Geodynamics Science Highlight
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
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).
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