Determination of Green Phytomass in a Northern Boreal Forest by means of Landsat TM-data and a Forest Canopy Reflectance Model

The aim of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of using remotely sensed data for the determination of important biophysical parameters relevant to carbon modelling in northern boreal forests. Detailed ground and remotely sensed data (Landsat TM) have been collected in a forest area in Siggefora, central Sweden, dominated by Norway spruce and Scots pine. A forest canopy reflectance model has been used to model stand reflectances. Estimates of reflectances obtained from the model have been compared with reflectances measured in Landsat TM-data. The sensitivity of the model to different parameters has been analysed. Results of the study show that differences in satellite derived stand reflectances can be partly explained with a canopy reflectance model. The sensitivity analysis shows that conifer stand reflectance is influenced by the structural features rather than the leaf area index of the stand.