Global carbon balance of the forest: satellite-based L-VOD results over the last decade

Summary

This comprehensive reference review establishes L-VOD (vegetation optical depth at L-band) as an essential satellite remote-sensing approach for monitoring global forest carbon stocks and above-ground biomass. Unlike traditional optical and microwave methods that saturate in dense canopies, L-VOD operates effectively up to ~400 t/ha AGB with coarse but globally consistent 25 km × 25 km spatial resolution and annual temporal frequency. The authors synthesise applications across tropical (Amazon, Congo), boreal (Siberia, Canada), temperate, and other biomes, filling a gap in the literature by analysing L-VOD's physical basis, validation performance, and role in tracking decadal forest carbon balance trends.

Regional applicability

L-VOD satellite monitoring methods are applicable to UK temperate forest carbon accounting and national forest inventory validation at landscape scales, potentially complementing existing NFI data and improving annual carbon stock estimates. However, the coarse 25 km resolution may be less suitable for spatially heterogeneous UK woodlands; integration with finer-resolution optical sensors and ground validation remains necessary for operational UK policy use.

Key measures

L-band vegetation optical depth (L-VOD) index; above-ground biomass (AGB) in tonnes per hectare; forest carbon stocks and inter-annual variations; saturation effects at L-band frequency (~1.4 GHz)

Outcomes reported

The study reviewed the physical principles, validation performance, and applications of L-VOD (vegetation optical depth at L-band) satellite remote sensing for monitoring annual forest above-ground biomass and carbon stocks globally over the past decade. Results demonstrate L-VOD's capability to track continental-scale forest carbon balance variations across tropical, boreal, and temperate biomes with 25 km × 25 km spatial resolution.

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