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Regional estimation of current and future forest biomass
R A Mickler1, T S Earnhardt, J A Moore
1Mantech Environmental Technology, Inc., Raleigh, NC 27606, USA. robert_mickler@ncsu.edu
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|February 9, 2002
Summary
Wildland fires highlight fuel loading risks. This study quantifies forest carbon storage and productivity using satellite data and models to predict future changes and inform fire management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Forestry and Ecosystem Science
- Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis
- Climate Change and Carbon Cycling
Background:
- Past fire exclusion policies have led to hazardous forest fuel loading, increasing wildland fire risks.
- Accurate quantification of forest biomass and carbon storage is crucial for understanding fire regimes and ecosystem health.
- Predicting future forest growth and species distribution requires integrating climate, soil, and CO2 impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply a methodology for spatially quantifying forest carbon storage and net primary productivity (NPP) at a regional scale.
- To assess the impact of climate change and other factors on future forest biomass and productivity in the southern United States.
- To enhance forest inventory and monitoring by integrating satellite imagery with ecological models.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Landsat Thematic Mapper data combined with the PnET (Physiological Principles Predicting Ecosystem) productivity model.
- Incorporated soil water holding capacity and historical/projected climatic data.
- Employed USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data for forest area, type, and carbon storage estimates.
Main Results:
- Predicted annual NPP in 1992 ranged from 769-2634 g/m2/year across forest types, with a regional mean of 1448 g/m2/year.
- Predicted annual NPP for 2050 ranges from 913-2376 g/m2/year, with a regional mean of 1659 g/m2/year, indicating potential increases in productivity.
- The methodology successfully identified areas of high and low forest carbon storage potential and displayed changes in forest productivity from 1992 to 2050.
Conclusions:
- The integrated approach provides a robust method for spatially quantifying forest carbon and assessing forest productivity.
- Findings highlight the dynamic nature of forest carbon storage and productivity, influenced by environmental factors and projected climate change.
- This research addresses the critical need for accurate, spatially explicit data to inform forest management, carbon accounting, and wildland fire fuel assessments.