Geodynamics Science Highlight
NASA GSFC Geodynamics 921

SCIENCE HIGHLIGHT

Geodynamics Branch, Code 921

December 2003

Geodynamics Branch Contributions to Special Fall AGU Sessions - 4

Harding and Carabajal Describe Early ICESat Observations of Forest Canopies

Waveform canopy measurements

David Harding (Code 921) and Claudia Carabajal (Code 926) presented a talk "Observations of Forest Canopy Heights" in the ICESat special session at the Fall 2003 American Geophysical Union meeting. They showed that the observed waveforms recorded by ICESat (right: yellow distribution of return energy versus elevation) very closely correspond to simulated waveforms (red) derived using an instrument model and high-resolution airborne laser mapping data of forested landscapes. This validation provides the foundation to use ICESat waveforms to measure canopy height, closure and crown depth in areas of low topographic relief (see waveform examples below).

plots of simulated and observed waveforms

Contact: David Harding, GSFC, Code 921 (David.J.Harding@nasa.gov)

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Responsible NASA official: Dr. Herbert Frey

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Last modified on January 16, 2004