Presentations
Abstract
Dennison, P.E., Roberts, D.A., and Regelbrugge, J., 2000, Characterizing Chaparral Fuels Using Combined Hyperspectral and Synthetic Aperture Radar Data, Presented at the Ninth Airborne Earth Science Workshop, Pasadena, CA, 23-25 February, 2000. Suburban Southern California is a complex mosaic of residential neighborhoods within fire-prone hard chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and grassland communities. Characterizing fuels within this wildland-urban interface is critical for determining wildfire hazard and for modeling wildfire behavior. Hyperspectral and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems can provide complementary descriptions of chaparral fuel characteristics. AVIRIS hyperspectral data allow identification of plant species and moisture status not possible with radar. Poor canopy penetration at optical wavelengths makes SAR superior for measuring large woody biomass. Field-measured biomass components, including live herbaceous biomass and size-classed woody biomass, were compared to liquid water absorption from AVIRIS and cross-polarized backscatter from TOPSAR. Maps of vegetation type and stand age were used to further strengthen the relationships between field biomass and the remotely-sensed variables.