ESTIMATION OF FOREST BIOMASS FROM AN AIRBORNE SINGLE-PASS L-BAND POL-INSAR SYSTEM

In this paper we describe forest height and biomass results obtained with an experimental airborne L-Band fully polarimetric, single-pass InSAR system over a test area in western Canada. The significance of the single-pass characteristic is that temporal decorrelation is avoided, allowing more robust Pol-InSAR forest parameter recovery. The derived tree height results were validated against those obtained from airborne lidar and were further supported by high resolution aerial photography. Canopy heights in coniferous stands with tree heights ranging from 15-30 meters were extracted using Pol-InSAR and relative to lidar-derived canopy heights, showed accuracies better than 10%. A forest biomass map was then created through height-biomass allometry. The goal is to demonstrate that above-ground biomass and hence carbon estimates can be provided at suitable accuracy and resolution levels using this technical approach. If successful, this would provide the potential to improve carbon baseline estimates in large forest areas, particularly in the tropics, where currently the estimated biomass uncertainty can be significant.