Estimating Quebec provincial forest resources using ICESat/GLAS

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 862-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross Nelson ◽  
Jonathan Boudreau ◽  
Timothy G. Gregoire ◽  
Hank Margolis ◽  
Erik Næsset ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Model ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Standard Errors ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Laser Altimeter ◽  
Vegetation Zone ◽  
Cover Type ◽  
Vegetation Zones ◽  
Covariance Term ◽  
Crown Closure

Ground plots, airborne profiling and space lidar (light detection and ranging) measurements of canopy height and crown closure, space radar topographic data, a Landsat cover type map, and a vegetation zone map were used in a model-assisted, two-phase sampling design to estimate the aboveground biomass and carbon resources of Quebec. It was determined that a simple random sampling estimator, with covariance terms added, could be used to quantify the variability of regional Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) biomass estimates where interorbit distances are, on average, ≥15 km apart. Prediction error increased standard errors, on average, 24.4%, 4.6%, and 2.8% at the cover type, vegetation zone, and provincial levels, respectively. Inclusion of the covariance term in the calculation of grouped cover type variances increased the vegetation zone standard errors up to 3.7 times and the provincial standard errors 15.6 times. In the southern commercial forests of Quebec, GLAS underestimated ground-based biomass values by 7.3% (stratified linear model) and 10.2% (nonstratified linear model). Quebec forests support 2.57 ± 0.33 gigatonnes of carbon (nonstratified linear model). Approximately 25% of that carbon was found to be located in two southern vegetation zones (northern hardwood and mixedwood), another 25% in two northern vegetation zones (taiga and treed tundra), and the remaining 50% in the boreal zone.

scholarly journals Riparian Vegetation Density Mapping of an Extremely Densely Vegetated Confined Floodplain

Hydrology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 176
Author(s):  
István Fehérváry ◽  
Tímea Kiss
Keyword(s):  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Submerged Vegetation ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Vegetation Zone ◽  
Density Mapping ◽  
Vegetation Zones ◽  
Branch Density ◽  
Vegetation Patches

The most crucial function of lowland-confined floodplains with low slopes is to support flood conveyance and fasten floods; however, obstacles can hinder it. The management of riparian vegetation is often neglected, though woody species increase the vegetation roughness of floodplains and increase flood levels. The aims are (1) to determine the branch density of various riparian vegetation types in the flood conveyance zone up to the level of artificial levees (up to 5 m), and (2) to assess the spatial distribution of densely vegetated patches. Applying a decision tree and machine learning, six vegetation types were identified with an accuracy of 83%. The vegetation density was determined within each type by applying the normalized relative point density (NRD) method. Besides, vegetation density was calculated in each submerged vegetation zone (1–2 m, 2–3 m, etc.). Thus, the obstacles for floods with various frequencies were mapped. In the study area, young poplar plantations offer the most favorable flood conveyance conditions, whereas invasive Amorpha thickets and the dense stands of native willow forests provide the worst conditions for flood conveyance. Dense and very dense vegetation patches are common in all submerged vegetation zones; thus, vegetation could heavily influence floods.

Molecular identification of diazotroph microbial consortia in mountain soil

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 664-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahela Carpa ◽  
Anca Butiuc-Keul ◽  
Cristina Dobrotă ◽  
Vasile Muntean
Keyword(s):  
Gene Diversity ◽  
Nifh Gene ◽  
Flood Plain ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Microbial Consortia ◽  
Nitrogen Fixing ◽  
Vegetation Zone ◽  
Vegetation Zones ◽  
Primer Sets ◽  
Nifh Genes

AbstractNitrogen fixing microbial consortia from soil samples taken from five altitudinal vegetation zones (alpine, subalpine, coniferous, beech, Maleia flood plain) of Parâng Massif, Romania, were isolated and identified. Molecular characterisation of nitrogen fixing consortia was carried out by PCR and nested PCR with 7 primer sets specific to nifH genes. All nifH genes are specific to nitrogen fixation and are found within phylogenetically related organisms which have the nitrogenase enzyme complex. These molecular studies allowed the assessment of nifH gene diversity within these nitrogen fixing microbial consortia from different type of soils. At high altitude, a consortium of nitrogen fixing bacteria dominated by Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum brasilense was found. Clostridium, Rhizobiales, Herbaspirillum, Frankia species were also found in different rations depending on the altitudinal vegetation zone.

scholarly journals Relationships among Four-Dimensional Hybrid Ensemble–Variational Data Assimilation Algorithms with Full and Approximate Ensemble Covariance Localization

