Biomass Change Estimated by TanDEM-X Interferometry and GEDI in a Tanzanian Forest

Mapping and quantification of forest biomass change are key for forest management and for forests’ contribution to the global carbon budget. We explored the potential of covering this with repeated acquisitions with TanDEM-X. We used an eight-year period in a Tanzanian miombo woodland as a test case...

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Main Authors: Svein Solberg, Ole Martin Bollandsås, Terje Gobakken, Erik Næsset, Paromita Basak, Laura Innice Duncanson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-02-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/5/861
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author Svein Solberg
Ole Martin Bollandsås
Terje Gobakken
Erik Næsset
Paromita Basak
Laura Innice Duncanson
author_facet Svein Solberg
Ole Martin Bollandsås
Terje Gobakken
Erik Næsset
Paromita Basak
Laura Innice Duncanson
author_sort Svein Solberg
collection DOAJ
description Mapping and quantification of forest biomass change are key for forest management and for forests’ contribution to the global carbon budget. We explored the potential of covering this with repeated acquisitions with TanDEM-X. We used an eight-year period in a Tanzanian miombo woodland as a test case, having repeated TanDEM-X elevation data for this period and repeated field inventory data. We also investigated the use of GEDI space–LiDAR footprint AGB estimates as an alternative to field inventory. The map of TanDEM-X elevation change appeared to be an accurate representation of the geography of forest biomass change. The relationship between TanDEM-X phase height and above-ground biomass (AGB) could be represented as a straight line passing through the origin, and this relationship was the same at both the beginning and end of the period. We obtained a similar relationship when we replaced field plot data with the GEDI data. In conclusion, temporal change in miombo woodland biomass is closely related to change in InSAR elevation, and this enabled both an accurate mapping and quantification wall to wall within 5–10% error margins. The combination of TanDEM-X and GEDI may have a near-global potential for estimation of temporal change in forest biomass.
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spelling doaj.art-c69a6228b9374697b01d13083b2cf3a32024-03-12T16:54:14ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922024-02-0116586110.3390/rs16050861Biomass Change Estimated by TanDEM-X Interferometry and GEDI in a Tanzanian ForestSvein Solberg0Ole Martin Bollandsås1Terje Gobakken2Erik Næsset3Paromita Basak4Laura Innice Duncanson5Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), NO-1431 Ås, NorwayFaculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), NO-1432 Ås, NorwayFaculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), NO-1432 Ås, NorwayFaculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), NO-1432 Ås, NorwayDepartment of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742, USADepartment of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742, USAMapping and quantification of forest biomass change are key for forest management and for forests’ contribution to the global carbon budget. We explored the potential of covering this with repeated acquisitions with TanDEM-X. We used an eight-year period in a Tanzanian miombo woodland as a test case, having repeated TanDEM-X elevation data for this period and repeated field inventory data. We also investigated the use of GEDI space–LiDAR footprint AGB estimates as an alternative to field inventory. The map of TanDEM-X elevation change appeared to be an accurate representation of the geography of forest biomass change. The relationship between TanDEM-X phase height and above-ground biomass (AGB) could be represented as a straight line passing through the origin, and this relationship was the same at both the beginning and end of the period. We obtained a similar relationship when we replaced field plot data with the GEDI data. In conclusion, temporal change in miombo woodland biomass is closely related to change in InSAR elevation, and this enabled both an accurate mapping and quantification wall to wall within 5–10% error margins. The combination of TanDEM-X and GEDI may have a near-global potential for estimation of temporal change in forest biomass.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/5/861InSARDEMtemporal changeforestbiomass
spellingShingle Svein Solberg
Ole Martin Bollandsås
Terje Gobakken
Erik Næsset
Paromita Basak
Laura Innice Duncanson
Biomass Change Estimated by TanDEM-X Interferometry and GEDI in a Tanzanian Forest
Remote Sensing
InSAR
DEM
temporal change
forest
biomass
title Biomass Change Estimated by TanDEM-X Interferometry and GEDI in a Tanzanian Forest
title_full Biomass Change Estimated by TanDEM-X Interferometry and GEDI in a Tanzanian Forest
title_fullStr Biomass Change Estimated by TanDEM-X Interferometry and GEDI in a Tanzanian Forest
title_full_unstemmed Biomass Change Estimated by TanDEM-X Interferometry and GEDI in a Tanzanian Forest
title_short Biomass Change Estimated by TanDEM-X Interferometry and GEDI in a Tanzanian Forest
title_sort biomass change estimated by tandem x interferometry and gedi in a tanzanian forest
topic InSAR
DEM
temporal change
forest
biomass
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/5/861
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