High-Latitude Forest Biomass Density Map from ICESat-2 Lidar

Northern hemisphere forests above 50 degrees latitude have their aboveground dry woody biomass density mapped at a 30-meter resolution. This circa 2020 dataset was produced by ORNL_CLOUD for NASA, combining ICESat-2 lidar samples from 2019-2021 with Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 imagery and Copernicus DEM data using a two-step statistical modeling approach. It is designed for boreal-wide carbon assessment and fills a spatial data gap from the GEDI mission.

Use Cases

• Quantifying regional carbon stocks using the predicted Aboveground Biomass Density (AGBD) values.
• Modeling forest ecosystem dynamics by analyzing relationships between AGBD and vegetation indices like NDVI, NDWI, and NBR.
• Assessing biomass change over time by using this circa 2020 map as a baseline for comparison with future datasets.
• Validating other biomass models or satellite products using the ICESat-2 lidar-derived estimates as a reference.
• Incorporating topographic influences on biomass by analyzing the slope and elevation covariates from Copernicus DEM.

Strengths

• Provides high-resolution (30-meter) biomass estimates for a vast and data-sparse region.
• Includes per-pixel uncertainty estimates derived from bootstrapping both modeling steps.
• Integrates multiple data sources: field plots, ICESat-2 lidar, Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 composites, and Copernicus DEM.
• Applies rigorous data filters, using only strong beams, growing season data, and clear-sky conditions from ICESat-2.

Limitations

• Temporal representation is aggregated from 2019-2021 data into a single 'circa 2020' map, not a single snapshot.
• Conflicting last updated dates exist across platforms (2026-03 13 and 2021-09-30), creating uncertainty about version currency.
• Non-vegetated areas like water and urban zones are masked out, limiting analysis in those land cover types.

Provenance

Source

ORNL_CLOUD for NASA

Collection Method

Two-step modeling: 1) OLS regression relating field plot AGBD to ICESat-2 lidar samples, 2) random forest models extending predictions using HLS vegetation indices and Copernicus DEM topography.

Time Range

2019 to 2021

Freshness

2026-03-13 17:25:51.953512

Geography

High northern latitude boreal forests, extending southward to 50 degrees latitude.