Investigations on Potential Relationship between Biomass and Surface Temperature using Thermal Remote Sensing over Tropical Deciduous Forests

Abstract

The forest temperature and forest biomass are important parameters in concern to forest ecosystem and related parameters. Satellite remote sensing data is the best possible source for obtaining information on both regional and global scales. Landsat TM is used to retrieve the surface temperature using spectral information and radiation heat flux parameters for a tropical deciduous forest area of Munger forests (Bihar, India). Surface emissivity values derived from spectral band information are used for estimating surface temperature. Sample plots by random-sampling approach are selected for developing plot-based forest inventory; thus leading to plot-based biomass assessment. Investigation is carried out for apparent relationship between the biomass and surface temperature. A logarithmic relation is observed between the two. Areas with vegetation have lower temperature profiles as compared to non-vegetative regions. Results reveal the potential of the sensor by simultaneous use of thermal and visible spectral bands along with the forest inventory data.

Keywords: Above-ground biomass, forest surface temperature (FST), surface emissivity, temperature/vegetation index (TVX), Landsat TM