VOLUME AND FOREST COVER ESTIMATION OVER SOUTHERN SWEDEN USING AVHRR DATA CALIBRATED WITH TM DATA

In this paper an approach to extend held information across large regi ons is presented and validated. Total wood volume and volume for diffe rent tree-species were estimated in a calibration area using field dat a, digital map information and a partial Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) scene. Forest cover information was obtained from digital maps in the same area. The TM estimates and the forest cover information were then used to determine the statistical relations between these parameters and the spectral signature of NOAA-AVHRR pixels covering the same loca tion. Regression analysis was used to develop this relation. The regre ssion equations developed from the calibration area were then applied to a much larger area covering southern Sweden to estimate the forest parameters of interest.