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Estimation of surface soil properties in peatland using ALOS/PALSAR

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Abstract

By examining the area of the Sarobetsu Mire in northern Japan using ALOS/PALSAR data, we have clarified the backscattering behavior and characteristics of the L-band microwaves when used in the study of peatlands. We classified the vegetation into six categories and noted the differences in scattering intensity and incident-angle dependencies among these. The scattering intensity for HH and HV polarizations was greatest with sasa (dwarf bamboo) and reeds, and least with sphagnum. The incident-angle dependency with the HH polarization was higher for sasa and reed than for other vegetation types. Analysis of the polarization revealed that such differences among vegetation classes were reflected most clearly in the volume scattering characteristic. Applying simple and multiple regression analysis for the environmental factors of soil, hydrology, vegetation, and roughness against the backscatter coefficient, we also found stronger interrelations with soil factors such as bulk density, nitrogen and carbon content, and C/N ratio, and against the backscatter coefficient, than with either the roughness or vegetation. Based on such results, we clarified the unique scattering characteristics of peatlands in which scattering from the surface soil is more marked than that from other elements. We consequently estimated the spatial distribution of surface soil characteristics in peatland using the combined data available from L-band satellite SAR, aircraft laser (airborne LiDAR), and optical sensors.

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Acknowledgments

Our research into “Understanding Peat Land Structure and Building a Wetland Change Model for Sarobetsu Mire Restoration” was supported financially by the Ministry of the Environment, and also as one activity of the Satellite Remote Sensing Promotion Committee organized by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC). We appreciate ALOS images provided by that committee. For the on-site survey as well as the analysis we made, we received great help from Dr. Takashi Inoue and Mr. Taichi Suzumura of Hokkaido University, Dr. Hidenori Takahashi of Hokkaido Institute of Hydro-climate, Mr. Nobuhiro Sasaki of Hokkaido Seabird Center, Mr. Toshihiro Shimazaki of NPO Sarobetsu Eco-Network, and Ms. Sanae Takada of Echigo-numa Study Group. We here express our utmost appreciation to all of them.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hokkaido Institute of Environmental Sciences, 12-chome, 19-jo, kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0819, Japan

    Masayuki Takada & Shosuke Natsume

  2. Hokkaido Institute of Technology, 7-15 Maeda, Teine-ku, Sapporo, 006-8585, Japan

    Yoshio Mishima

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  1. Masayuki Takada
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  2. Yoshio Mishima
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  3. Shosuke Natsume
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Correspondence to Masayuki Takada.

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Takada, M., Mishima, Y. & Natsume, S. Estimation of surface soil properties in peatland using ALOS/PALSAR. Landscape Ecol Eng 5, 45–58 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11355-008-0061-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11355-008-0061-4

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