2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 591-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengsi Liu ◽  
Ming Xue
Keyword(s):  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Linear Model ◽  
Control Variable ◽  
Adjoint Model ◽  
Background Error ◽  
Background Error Covariance ◽  
Error Covariance ◽  
Covariance Term ◽  
Observation Space ◽  
Static Background

Abstract Ensemble–variational data assimilation algorithms that can incorporate the time dimension (four-dimensional or 4D) and combine static and ensemble-derived background error covariances (hybrid) are formulated in general forms based on the extended control variable and the observation-space-perturbation approaches. The properties and relationships of these algorithms and their approximated formulations are discussed. The main algorithms discussed include the following: 1) the standard ensemble 4DVar (En4DVar) algorithm incorporating ensemble-derived background error covariance through the extended control variable approach, 2) the 4DEnVar neglecting the time propagation of the extended control variable (4DEnVar-NPC), 3) the 4D ensemble–variational algorithm based on observation space perturbation (4DEnVar), and 4) the 4DEnVar with no propagation of covariance localization (4DEnVar-NPL). Without the static background error covariance term, none of the algorithms requires the adjoint model except for En4DVar. Costly applications of the tangent linear model to localized ensemble perturbations can be avoided by making the NPC and NPL approximations. It is proven that En4DVar and 4DEnVar are mathematically equivalent, while 4DEnVar-NPC and 4DEnVar-NPL are mathematically equivalent. Such equivalences are also demonstrated by single-observation assimilation experiments with a 1D linear advection model. The effects of the non-flow-following or stationary localization approximations are also examined through the experiments. All of the above algorithms can include the static background error covariance term to establish a hybrid formulation. When the static term is included, all algorithms will require a tangent linear model and an adjoint model. The first guess at appropriate time (FGAT) approximation is proposed to avoid the tangent linear and adjoint models. Computational costs of the algorithms are also discussed.

scholarly journals Forest damage inventory using the local pivotal sampling method

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelia Roberge ◽  
Anton Grafström ◽  
Göran Ståhl
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Design ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Monte Carlo Sampling ◽  
Forest Damage ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Auxiliary Data ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Damage Scenarios ◽  
Forest Region

Specially designed forest damage inventories, directed to areas with potential or suspected damage, are performed in many countries. In this study, we evaluate a new approach for damage inventories in which auxiliary data are used for the sample selection with the recently introduced local pivotal sampling design. With this design, a sample that is well spread in the space of the auxiliary variables is obtained. We applied Monte Carlo sampling simulation to evaluate whether this sampling design leads to more precise estimates compared with commonly applied baseline methods. The evaluations were performed using different damage scenarios and different simulated relationships between the auxiliary data and the actual damages. The local pivotal method was found to be more efficient than simple random sampling in all scenarios, and depending on the allocation of the sample and the properties of the auxiliary data, it sometimes outperformed two-phase sampling for stratification. Thus, the local pivotal method may be a valuable tool to cost-efficiently assess the magnitude of forest damage once outbreaks have been detected in a forest region.

scholarly journals Station correction analysis for surface-wave magnitudes of New Zealand earthquakes

1999 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Rhoades ◽  
D. J. Dowrick
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Surface Wave ◽  
Linear Model ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Vertical Component ◽  
Horizontal Component ◽  
Standard Errors ◽  
Station Correction ◽  
The Mean

Station terms and standard errors are presented for 345 world-wide stations used in the determination of surface-wave magnitudes of 190 selected New Zealand earthquakes over the period 1901-1993 [1]. These will facilitate the estimation of surface-wave magnitudes of other earthquakes in the New Zealand region. The station terms and the residuals from the linear model used to estimate them are both found to be weakly related to the mean distance from the earthquakes recorded by each station. The horizontal and vertical components at a given site are treated as separate stations. The station term for the horizontal component tends to exceed that for the vertical component at mean distances in the 20°-40° range.

scholarly journals Evaluation of BAER surface model for aerosol optical thickness retrieval over land surface

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 2645-2679
Author(s):  
Y. S. Chiang ◽  
W. von Hoyningen-Huene ◽  
K. S. Chen ◽  
A. Ladstätter-Weißenmayer ◽  
J. P. Burrows
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Linear Model ◽  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Linear Method ◽  
Aerosol Optical Thickness ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Surface Reflectance ◽  
Land Cover Type ◽  
Cover Type ◽  
Vegetation Fraction

