Manifestation of forest succession in optical imagery

Forest succession is a fundamental ecological process which has significant implications for natural resource management as well as ecosystem biological, biophysical and biogeochemical processes. Remote sensing is perhaps the only practical option to monitor forest succession for large areas in a timely and cost efficient manner. To improve our understanding of the manifestation of forest succession in optical imagery, we integrate the ZELIG forest ecosystem dynamics model with the GORT canopy reflectance model. Model simulation found that temporal trajectories of forest succession are highly nonlinear in both the rate and the direction of change in spectral space. During the early years of succession, background signatures. have a significant influence on the overall forest canopy reflectance. Analysis of Landsat TM data found the spectral/temporal pattern as simulated by GORT-ZELIG for a young successfully regenerated stand in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest. Further investigations are needed to validate and test the robustness of the simulated successional trajectories and determine their utility in monitoring forest succession.