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Estimating Gross Primary Production of a Forest Plantation Area Using Eddy Covariance Data and Satellite Imagery

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Abstract

Gross primary production (GPP) is the basic biophysical parameter of an ecosystem. The quantification of GPP has been a major challenge in understanding the global carbon cycle. Eddy covariance (EC) measurements at flux tower provide valuable direct information on seasonal dynamics of GPP and allow model optimization. In this paper, the GPP of forest plantation was estimated using light use efficiency (LUE-based) model and validated with flux tower GPP observations in Terai Central Forest Division, Nainital, India. The LUE model is mainly based upon the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), satellite-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), land surface wetness index (LSWI), and the air temperature. The simulation of the model was carried out using vegetation indices generated from Landsat imagery and the meteorological data from flux tower. The predicted GPP showed distinct significance of spatio-temporal dynamics of GPP. The environmental variables, viz., PAR and NDVI showed distinct effect on the GPP prediction. Comparison between predicted and the measured GPP on flux tower site showed good agreement (R 2 = 0.626, RMSE = 2.08 and MAPE = 18.46). The study demonstrated the potential of LUE model for estimating GPP and scaling up of GPP over large areas, which is a major parameter in the study of the carbon cycle on regional to global scales.

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Acknowledgments

This work was carried out as a part of National Carbon Project (NCP) supported by ISRO-Geosphere-Biosphere Programme. Authors are thankful to Director, IIRS for constant support and encouragement during the course of this study. We duly acknowledge the Forest Department, Uttarakhand for providing necessary permission for setting up the flux tower. Sincere thanks are due to Division Forest Officer and staff of Terai Central Forest Division, Haldwani for continuous support to this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, ISRO, 4-Kalidas Road, Dehradun, 248001, Uttarakhand, India

    Joyson Ahongshangbam, N. R. Patel, S. P. S. Kushwaha & Taibanganba Watham

  2. National Remote Sensing Centre (ISRO), Balanagar, Hyderabad, 500037, Andhra Pradesh, India

    V. K. Dadhwal

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  1. Joyson Ahongshangbam
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Correspondence to Joyson Ahongshangbam.

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Ahongshangbam, J., Patel, N.R., Kushwaha, S.P.S. et al. Estimating Gross Primary Production of a Forest Plantation Area Using Eddy Covariance Data and Satellite Imagery. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 44, 895–904 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-016-0564-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-016-0564-7

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