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Multi-polarized Radarsat-2 satellite sensor in assessing forest vigor from above ground biomass

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Abstract

Accurate estimates of forest biomass are increasingly important in relation to sequestration of carbon by forest trees. Satellite remote sensing is a useful tool for biomass estimation and monitoring of forest ecological processes. Microwave synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can increase the accuracy of estimations of forest biomass in comparison to optical remote sensing, due to the unique capacities of SAR, including high penetrability, volumetric scattering, interaction with surface roughness, and dielectric property. We studied the potential of multi-polarized C-band Radarsat-2, a SAR technology, with HH, HV and VV polarization for estimating biomass of moist tropical Indian forest. Backscatter values are correlated with field-based biomass values and are regressed to generate models for estimating biomass. HH polarization provided maximum information regarding tree biomass. A coefficient of determination of 0.49 was calculated for HH polarized C-band image with in situ measurements. An exponential model was proved to be best suited for estimating forest biomass. Correlation of 0.62 and RMSE of 24.6 t ha−1 were calculated for the relationship between estimated and predicted biomass values for the best fit model. The average absolute accuracy of the model was 61%, while Willmott’s index of agreement was 0.87. Results suggest that most of the biomass of the area ranged within 70 t ha−1 a probably due to the saturation of C-band around 60–70 t ha−1 for tropical forests.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely acknowledge Space Application Centre (SAC, ISRO) for providing the SAR data. The first author expresses sincere gratitude to the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India for providing funds under DST-INSPIRE Program (Ref. No. DST/INSPIREFELLOWSHIP/2010/[316]) to carry out the research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Haldia Institute of Technology, Hatiberia, Haldia, 721657, India

    Suman Sinha & Abhisek Santra

  2. Department of Environmental Science, Central University of Rajasthan NH 8, Bandar Sindri, Ajmer, Rajasthan, 305817, India

    Laxmikant Sharma

  3. Department of Remote Sensing, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, 835215, India

    C. Jeganathan

  4. School of Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, 110068, India

    Mahendra Singh Nathawat

  5. Department of Space, Space Application Centre (ISRO), Government of India, Jodhpur Tekra, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380015, India

    Anup Kumar Das

  6. PLANEX, Physical Research Laboratory, Thaltej Campus, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380059, India

    Shiv Mohan

Authors
  1. Suman Sinha
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  2. Abhisek Santra
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  3. Laxmikant Sharma
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  4. C. Jeganathan
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  5. Mahendra Singh Nathawat
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  6. Anup Kumar Das
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  7. Shiv Mohan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suman Sinha.

Additional information

Project funding: This study was financially supported by DST-INSPIRE Program (Ref. No. DST/INSPIREFELLOWSHIP/2010/[316]) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

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Corresponding editor: Yu Lei.

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Sinha, S., Santra, A., Sharma, L. et al. Multi-polarized Radarsat-2 satellite sensor in assessing forest vigor from above ground biomass. J. For. Res. 29, 1139–1145 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0511-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0511-7

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