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Imaging Laser Altimetry in the Amazon: Mapping Large Areas of Topography, Vegetation Height and Structure, and BiomassA flight mission of NASA GSFC's Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS) is planned for June-August 2003 in the Amazon region of Brazil. The goal of this flight mission is to map the vegetation height and structure and ground topography of a large area of the Amazon. This data will be used to produce maps of true ground topography, vegetation height, and estimated above-ground biomass and for comparison with and potential calibration of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. Approximately 15,000 sq. km covering various regions of the Amazon will be mapped. The LVIS sensor has the unique ability to accurately sense the ground topography beneath even the densest of forest canopies. This is achieved by using a high signal-to-noise laser altimeter to detect the very weak reflection from the ground that is available only through small gaps in between leaves and between tree canopies. Often the amount of ground signal is 1% or less of the total returned echo. Once the ground elevation is identified, that is used as the reference surface from which we measure the vertical height and structure of the vegetation. Test data over tropical forests have shown excellent correlation between LVIS measurements and biomass, basal area, stem density, ground topography, and canopy height. Examples of laser altimetry data over forests and the relationships to biophysical parameters will be shown. Also, recent advances in the LVIS instrument will be discussed.
Document ID
20030032202
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Blair, J. Bryan
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Nelson, B.
(INPA)
dosSantos, J.
(Instituto de Pesquisas Espaciais Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil)
Valeriano, D.
(Instituto de Pesquisas Espaciais Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil)
Houghton, R.
(Woods Hole Research Center MA, United States)
Hofton, M.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Lutchke, S.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Sun, Q.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Geosciences (General)
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Geophysical Union and Large Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: December 7, 2002
End Date: December 13, 2002
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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