

2015 NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Poster(s)

• Airborne Microwave Observatory of Subcanopy and Subsurface (AirMOSS) Mission: Observations of Root Zone Soil Moisture and their Impact on Improving NEE Estimates in North America   --   (Mahta Moghaddam, Elaine Chapin, Wade Crow, Richard Cuenca, Dara Entekhabi, Scott Hensley, Yunling Lou, Paul Moorcroft, Rolf Reichle, Sassan Saatchi, Paul Shepson)   [abstract]

2011 NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Poster(s)

• Satellite Remote Sensing of Inundated Wetlands: Global Data Record Assembly Status and Development Plans   --   (Kyle McDonald, Bruce Chapman, Erika Podest, Ronny Schroder, Laura L. Hess, Lucas A Jones, John S Kimball, Mahta Moghaddam, Jane Whitcomb)   [abstract]
• EV-1 Airborne Microwave Observatory of Subcanopy and Subsurface (AirMOSS) Mission Status   --   (Mahta Moghaddam, Wade Crow, Richard Cuenca, Dara Entekhabi, Anthony Freeman, Scott Hensley, David Hollinger, Paul R. Moorcroft, Rolf Reichle, Sassan Saatchi, Paul Shepson, Yunling Lou, Elaine Chapin)   [abstract]

2010 NASA Terrestrial Ecology Science Team Meeting Poster(s)

• Use of Space-Based L-Band SAR for Mapping and Change Detection of Boreal Wetlands in North America   --   (Jane Whitcomb, Mahta Moghaddam, Kyle McDonald, Erika Podest, Bruce Chapman)   [abstract]

2008 NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Posters

• An Inundated Wetlands Earth System Data Record: Global Monitoring of Wetland Extent and Dynamics   --   (Kyle C. McDonald, Bruce Chapman, Laura Hess, Mahta Moghaddam, Elaine Matthews, John S. Kimball, Catherine Prigent)   [abstract]
• Radar Remote Sensing of Wetlands in Boreal Eurasia and North America for use in Methane Emission Modeling   --   (Erika Podest, Kyle McDonald, Ted Bohn, Dennis Lettenmaier, Mahta Moghaddam, Jane Whitcomb)   [abstract]   [poster]

More details may be found in the following project profile(s):

• NASA Terrestrial Ecology (TE) Project Profile
• North American Carbon Program (NACP) Project Profile