Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest Stand Variable Estimation Using SAR Data

Optical remote sensing data have been extensively used to derive biophysical properties that relate forest type and composition. However, stand density, stand height and stand volume cannot be estimated directly from optical remote sensing data owing to poor sensitivity between these parameters and spectral reflectance. The ability of microwave energy to penetrate within forest vegetation makes it possible to extract information on both the crown and trunk components from radar data. The type of polarization employed determines the radar response to the various shapes and orientations of the scattering mechanisms within the canopy or trunk. This study mainly presents experimental results obtained with airborne E-SAR using polarimetric C and L bands over the tropical dry deciduous forest of Chandrapur Forest Division, Maharashtra. A detailed documentation of the relationship between SAR C & L bands backscattering and forest stand variables has been provided in the present study through linear correlation. Linear correlation of the single channel SAR derived estimates with the field measured means show a good correlation between L HV backscattering coefficient with stand volume (r² = 0.71) and L HH backscattering coefficient with stand density (r² = 0.75). The results imply that SAR data has significant potential for stand menstruation in operational forestry.