System, method, and apparatus for remote measurement of terrestrial biomass

A method of remote measurement of terrestrial biomass contained in vegetative elements present in an area of interest, the method comprising:

• providing an airborne VHF radar system in combination with a laser radar system, the VHF radar system comprising a linear antenna array;
• overflying the area of interest while directing radar energy from the VHF radar system toward the area of interest, wherein a plurality of radar resolution cells are defined on the area of interest;
• using the VHF radar system to collect backscatter data from the radar energy as a function of incidence angle and frequency for each of the plurality of given radar resolution cells in the area of interest;
• using the laser radar system to determine above ground level data and height of the vegetative elements in each of the plurality of radar resolution cells;
• and,
• determining a magnitude of the biomass in the vegetative elements based at least in part on the backscatter data and data from the laser radar system for each of the plurality of radar resolution cells in the area of interest.

A system for remote measurement of terrestrial biomass contained in vegetative elements present in an area of interest, comprising:

• a VHF radar system operable to be connected to an airborne object in a down-looking manner, the VHF radar system being further operable to direct radar energy toward the area of interest and to collect backscatter data from the radar energy as a function of incidence angle and frequency for each of a plurality of radar resolution cells defined on the area of interest;
• an airborne laser radar system operable to be connected to an airborne object in the down-looking manner, the airborne laser radar system being further operable to measure above ground level data and height of the vegetative elements in each of the plurality of radar resolution cells;
• and,
• a processor operable to determine a magnitude of the biomass in the vegetative elements based at least in part on the backscatter data and data from the laser radar system for each of the plurality of radar resolution cells in the area of interest.

A system for remote measurement of terrestrial biomass contained in vegetative elements present in an area of interest, comprising:

• a VHF radar system operable to be connected to an airborne object in a down-looking manner, the VHF radar system being further operable to direct radar energy toward the area of interest and to collect backscatter data from the radar energy as a function of incidence angle and frequency for each of a plurality of radar resolution cells defined on the area of interest;
• an airborne laser radar system operable to be connected to an airborne object in the down-looking manner, the airborne laser radar system being further operable to measure above ground level data and height of the vegetative elements in each of the plurality of radar resolution cells;
• and,
• a processor operable to determine a magnitude of the biomass in the vegetative elements based at least in part on the backscatter data and data from the laser radar system for each of the plurality of radar resolution cells in the area of interest;
• wherein the VHF radar system comprises a linear antenna array.