Northern forest ecosystem dynamics using coupled models and remote sensing

Forest ecosystem dynamics modeling, remote sensing data analysis, ann a geo graphical information system (GIS) were used together to determine the poss ible growth and development of a northern forest in Maine, USA. Field measu rements and airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data were used to produ ce maps of forest cover type and above ground biomass. These forest attribu te maps derived with remote sensing data, along with a conventional soils m ap, were used to identify the initial conditions for forest ecosystem model simulations. Using this information along with ecosystem model results ena bled the development of predictive maps of forest development The results o btained were consistent with observed forest conditions and expected succes sional trajectories. The study demonstrated that ecosystem models might be used in a spatial context when parametrized and used with georeferenced dat a sets. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 2001. All Rights Reserved.