Recent advancement on estimation of blue carbon biomass using satellite-based approach

ABSTRACT

History revealed that people had been discharging a large proportion of carbon into the atmosphere through fossil fuel consumption and the marine environment. These have prompted atmospheric carbon fixations that have proved to be larger than at any other point throughout the human survival. Due to the critical role of blue carbon in the ocean carbon cycle, it is essential to pay extra attention to these habitats (mangrove, seagrass meadows, salt marshes, and coral reefs). Hence, this article reviews the recent developments in blue carbon biomass estimation using a geospatial approach and highlighted the blue carbon components achievements and gaps. Biomass and soil carbon estimation, using change detection analysis, were reviewed. Analysis of the carbon conversion factors, used in converting biomass to carbon, was demonstrated. The review shall act as support for the realization of the target 14.2 and 14.5 of the 14^th sustainable development goal established by the United Nations, to fast track the achievement of the 2020 agenda.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments of research facilities utilised at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, with grant supports from MOHE grants: Blue Carbon Seagrass Mapping with Remote Sensing (R.J130000.7809.4F854); and HABs Physiological Ecology Identification using Multi-mission satellite observations (R.J130000.7809.4L851). The authors also wish to acknowledge the Nigerian federal government for providing financial intervention to the first author via Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) [Project Code: PY/ 2016/07225R.J130000.7809.4F854], and the Transdisciplinary ResearchGrant Scheme (TRGS) [Project Code: PY/ 2016/05999/R.J130000.7809.4L851] by from the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia.