Landcover attributes from ICESat GLAS data in Central Siberia

Abstract

NASA's ICESat Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) was launched in January 2003 and collected lidar data during February and September of that year. Lidar is a laser altimeter that measures the distance from the instrument to the surface by measuring the time elapsed between the pulse emission and the reflected return. The returned signal may identify multiple returns originating from trees, buildings and other objects and permits the calculation of their height. Sampling the returns at discrete time intervals enables backscatter profiles to be constructed. Lidar data can provide estimates of other structural parameters such as biomass, stand volume and leaf area. This study used GLAS data acquired over our study sites in central Siberia to examine the signal as a source of information of forest stand characteristics. Example lidar profiles are presented and preliminary analysis is described. The results indicate that GLAS profile information may be useful for understanding MODIS landcover classes