Exploring the Relationship between Forest Canopy Height and Canopy Density from Spaceborne LiDAR Observations

Forest structure is a useful proxy for carbon stocks, ecosystem function and species diversity, but it not well characterised globally. However, Earth observing sensors, operating in various modes, can provide information on different components of forests enabling improved understanding their variations thereof. The Ice, Cloud Elevation Satellite (ICESat) Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS), providing LiDAR footprints from 2003 to 2009 with close global coverage, be used capture elements forest structure. Here, we evaluate simple allometric model that relates canopy height (RH100) density measurements explain spatial patterns structural properties. GLA14 data product (version 34) was applied across subdivisions the World Wildlife Federation ecoregions statistical properties were investigated. found correspond ICESat GLAS metrics (median mean squared error, MSE: 0.028; inter-quartile range 0.022–0.035). relationship between vary biomes, realms ecoregions, denser regions displaying greater increase values height, compared sparser or temperate forests. Furthermore, single parameter corresponded maximum globe. combination model, have potential application frameworks target retrieval above-ground biomass inform both niche highlighting areas conservation, potentially characterisation biophysical drivers