A model relating VHF-band backscatter to stem volume of coniferous boreal forest

Author

Smith, Gary ; Ulander, Lars M H

Author_Institution

Dept. of Radio & Space Sci., Chalmers Univ. of Technol., Goteborg, Sweden

Volume

38

Issue

2

fYear

2000

fDate

3/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

728

Lastpage

740

Abstract

A physical model is presented describing the backscatter from coniferous boreal forests in the lower VHF-band in terms of stem volume. By using measurements of mean amplitude in high-resolution SAR images (rather than intensity), a linear dependence on stem volume can be obtained. The model fits well with the measurements made using the coherent all radio band sensing (CARABAS) SAR in the southern boreal forest, indicating the possibility of retrieving stem volume, and hence biomass, with an accuracy similar to that reached by standard ground-based measurements. No saturation of the scattering is seen up to biomasses of 550 m³/ha

Keywords

backscatter; forestry; geophysical techniques; radar cross-sections; radar theory; remote sensing by radar; synthetic aperture radar; vegetation mapping; CARABAS; SAR; VHF; backscatter; biomass; boreal forest; coniferous forest; forestry; geophysical measurement technique; model; physical model; radar remote sensing; radar scattering; stem volume; synthetic aperture radar; vegetation mapping; Backscatter; Biomass; Forestry; Frequency; Optical scattering; Radar scattering; Remote sensing; Space technology; Spatial resolution; Volume measurement;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0196-2892

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/36.842002

Filename

842002