Estimating regional aboveground forest biomass using HJ-1 satellite data and ICESat

Abstract

In this study, the aboveground biomass (AGB) was estimated for the forest in Daxinganlin (Northeastern China) area by combining CCD data from Small Satellite for Disaster and Environment Monitoring and Forecast (HJ-1) and Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) data, onboard the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat). The AGB biomass prediction models at GLAS footprint level were developed from GLAS waveform variables and filed survey plot biomass in Changqing (CQ) forest farm, and then were used to estimate the biomass for all GLAS footprints of forest in the study area. The footprint forest biomass and the spectral reflectivity parameters and vegetation indices from HJ-1 satellites CCD data were then used to establish biomass prediction model to predict forest AGB in the entire study site using multiple linear regression method. Compared with the Zhuanglin (ZL) field investigated data, the mean error is 5.74 ton/ha.