Abstract
Maximum tree height is an important indicator of forest vegetation in understanding the properties of plant communities. In this paper, we estimated regional maximum tree heights across the forest of the Great Khingan Mountain in Inner Mongolia with the allometric scaling and resource limitations model. The model integrates metabolic scaling theory and the water–energy balance equation (Penman–Monteith equation) to predict maximum tree height constrained by local resource availability. Monthly climate data, including precipitation, wind speed, vapor pressure, air temperature, and solar radiation are inputs of this model. Ground measurements, such as tree heights, diameters at breast height, and crown heights, have been used to compute the parameters of the model. In addition, Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) data is used to verify the results of model prediction. We found that the prediction of regional maximum tree heights is highly correlated with the GLAS tree heights (R2 = 0.64, RMSE = 2.87 m, MPSE = 12.45%). All trees are between 10 to 40 m in height, and trees in the north are taller than those in the south of the region of research. Furthermore, we analyzed the sensitivity of the input variables and found the model predictions are most sensitive to air temperature and vapor pressure.
Highlights
Forests, as a crucial part of terrestrial vegetation, play a central role in regulating the carbon and water cycles [1,2,3,4]
The ASRL model assumes that: (1) the tree can extract the resources from the environment which are needed for growth; (2) the ability of absorbing resources depends on the size of the tree; and
(a) The distribution the maximum tree heights of the Mongolia based on the predictions of the maximum tree heights of the Great Khingan Mountain in Inner Mongolia based on the ofpredictions improved ASRL
Summary
As a crucial part of terrestrial vegetation, play a central role in regulating the carbon and water cycles [1,2,3,4]. The improved ASRL model was used to map continuous maximum forest canopy heights of the Greater Khingan Mountain in Inner Mongolia with actual measurements, climatic data, and remote sensing data. Vegetation classification based on IGBP [32] derived from MODIS land cover type product (MCD12Q1) at a 500-m spatial resolution was used to define forest area Another ancillary data named MODIS Vegetation Continuous Filed (VCF) at 250-m spatial resolution was used to identify forest land with percent tree cover over 40 (Figure 2b). Global Surface Altimetry Data (GLA14 product) from 2003 to 2005 was used to extract maximum tree heights to verify predictions of the ASRL model.
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