Biophysical Parameters Assessed from Microwaveand Optical Data

The study has been carried out at Biebrza Wetlands situated in the N-E part of Poland, a NATURA 2000 and Ramsar Convention test site in 2003-2009. It is one of the largest in Europe natural rich biotope with the large amount of unique species of flora and important zone for nesting and wintering for fauna. Data from microwave and optical satellite images and soil-vegetation ground measurements were analyzed to develop methods for monitoring and mapping biophysical parameters. Satellite data applied for the study included: ENVISAT.ASAR, ENVISAT.MERIS, ALOS.PALSAR, ALOS.AVNIR-2, and NOAA.AVHRR data. Optical images were used for classification of wetlands communities and calculation of vegetation index NDVI. Also, latent heat flux has been calculated using NOAA.AVHRR data and meteorological data. Microwave images acquired in different modes (ASAR IS2 and IS6, ALPSR.FBD) and polarizations (HH, HV, VV) were used for assessment and mapping of Leaf Area Index (LAI) and soil moisture (SM) for every habitat classified from optical images. Backscattering coefficient calculated from ALOS.PALSAR HV and ENVISAT.ASAR IS6 VV was applied for assessment of vegetation bio-parameters. Backscattering coefficient calculated from ALOS.PALSAR.FBD HH and ENVISAT.ASAR HH IS2 was used for SM assessment. The study was conducted in the framework of ESA PECS project No 98101 and ESA PI projects: C1P.7389 and AOALO.3742.