Performance of GNSS-R GLORI data for biomass estimation over the Landes forest

The Above-Ground Biomass (AGB) is a key parameter used for the modeling of the carbon cycle. The aim of this study is to make an experimental assessment of the sensitivity of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reflected signals to forest AGB. This is based on the analysis of the data recorded during several GLORI airborne campaigns in June and July 2015, over the Landes Forest (France). Ground truth measurements of tree height, density and diameter at breast height (DBH), as well as AGB, were carried out for 100 maritime pine forest plots of various ages. The GNSS-R data were used to obtain the right-left (ΓRL) and right-right (ΓRR) reflectivity observables, which are geo-referenced in accordance with the known positions of relevant GPS satellites and the airborne receiver. The correlations between forest AGB and the GNSS-R observables yield the highest sensitivity at high elevation angles (70°-90°). In this case, for (ΓRL) and the reflectivity polarization ratio (PR = ΓRL/ΓRR) estimated with a coherent integration time Tc = 20 ms, the coefficients of determination R2 are equal to 0.67 and 0.51, with a sensitivity of −0.051 dB/[106g (Mg) ha−1], and −0.053 dB/[Mg ha−1], respectively. The relationships between AGB and the observables are confirmed through the use of a 5-fold cross validation approach, with several different coherent integration times.