POTENTIAL OF SAR FOR FOREST BOLE VOLUME ESTIMATION

MAESTRO 1 data from the Flevoland test site in the Netherlands have be en used for this study. From a complementary ground data collection, t he bole volumes of a large number of stands of mainly poplar and ash h ave been estimated. The relationships between radar backscattering and bole volumes have been examined experimentally and theoretically. In the case studied, the radar backscattering sensitivity to bole volumes increases as the wavelengths increase, and is highest at P band. The sensitivity of the radar backscattering to variations of forest canopy components and moisture contents has been investigated theoretically at P band. It is important to obtain information on such variations be fore the inversion problem can be solved. The present study indicates a potential for bole volume determination by P-band SAR.