Mapping Boreal Peatlands for Assessment of Vulnerability to Wildfire
Laura
Louise
Bourgeau-Chavez, Michigan Technological University, lchavez@mtu.edu
(Presenting)
Richard
B
Powell, Michigan Technological University, rbpowell@mtu.edu
Brian
Benscoter, University of Guelph, bbenscot@uoguelph.ca
Merritt
Turetsky, University of Guelph, mrt@uoguelph.ca
Erik
S.
Kasischke, University of Maryland, ekasisch@mail.umd.edu
Boreal peatlands comprise 25-30% of the global boreal forest region and are widely recognized as one of the largest terrestrial reservoirs for carbon in the Northern Hemisphere. Since boreal peatlands store tremendous reservoirs of carbon below ground, it is important to understand their vulnerability to wildfire as climate change lowers water tables and exposes C-rich peat to burning. One of the major uncertainties in more accurately assessing the role of boreal fires on atmospheric trace gas concentrations is our poor understanding of how fire influences more poorly drained ecosystems such as peatlands. To quantify carbon emissions from peatlands due to wildfire, we first need to have good maps of peatland types and understand the fire regime and burning characteristics of each type. Research presented here is the first step; mapping peatland types (bog, fen, marsh, and swamp) as well as level of biomass (open, wooded, forested). The method developed employs multiple dates of 2007 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Landsat optical-IR remote sensing data within an object-based classification workflow which allows for mapping areas as small as 1 hectare with high overall accuracy. These maps are compared to an air photo-based (circa 1980s photos) interpretation for accuracy, but will also be compared to field data due to the time lag between the air-photo (1980s) and SAR-optical (2007) maps.
Presentation Type: Poster
Poster Session: Ecosystems Science
NASA TE Funded Awards Represented:
Bourgeau-Chavez, Laura
Vulnerability of North American Boreal Peatlands to Interactions between Climate, Hydrology, and Wildland Fires