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Estimation of Above Ground Biomass for Central Indian Deciduous Forests Using ALOS PALSAR L-Band Data

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Abstract

Reliable and accurate estimates of tropical forest above ground biomass (AGB) are important to reduce uncertainties in carbon budgeting. In the present study we estimated AGB of central Indian deciduous forests of Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) state, India, using Advanced Land Observing Satellite – Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (ALOS-PALSAR) L-band data of year 2010 in conjunction with field based AGB estimates using empirical models. Digital numbers of gridded 1 × 1° dual polarization (HH & HV) PALSAR mosaics for the study area were converted to normalized radar cross section (sigma naught - σ0). A total of 415 sampling plots (0.1 ha) data collected over the study area during 2009–10 was used in the present study. Plot-level AGB estimates using volume equations representative to the study area were computed using field inventory data. The plot-level AGB estimates were empirically modeled with the PALSAR backscatter information in HH, HV and their ratios from different forest types of the study area. The HV backscatter information showed better relation with field based AGB estimates with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.509 which was used to estimate spatial AGB of the study area. Results suggested a total AGB of 367.4 Mt for forests of M.P. state. Further, validation of the model was carried out using observed vs. predicted AGB estimates, which suggested a root mean square error (RMSE) of ±19.32 t/ha. The model reported robust and defensible relation for observed vs. predicted AGB values of the study area.

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Acknowledgments

Authors thank the Indian Space Research Organisation – Geosphere Biosphere Programme (ISRO-GBP) for funding the project and enabling us to carry out the study. We also thank Dr P.G. Diwakar, Deputy Director, Remote Sensing Application Area, NRSC and Dr. Y.V.N. Krishnamurthy, Director, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Deharadun, for the necessary support in the completion of the study. ALOS PALSAR data was provided by JAXA. Thanks are due to Dr. Masanobu Shimada (JAXA) for the provision of the PALSAR datasets.

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  1. National Remote Sensing Centre (ISRO), Balanagar, Hyderabad, 500037, Telangana, India

    Kiran Chand Thumaty, Rakesh Fararoda, Suresh Middinti, Rajashekar Gopalakrishnan, C. S. Jha & V. K. Dadhwal

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  1. Kiran Chand Thumaty
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  2. Rakesh Fararoda
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  3. Suresh Middinti
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  5. C. S. Jha
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  6. V. K. Dadhwal
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Thumaty, K.C., Fararoda, R., Middinti, S. et al. Estimation of Above Ground Biomass for Central Indian Deciduous Forests Using ALOS PALSAR L-Band Data. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 44, 31–39 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-015-0462-4

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