BOREAS -- Team Listing for RSS-15

The BOREAS Information System

Remote Sensing Science (RSS)

RSS-15: Distribution and Structure of Above Ground Biomass in Boreal Forest Ecosystems

P.I.(s): K. Jon Ranson -- NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center; Roger Lang--George Washington University
Co-I(s): Guoqing Sun -- SSAI; Narinder Chauhan -- GWU

Objectives: To determine the amount and distribution of above-ground biomass for ecologically distinct areas of the BOREAS study sites . We will use ground observations, ground based radars, airborne radars and satellite-borne radars in combination with backscattering models to improve algorithms for biomass mapping at regional scales. In addition we plan to utilize the above measurements and models to develop inversion strategies to partition above ground biomass into foliage, branch and bole components. We will also determine the appropriate radar wavelength, resolution and incidence angle for detection of forest gaps and evaluate the ability of SAR for extraction of information on forest spatial structure. This BOREAS project will benefit from a Shuttle Imaging Radar - C (SIR-C) investigation to determine parameters for initialization and validation of forest ecosystem models. The experiment was performed at nine sites in Prince Albert during the summer of 1994. Three of these sites, one of mature jack pine, one of mature aspen and one of mature black spruce were collocated with sites of major optical remote sensing activity so that joint efforts in ground truth acquisition could be undertaken. The other six sites were composed of jack pine, aspen and black spruce but were of low and medium density.

View the SAR Imaging Radar Web site at NASA JPL.

RSS-15 Data Sets

Biomass Maps

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RSS-15 BOREAS Operations 1994

Objectives:
Determine the amount and distribution of above ground biomass for ecologically distinct areas of the BOREAS study sites . Develop inversion strategies to partition above ground biomass into foliage, branch and bole components. Determine the appropriate radar wavelength, resolution and incidence angle for detection of forest gaps and evaluate the ability of SAR for extraction of information on forest spatial structure.
Acquire required field measurements for biomass mapping algorithm development and validation.
Acquire measurements of tree and ground properties to parameterize backscatter models

Equipment Used and Data Collected:

Forest plot sampling; (dbh, species, height estimates); diameter tapes, hippsometers, sonic range finder. Also with TE-20.
Dielectric measurements (foliage, branch, bole and background); Portable dielectric Probes (C-, L- and P-band frequencies).
Limited tree moisture content. Bole, branches and leaves (Fresh wt -dry wt)*100/(Fresh wt ); electronic balance and drying oven.
Tree geometry of selected jack pine and aspen. Including branch angles, Branch and needle sizes, branch and needle densities, Tapes, calipers and inclinometers.
Surface measurements of dielectrics using Portable dielectric probes, Univ. Kansas multifrequency probe.

Summary of Places and Times of Measurements:

RSS-15 1994 BOREAS ACTIVITIES (SSA Only)

Location	Activity	Dates	Location	Activity	Dates
YJP	C,L band dielectrics	4/13	YJP	Tree geometry	7/20
YJP	C,L band dielectrics	4/14	YJP	C,L,P band dielectrics	7/21
OJP	C band dielectrics	4/14	YJP	Tree geometry	7/22
YJP	L band dielectrics	4/15	RAN	Plot sampling	7/22
YJP	Tree geometry	4/15	YJP	Tree geometry	7/23
YJP	Plot Sampling, tree moisture	4/17	OJP	C,L,P dielectrics	7/23
OJP	C,L,P band dielectrics	4/17	YJP	Tree geometry	7/24
OJP	Tree geometry	4/18	RAN	Plot sampling	7/24
OJP	Tree geometry	4/19	YJP	Tree geometry	7/25
OJP(E)	Plot sampling	4/19	YJP	P band dielectrics	7/25
YJP(E)	Plot sampling	4/19	RAN	Plot sampling	7/25
OA	Tree geometry	4/20	RAN	Plot sampling	7/26
YJP	Tree geometry	4/21	OA	C,P band dielectrics	7/26
YJP(ALLG)	Tree geometry	4/21	OJP	Tree geometry	7/26
YJP(ALLG)	Plot sampling	4/21	RAN	Plot sampling	7/27
YJP(ALLG)	Tree geometry	4/22	OJP	Tree geometry	7/27
YJP (SE)	Plot sampling	4/22	OJP	Tree geometry	7/27
YJP (W)	Plot sampling	4/22	RAN	Plot sampling	7/28
YJP	Tree geometry	7/18	RAN	Plot sampling	7/29
YJP	Tree geometry	7/19	RAN	Plot sampling	7/30

