Microwave Remote Sensing for Monitoring Forest Vitality.

Kurzfassung

Reduced forest tree vitality and reduced canopy biomass are often a consequence of disadvantageous stand conditions like lack of water supply and low nutrient availability in the soil. We assume that a direct relationship exists between the stand vitality and the variations of the tree water status and the canopy density. Based on these relations we are investigating the relationship between forest vitality and radar backscatter by combining ground truth measurements, radar signatures from various airborne and spaceborne sensors and model calculations.