Abstract
The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between radar backscattering (σ°, β° and γ) of a multi-polarized Radarsat-2 C-band image with the structural attributes of regenerating mangrove vegetation located at the mouth of the Amazon River. CBH (circumference at breast height), height and species data were collected to characterize vegetation structure and above-ground biomass (AGB) at 17 plots with a total of 3090 measured individuals. Significant relationships between the linear σ° in VH (vertical transmit, horizontal receive) cross-polarization produced r2 values of 0.63 for the average height, 0.53 for the DBH, 0.46 for the basal area (BA) and 0.52 for the AGB. Using co-polarized HH (horizontal transmit, horizontal receive) and VV (vertical transmit, vertical receive), r2 values increased to 0.81, 0.79, 0.67 and 0.79, respectively. Vegetation attribute maps of average canopy height, DBH and AGB were generated for the study area. We conclude that multi-polarized Radarsat-2 images were adequate for characterization of vegetation attributes in areas of mangrove regeneration.
Highlights
Mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems in the world [1], exporting nutrients and organic matter to adjacent waters and coastal environments, and providing for a complex aquatic food web [1,2]
This paper investigates the use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) in regenerating mangrove forests
This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the structural attributes of the regenerating mangrove vegetation and multi-polarized data from the Radarsat-2 (C-band) sensor using statistical regression models
Summary
Mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems in the world [1], exporting nutrients and organic matter to adjacent waters and coastal environments, and providing for a complex aquatic food web [1,2]. A traditional method of estimating biomass is by manually measuring structural parameters of vegetation through allometric equations. Research studies have attempted to produce inventories and establish efficient approaches for the monitoring and conservation of mangroves [1,3,5,14,15]. These ecosystems are difficult to access because of the maze of roots and stems, and unconsolidated substrate and flood tides [16]. Radar instruments operate in the microwave spectrum and make a suitable sensor to monitor low-latitude environments characterized by the frequent presence of clouds, rain and smoke
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