This Thesis presents a framework for modelling species-specific site quality
index (SQI) at a spatial resolution of 250 m by integrating biophysical variables of
growing degree days (GDD), soil water content (SWC), and incident photosynthetically
active radiation (PAR) in descriptions of potential tree growth. Development of GDD
maps is based on processing and blending remotely-sensed data acquired with the
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor on the Terra satellite
and ETM+ sensor on Landsat-7 satellite at spatial resolutions of 250 m and 28.5 m.
Descriptions of SWC are based on a temperature-vegetation wetness index (TVWI) that
relies on MODIS-based optical and thermal image products. PAR is estimated with an
existing solar-radiation distribution model. SQI is defined as a function of species vital
attributes and species environmental response to GDD, TVWI, and PAR. The methods
are applied to a balsam fir [bF; Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.] dominated region in
northwest New Brunswick. Comparisons between SQI and field-based estimates of site
index and enhanced vegetation index showed that about 66 and 88% of the values
corresponding to a series of Forest Development Survey lines (691 in total) were within
16% of SQI values. On average 92.1% of high bF-content stands (> 50% composition)
in the area fell on medium-to-very high SQI values (> 0.50). Based on these agreements,
SQI can be perceived as a good predictor of potential tree-species growth in the
selection of optimal sites for biomass and wood fibre production.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:UNB.1882/1033 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Quazi K., Hassan |
| Contributors | Bourque, C. P. A. |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
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