Temporal analysis of JERS-1/SAR images over regenerating forests in Brazilian Amazonia

For eighteen plots in mature and regenerating forests in Brazilian Amazonia the biomass was estimated and related to backscatter derived from a multitemporal set of JERS-1 L band SAR data. The relationship between backscatter and biomass reached an asymptote at around 60 T ha/sup -1/. There was a seasonal dependency in the backscatter of low biomass plots and this was attributed to a change in canopy water content. It was concluded that JERS-1 L band SAR data could be used to locate and estimate the area and biomass of young regenerating forest but if biomass change is to be estimated in these areas then images of the same season will be required.