Potential of SAR for forest bole volume estimation

Abstract

MAESTRO I data from the Flevoland lest site in the Netherlands have been used for this study. From a complementary ground data collection, the bole volumes of a large number of stands of mainly poplar and ash have been estimated. The relationships between radar backscattering and bole volumes have been examined experimentally and theoretically. In the case studied, the radar backscattering sensitivity to bole volumes increases as the wavelengths increase. and is highest at P band. The sensitivity of the radar backscattering to variations of forest canopy components and moisture contents has been investigated theoretically at P band. It is important to obtain information on such variations before the inversion problem can be solved. The present study indicates a potential for bole volume determination by P-band SAR.