Fine-Scale Improved Carbon Bookkeeping Model Using Landsat Time Series for Subtropical Forest, Southern China

Subtropical forests easily suffer anthropogenic disturbance, including deforestation and reforestation management, which both highly affect the carbon pools. This study proposes spatial-temporal tracking of the carbon density dynamics to improve bookkeeping in the carbon model and applied to subtrop...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xinyu Wang, Runhao Li, Hu Ding, Yingchun Fu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-02-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/3/753
_version_ 1797484966806814720
author Xinyu Wang
Runhao Li
Hu Ding
Yingchun Fu
author_facet Xinyu Wang
Runhao Li
Hu Ding
Yingchun Fu
author_sort Xinyu Wang
collection DOAJ
description Subtropical forests easily suffer anthropogenic disturbance, including deforestation and reforestation management, which both highly affect the carbon pools. This study proposes spatial-temporal tracking of the carbon density dynamics to improve bookkeeping in the carbon model and applied to subtropical forest activities in Guangzhou, southern China, during the period of 1995 to 2014. Based on the overall accuracy of 87.5% ± 1.7% for forest change products using Landsat time series (LTS), we found that this is a typical period of deforestation conversion to reforestation activity accompanied with urbanization. Additionally, linear regression, random forest regression and allometric growth fitting were proposed by using forest field plots to obtain reliable per-pixel carbon density estimations. The cross-validation (CV) of random forest with LTS-derived parameters reached the highest accuracy of R<sup>2</sup> and RMSE of 0.763 and 7.499 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>. The RMES of the density estimation ranged between 78 and 84% of the mean observed biomass in the study area, which outperformed previous studies. Over the 20-year period, the study results showed that the explicit carbon emissions were (6.82 ± 0.26) × 10<sup>4</sup> Mg C yr<sup>−1</sup> from deforestation; emissions increased to (1.02 ± 0.04) × 10<sup>5</sup> Mg C yr<sup>−1</sup> given the implicit carbon not yet released to the atmosphere in the form of decomposing slash and wood products. In addition, a carbon uptake of about 1.91 ± 0.73 × 10<sup>5</sup> Mg C yr<sup>−1</sup>, presented as the net carbon pool. Based on the continuous detection capability, biennial reforestation activity has increased carbon density by a growth rate of 1.55 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>, and the emission factors can be identified with LTS-derived parameters. In general, the study realizes the spatiotemporal improvement of carbon density and flux dynamics tracking, including the abrupt and graduate change based on fine-scale forest activity. It can provide more comprehensive and detailed feedback on the carbon source and sink change process of forest activities and disturbances.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T23:12:04Z
format Article
id doaj.art-bce01395420b4016b22f58f3e2b77809
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2072-4292
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T23:12:04Z
publishDate 2022-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Remote Sensing
spelling doaj.art-bce01395420b4016b22f58f3e2b778092023-11-23T17:42:55ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922022-02-0114375310.3390/rs14030753Fine-Scale Improved Carbon Bookkeeping Model Using Landsat Time Series for Subtropical Forest, Southern ChinaXinyu Wang0Runhao Li1Hu Ding2Yingchun Fu3School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, ChinaSchool of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, ChinaSchool of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, ChinaSchool of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, ChinaSubtropical forests easily suffer anthropogenic disturbance, including deforestation and reforestation management, which both highly affect the carbon pools. This study proposes spatial-temporal tracking of the carbon density dynamics to improve bookkeeping in the carbon model and applied to subtropical forest activities in Guangzhou, southern China, during the period of 1995 to 2014. Based on the overall accuracy of 87.5% ± 1.7% for forest change products using Landsat time series (LTS), we found that this is a typical period of deforestation conversion to reforestation activity accompanied with urbanization. Additionally, linear regression, random forest regression and allometric growth fitting were proposed by using forest field plots to obtain reliable per-pixel carbon density estimations. The cross-validation (CV) of random forest with LTS-derived parameters reached the highest accuracy of R<sup>2</sup> and RMSE of 0.763 and 7.499 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>. The RMES of the density estimation ranged between 78 and 84% of the mean observed biomass in the study area, which outperformed previous studies. Over the 20-year period, the study results showed that the explicit carbon emissions were (6.82 ± 0.26) × 10<sup>4</sup> Mg C yr<sup>−1</sup> from deforestation; emissions increased to (1.02 ± 0.04) × 10<sup>5</sup> Mg C yr<sup>−1</sup> given the implicit carbon not yet released to the atmosphere in the form of decomposing slash and wood products. In addition, a carbon uptake of about 1.91 ± 0.73 × 10<sup>5</sup> Mg C yr<sup>−1</sup>, presented as the net carbon pool. Based on the continuous detection capability, biennial reforestation activity has increased carbon density by a growth rate of 1.55 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>, and the emission factors can be identified with LTS-derived parameters. In general, the study realizes the spatiotemporal improvement of carbon density and flux dynamics tracking, including the abrupt and graduate change based on fine-scale forest activity. It can provide more comprehensive and detailed feedback on the carbon source and sink change process of forest activities and disturbances.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/3/753carbon emissionssubtropical forestLandsatCCDCtime series
spellingShingle Xinyu Wang
Runhao Li
Hu Ding
Yingchun Fu
Fine-Scale Improved Carbon Bookkeeping Model Using Landsat Time Series for Subtropical Forest, Southern China
Remote Sensing
carbon emissions
subtropical forest
Landsat
CCDC
time series
title Fine-Scale Improved Carbon Bookkeeping Model Using Landsat Time Series for Subtropical Forest, Southern China
title_full Fine-Scale Improved Carbon Bookkeeping Model Using Landsat Time Series for Subtropical Forest, Southern China
title_fullStr Fine-Scale Improved Carbon Bookkeeping Model Using Landsat Time Series for Subtropical Forest, Southern China
title_full_unstemmed Fine-Scale Improved Carbon Bookkeeping Model Using Landsat Time Series for Subtropical Forest, Southern China
title_short Fine-Scale Improved Carbon Bookkeeping Model Using Landsat Time Series for Subtropical Forest, Southern China
title_sort fine scale improved carbon bookkeeping model using landsat time series for subtropical forest southern china
topic carbon emissions
subtropical forest
Landsat
CCDC
time series
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/3/753
work_keys_str_mv AT xinyuwang finescaleimprovedcarbonbookkeepingmodelusinglandsattimeseriesforsubtropicalforestsouthernchina
AT runhaoli finescaleimprovedcarbonbookkeepingmodelusinglandsattimeseriesforsubtropicalforestsouthernchina
AT huding finescaleimprovedcarbonbookkeepingmodelusinglandsattimeseriesforsubtropicalforestsouthernchina
AT yingchunfu finescaleimprovedcarbonbookkeepingmodelusinglandsattimeseriesforsubtropicalforestsouthernchina