Abstract. Estimation of surface reflectance is essential for an accurate retrieval of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) by satellite remote sensing approach. Due to the variability of surface reflectance over land surfaces, a surface model is required to take into account the crucial factor controlling this variability. In the present study, we attempted to simulate surface reflectance in the short-wave channels with two methods, namely the land cover type dependent method and a two-source linear model. In the two-source linear model, we assumed that the spectral property can be described by a mixture of vegetated and non-vegetated area, and both the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and the vegetation continuous field (VCF) was applied to summarize this surface characteristic. By comparing our estimation with surface reflectance data derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), it indicated that the land cover type approach did not provide a better estimation because of inhomogeneous land cover pattern and the mixing pixel properties. For the two-source linear method, the study suggested that the use of NDVI as parameterization for vegetation fraction can reflect the spectral behavior of shortwave surface reflectance, despite of some deviation due to the averaging characteristics in our linear combination process. A channel-dependent offset and scalar factor could enhance reflectance estimation and further improve AOT retrieval by the current Bremen AErosol Retrieval (BAER) approach.

scholarly journals Estimating Trends With a Linear Model: Reply to Sauer et al

The Condor ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 440-443
Author(s):  
Jonathan Bart ◽  
Brian Collins ◽  
R. I G. Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Linear Model ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Estimating Equations ◽  
Weighting Scheme ◽  
Standard Errors ◽  
Trend Estimation ◽  
Sample Size Calculations ◽  
Modelo Lineal ◽  
Estimation Models

Abstract Sauer et al. (2004) advocate the use of trend estimation models that adjust counts for differences among observers. We agree that such adjustments are sometimes needed, and we noted (Bart et al. 2003) that they may readily be carried out prior to using the estimation method we described. Including observer covariates, however, is not always necessary and substantially reduces precision, as Sauer et al. (2004) acknowledge. Furthermore, under plausible conditions, including observer covariables introduces bias rather than removing it. In addition, the weighting scheme used in the estimating-equations approach may introduce bias. Our method avoids these sources of bias, is simpler and more flexible than the estimating- equations approach (e.g., carrying out power and sample-size calculations is much easier with our approach), and has smaller standard errors than the estimating-equations approach, especially when counts fluctuate widely. Model-based methods, including the estimating-equations approach, also have advantages, particularly in assessing complex influences on the counts. We recommend that analysts consider both approaches; comparing results obtained with the different methods may be especially informative. Estimación de Tendencias con un Modelo Lineal: Respuesta a Sauer et al Resumen. Sauer et al. (2004) recomiendan el uso de modelos de estimación de tendencias que ajusten los conteos a las diferencias existentes entre observadores. Nosotros estamos de acuerdo en que dichos modelos podrían ser útiles, y sugerimos que estos ajustes pueden incorporarse fácilmente antes de usar el mé todo de estimación que describimos. Nosotros introdujimos nuestro método porque es más sencillo y más flexible que el método que requiere estimar ecuaciones (e.g., realizar cálculos de poder estadístico y de tamaños de muestra es mucho más fácil con nuestro mé todo), y porque el nuestro se desempeñó mejor que el de estimación de ecuaciones cuando los conteos fluctuaron ampliamente. Adicionalmente, el procedimiento de pesaje usado en el método de estimación de ecuaciones podría introducir sesgos, mientras que el procedimiento lineal que nosotros describimos se pesa a sí mismo y no es susceptible a este error. Sin embargo, el método de estimación de ecuaciones también ofrece ventajas, particularmente en su habilidad para manejar modelos complejos. Recomendamos que los análisis consideren ambos procedimientos; comparar los resultados obtenidos mediante ambos métodos podría ser particularmente informativo.

scholarly journals Plant species associated with different levels of species richness and of vegetation cover as indicators of desertification in Burkina Faso (West Africa)

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 3-8
Author(s):  
Marco Schmidt ◽  
Georg Zizka
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Vegetation Zone ◽  
Vegetation Zones ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Different Levels

Desertification is a major problem in Sudano-sahelian West Africa, including the loss of biodiversity and vegetation cover. The loss of related ecosystem services is having a severe impact on human wellbeing. To facilitate assessments of these aspects of desertification, we decided to find plant species suitable as indicators. Based on a large database of vegetation plot data for Burkina Faso, we identified species associated with high or low levels of species richness and vegetation cover by calculating average values of these measures from vegetation plots on which they occur. To account for the differences between the dry Sahel and the more humid Sudan, we separated the plots of our study area in three vegetation zones (Sahel, North Sudan, South Sudan). Furthermore, herbs and woody plants were analysed separately, as they were usually represented in different plot sizes in the primary data. For each combination of species richness or vegetation cover, vegetation zone and growth form we identified ten species indicating low and another ten species indicating high values and assigned indicator values based on the average values of these species in the relevés.

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