Mapping of ALOS PALSAR σ0-based forest stem volume classification map

ALOS data have provided useful information on forest cover and biomass since 2006. Unfortunately, topographic effects influence illumination and shadow conditions of mountainous areas so that accuracy statements of the biomass derived from ALOS data are confused with ground truth data. Therefore, in this study, the test area was divided by directions and regression of backscattering coefficient σ
⁰
and forest stem volume according to the directions was analyzed. As a result, HH and HV polarization σ
⁰
value of westfacing slope and are always higher in case of east-facing slope, it proved topographic effects of ALOS PALSAR data. Also, since HV has wider dynamic range than HH, HV is more sensitive to forest stem volume than HH. Through these results, we produced sigma-nought-based forest stem volume classification map by directions and tried mosaic.