RT Journal Article
T1 Improving precision of field inventory estimation of aboveground biomass through an alternative view on plot biomass
A1 Kleinn, Christoph
A1 Magnussen, Steen
A1 Nölke, Nils
A1 Magdon, Paul
A1 Álvarez González, Juan Gabriel
A1 Fehrmann, Lutz
A1 Pérez Cruzado, César
K1 Branch biomass
K1 Foliage biomass
K1 Stem biomass
K1 Biomass surface plots
K1 Sampling surfaces
K1 Standard error of estimation
AB We contrast a new continuous approach (CA) for estimating plot-level above-ground biomass (AGB) in forest inventories with the current approach of estimating AGB exclusively from the tree-level AGB predicted for each tree in a plot, henceforth called DA (discrete approach). With the CA, the AGB in a forest is modelled as a continuous surface and the AGB estimate for a fixed-area plot is computed as the integral of the AGB surface taken over the plot area. Hence with the CA, the portion of the biomass of in-plot trees that extends across the plot perimeter is ignored while the biomass from trees outside of the plot reaching inside the plot is added. We use a sampling simulation with data from a fully mapped two hectare area to illustrate that important differences in plot-level AGB estimates can emerge. Ideally CA-based estimates of mean AGB should be less variable than those derived from the DA. If realized, this difference translates to a higher precision from field sampling, or a lower required sample size. In our case study with a target precision of 5% (i.e. relative standard error of the estimated mean AGB), the CA required a 27.1% lower sample size for small plots of 100 m2 and a 10.4% lower sample size for larger plots of 1700 m2. We examined sampling induced errors only and did not yet consider model errors. We discuss practical issues in implementing the CA in field inventories and the potential in applications that model biomass with remote sensing data. The CA is a variation on a plot design for above-ground forest biomass; as such it can be applied in combination with any forest inventory sampling design.
PB Springer
YR 2020
FD 2020
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/40677
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/40677
LA eng
NO Kleinn, C., Magnussen, S., Nölke, N., Magdon, P., Álvarez González, J.G., Fehrmann, L. & Pérez Cruzado, C. (2020). Improving precision of field inventory estimation of aboveground biomass through an alternative view on plot biomass. Forest Ecosystems 7(57), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-020-00268-7
DS Minerva
RD 24 abr 2026