RAN	randomized plot locations in Nipawan Area with TE-20.
OJP(E)	mature jack pine stand 3.5 km east of OJP.
YJP(E)	mature jack pine stand 0.5 km east of YJP.
YJP(ALLG)	alligator shaped mature jack pine stand 1.2 km south of YJP.
YJP (W)	regenerating stand of jack pine 0.8 km west of YJP.
YJP (SE)	regenerating jack pine stand 0.7 km southeast of YJP site.

1994 Shuttle Imaging Radar - C/ X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/XSAR) BOREAS data takes.

A) Space Radar Laboratory -1 Mission (April 9-19, 1994)

Orbit/Data Take No.	Ascending/ Descending Pass	Date	Local Time (MST)	Look Angle (degrees)
SSA, Prince Albert
20.1	A	April 10	9:27	29.45
36.3	A	April 11	9:09	33.48
52.3	A	April 12	8:51	36.8
68.2	A	April 13	8:31	39.46
84.2	A	April 14	8:11	41.65
100.2	A	April 15	7:51	43.4
116.3	A	April 16	7:31	44.82
117.1	D	April 16	9:00	33
132.4	A	April 17	7:10	45.94
133.1	D	April 18	8:38	55.53
148.2	A	April 18	6:48	46.8

NSA, Nelson House
21.1	D	April 10	11:57	25.21
37.1	D	April 11	11:37	23.58
53.1	D	April 12	11:22	21.86
69.1	D	April 13	10:59	20.05
70	D	April 13	12:35	57.84
85.1	D	April 14	10:39	18.32

B) Space Radar Laboratory -2 Mission (September 30 - October 10, 1994)

Orbit/Data
Take No. Ascending/
Descending Pass Date Local Time
(MST) Look Angle
(degrees)

SSA, Prince Albert

20.12 A Oct. 1 9:39 29.14

36.3 A Oct. 2 9:21 33.18

52.3 A Oct. 3 9:02 36.52

68.2 A Oct. 4 8:43 39.32

84.2 A Oct. 5 8:24 41.69

100.2 A Oct. 6 8:04 43.61

101.1 D Oct. 6 9:36 55.41

116.3 A Oct. 7 7:44 45.27

NSA, Nelson House

21.1 D Oct. 1 12:13 25.42

37.1 D Oct. 2 11:54 23.79

53.1 D Oct. 3 11:35 21.99

69.1 D Oct. 4 11:16 20.08

70 D Oct. 4 12:48 57.71

85.1 D Oct. 5 10:57 18.12

Orbit/Data Take No.	Ascending/ Descending Pass	Date	Local Time (MST)	Look Angle (degrees)
SSA, Prince Albert
20.12	A	Oct. 1	9:39	29.14
36.3	A	Oct. 2	9:21	33.18
52.3	A	Oct. 3	9:02	36.52
68.2	A	Oct. 4	8:43	39.32
84.2	A	Oct. 5	8:24	41.69
100.2	A	Oct. 6	8:04	43.61
101.1	D	Oct. 6	9:36	55.41
116.3	A	Oct. 7	7:44	45.27

NSA, Nelson House
21.1	D	Oct. 1	12:13	25.42
37.1	D	Oct. 2	11:54	23.79
53.1	D	Oct. 3	11:35	21.99
69.1	D	Oct. 4	11:16	20.08
70	D	Oct. 4	12:48	57.71
85.1	D	Oct. 5	10:57	18.12

During BOREAS, the Space Shuttle overflew the Southern Study Area and took SAR (Synthetic Apature Radar) images of the entire area twice, once in April 1994 and once in October 1994. The Shuttle SAR images are available from NASA JPL.

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Last Updated: October 27, 1997