Forest biomass estimation in Shangri-La based on the remote sensing

Abstract

To provide a basis for analyzing the forest carbon cycle，carbon storage，and carbon changes，forest biomass，the main parameter for determining carbon cycle processes in terrestrial ecosystems，was estimated. Variables measured in the study site of Shangri-La，Yunnan Province，included the vegetation index，precipitation，accumulated temperature，total radiation，and elevation. Established models of regional forest biomass estimations for spruce-fir forests （Abies georgei and Picea likiangensis），oak forests （Quercus aquifolioides），Yunnan pine forests （Pinus yunnanensis），and alpine pine forests （Pinus densata） were tested by combining layers of remote sensing integrated factors，of geographic comprehensive factors，and of the above listed variables. Then，forest biomass was estimated. Results revealed a total biomass of 1.14 hundred million tons with the following forest type biomass estimates in hundred million tons：spruce fir forests was 0.71，oak forests 0.14，Yunnan pine forests 0.09，and Alpine pine forests 0.20. Also，for these forest types，altitude and slope influenced distribution of total biomass，but aspect did not.［Ch，1 fig. 7 tab. 10 ref.］