Biomass Resources Distribution in the Terrestrial Ecosystem of China

In this study, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data and the multiple linear regression model were used to estimate distribution of biomass resources in 2010. The establishment of models, developed using different vegetation biomass sample data, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), leaf area index (LAI), meteorological data, coordinates, terrain data, and statistical data. Results based on a cross-validation approach show that the model can explain 95.6% of the variance in biomass, with a relative estimation error of 67 g·m for a range of biomass between 0–73,875 g·m. Spatial statistic results were consistent with the practical condition in most cases. The aboveand below-ground biomass (ABGB) of China was estimated to be 31.1 Pg (1 Pg = 1015 g) in 2010. The forest ecosystem has the largest total biomass, which represents about 70% of the whole terrestrial ecosystem. The desert ecosystem has minimum biomass value. The Belowground Endowment (BRE) varied differently in spatial distribution, with the high values occurring in the southeast and northeast. The low values were primarily distributed in north and northwest regions, where it is mostly desert and few plants. Biomass per capita indicates the availability of natural resources per capita. Tibet had the maximum biomass per capita (807 tone in 2010). Shanghai and Tianjin had the minimum biomass per capita, less than 500 kg. Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Beijing, and Hainan had negative growth of biomass per capita. OPEN ACCESS Sustainability 2015, 7 8549