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Multisensor Airborne and Ground Studies of Siberian Arctic Forests
Kenneth
Jon
Ranson, NASA GSFC, kenneth.j.ranson@nasa.gov
(Presenter)
Bruce
Cook, NASA GSFC, bruce.cook@nasa.gov
Ross
Nelson, NASA GSFC, ross.f.nelson@nasa.gov
Guoqing
Sun, NASA GSFC/UMD, guoqing.sun@nasa.gov
Boreal Arctic ecosystems ,i.e., boreal forests and tundra, play an important role in the climate system and have been warming in recent decades. In Russia, larch forests cover some 278 million ha (42% of forests) with stem volume of more than 25 billion m3. Larch forms high closure stands as well as open forests is found mainly over permafrost, where other tree species barely survive. The vast areas of larch-dominant forests is generally considered as a carbon sink'; however, positive long-term temperature trends at higher latitudes are expected to result in an increase of fire frequency e.g.,. This increase, alongside of warming-induced permafrost thawing, may convert this area to a source for greenhouse gases.
The larch forests are huge and there exists very little quantitative information about them. Careful attention must be paid when developing algorithms for quantifying larch structure. Earlier work by members of this proposal team found GLAS lidar data shows little sensitivity larch biomass. PALSAR L-band radar on the other hand appeared more sensitive to larch cover though biomass relationships were poor. Passive sensors such as hyperspectral and thermal have not been exploited. We will develop the relationships of multisensor instrument data with larch canopies. This study will employ a unique and well-tested instrument package called the Goddard Lidar, Hyperspectral and Thermal (GLiHT) system. GLiHT is an off-the-shelf portable instrument system suitable for installation on a Russian light aircraft. The system will be flown over portions boreal Siberia areas where previous studies have been made. In addition these areas will be revisited by field personnel and additional ground information collected. It is expected that the remote sensing data sets combined with additional ground truth of forest stands will lead to improved methods for mapping and monitoring these vast larch forests. The problem, goals of the study, instruments to be used and study area will be described in this poster.
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Poster Session 1-A
(Tue 11:00 AM)
Associated Project(s):
Poster Location ID: 8
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