Aboveground Biomass for Howland Forest, Maine, 2012-2023

Overview

Description

This dataset holds aboveground biomass (AGB) estimates at 10-m spatial resolution for the Howland Research Forest in central Maine for 2012, 2015, 2017, 2021, and 2023. Forest inventory data were collected using 50 fixed-area plot sampling during the summers of 2021, 2023, and 2024. Plots included permanent inventory plots around existing flux towers and additional plots to ensure representation of various forest conditions. Each plot had a radius of 7.98 m. In addition, leaf-off airborne LiDAR data were collected by the USGS 3DEP project in 2012, 2015, and 2023, and leaf-on data were obtained from the NASA G-LiHT project for 2017 and 2021. The LANDIS-II forest landscape model along with its Biomass Succession extension was used to simulate ecosystem dynamics in Howland Forest. Then, a random forest (RF) model was used to generate wall-to-wall biomass maps for the research forest from the LiDAR data. The RF model was calibrated from in situ AGB measurements from plots and simulated AGB values for the LiDAR acquisition years. Howland Research Forest is a low-elevation transitional forest dominated by spruce and hemlock, with conifer and northern hardwood species. The data are provided in cloud optimized GeoTIFF format.

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Data Use and Citation

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