<h2>Ground-Based Forest Survey for Biomass Estimation by ALOS/PALSAR over
      Boreal Forest in Alaska and Carbon Dynamics</h2>
    <p ><strong>Researcher:</strong> Yongwon Kim<br />
        <strong>Funding Source: </strong>JAMSTEC (ANNEX) project<br />
        <strong>Collaborators:</strong> Drs. Suzuki, Ishii, and Park (JAMSTEC, Japan)</p>
      <p > The goals are 1) to estimate the forest above-ground biomass (hereafter, simply called &ldquo;biomass&rdquo;)
        in Alaska by ALOS/ PALSAR measurement for the mapping of its geographical distribution, and 2)
        to estimate the emissions of CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> along the trans-Alaska pipeline. </p>
      <p > The project is to conduct the field-based observation in boreal forest (100 m X 100 m) along
        the trans-Alaska pipeline during the growing season. To develop the estimation algorithm, it
        is inevitable to acquire in situ biomass by ground-based survey. Moreover, such ground-based
        information has to be acquired at as many sites as possible, so a quick measurement method is
        required. This project is to carry out the applicability of a combined way of Bitterlich Angle
        Count Sampling method and Sampled-tree Measuring (BACS-STM) method as a quick method for a boreal
        forest in Alaska. </p>
      <p > The ground-based biomass values are compared with the ALOS/PALSAR measurement in July or August
        2007. The result showed a strong linear relationship of them suggesting a feasibility of the
        mapping of the forest biomass in Alaska by ALOS/PALSAR.</p>
      <p > Validation of biomass with ALOS/PALSAR and ground-truth data provided terrestrial ecosystem
        modelers with synthetic data for the terrestrial carbon cycle in the Arctic.</p>