Improving Earth observation derived characterization of woody vegetation for global drylands using ICESat-2 data: moving beyond canopy heights to biomass modelling
Njoki Kahiu, New Mexico State University, nkahiu@nmsu.edu (Presenter)
Niall Hanan, New Mexico State University, nhanan@nmsu.edu
Julius Anchang, New Mexico State University, anchang@nmsu.edu
Wenjie Ji, New Mexico State University, wenjieji@nmsu.edu
Lara Prihodko, New Mexico State University, prihodko@nmsu.edu
Qiuyan Yu, New Mexico State University, qiuyanyu@nmsu.edu
The tropical and temperate tree-grass systems including seasonal savannas, shrublands and grasslands are critical world biomes found on all continents, except Antarctica. Although they are currently undergoing serious anthropogenic pressures driven by human population increase exacerbated by ongoing climate change related challenges, they are understudied and underrepresented in Earth Observation (EO) data and derived metrics, in favor of taller and dense woody cover ecosystems such as forests, assumed to act as larger carbon sinks in above and below ground woody biomass and soil organic matter. However, the tree-grass dryland systems also provide a significant carbon sink. support large quantities of carbon in above- and below-ground woody biomass and soil organic matter.
The tendency of EO systems to ignore the savannas and drylands holds true for the Ecosystem Structure and Biomass Estimation research foci of both the ICESat-1 and ICESat-2 missions, where the terrestrial vegetation emphasis has been on taller stature and higher carbon density regions of the World. The recent inclusion of global savannas and drylands in ICESat-2 Land-Vegetation Along-Track Product (ATL08) has enabled better characterization of most woody vegetation in these ecosystems. Thus, here we showcase our approach and some of the products we have developed to fill some of the gaps we perceive in ICESat-2 and other EO data products in tree-grass dryland ecosystems including gridded canopy heights, canopy cover and above ground woody biomass.
Associated Project(s):
Poster Location ID: 2-34
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Poster Session 2
Session Date: Wed (May 10) 5:15-7:15 PM
CCE Program: TE