REMOTE SENSING METHODS FOR PHYTOMASS ESTIMATION AND MAPPING OF TUNDRA VEGETATION

Abstract

Mapping of above-ground phytomass provides a baseline for monitoring climate-induced changes, especially in the northern regions. This is important for practical applications, such as assessing quality of pastures and defining reindeer migration routes. Use of very high resolution (1 m and better) aerial and satellite images is of particular interest, because changes at the level of individual trees can be monitored over comparatively large areas. The goals of this study were to: i) establish relations between phytomass values and structure and spectral reflectance derived from ground research and ii) upscale from ground data to QuickBird satellite imagery to compile maps of above-ground phytomass for key sites. As a result, the study has produced a preliminary map of the above-ground phytomass of lichens for a test site in the Tuliok Valley, Khibiny Mountains, central Kola Peninsula, Russia, with phytomass values well in line with fieldwork data.

Keywords

• above-ground phytomass
• lichens
• tuliok
• kola peninsula
• ground spectroradiometry
• quickbird
• mapping