ALOS PALSAR for characterizing wooded savannas in Northern Australia

With the successful launch of Japan’s Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array L-band SAR (PALSAR) and the recent provision of a Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS-1) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mosaic for north Australia, significant opportunities for characterizing, mapping and monitoring the structural diversity and biomass of wooded savannas in Australia have been provided. This paper gives an overview of research undertaken and preparations being made to support such mapping in the state of Queensland. Preliminary observations on the integration of ALOS PALSAR and Landsat-derived Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) for mapping woody regrowth and dead standing trees are presented.