Sensitivity of AIRSAR data to changes in component biomass for BOREAS jack pine stands

As part of the BOREAS experiment, the relationship between the components of stand biomass and the radar backscattering coefficients are examined. Four jack pine stands with broadly varying biomass statistics are compared to AIRSAR P-band data. Even age stands have been chosen with biomass values ranging from 10 to 200 t/ha. Stand statistics, architecture, dielectric constants and forest surface characteristics have been measured and the biomass of trunks, branches and needles have been computed for each stand. A two layer distorted Born forest model (single scatter) has been used to compute the like polarized backscatter at P-band. The results are in general agreement with the AIRSAR data. The sensitivity of backscatter to changes in biomass is evaluated by using the forest model. Analysis shows the P-band backscatter is most sensitive to changes in trunk biomass, however certain anomalous parameter ranges do exist