Biophysical properties of wetlands vegetation retrieved from satellite images

The investigation carried out at wetlands in Biebrza Basin, the biggest area of the marshes and swamps in Central Europe, aimed at finding the best biophysical properties of wetlands vegetation to characterise marshland habitats. The various soil-vegetation indices on the basis of all considered spectral bands of satellites as Landsat +ETM, SPOT, ERS-2, NOAA, ENVISAT have been calculated. The GEMI and EVI index calculated from SPOT VEGETATION was the best for distinguishing vegetation classes. Significant correlation between LAI measured at the ground and the indices was with GEMI and EVI index. Soil moisture values calculated from ERS-2 and ENVISAT microwave data well characterise marshland humidity classes. For the retrieval of the biophysical parameters as LAI (Leaf Area Index), vegetation moisture (VM) and soil moisture (SM), ERS-2.SAR and ENVISAT ASAR data acquired at VV, HV, VH and HH polarisations at two different viewing angles (IS2, IS4) have been applied. Evapotranspiration was assessed using NOAA AVHRR and meteorological data. ERS-2 and ENVISAT images have been obtained from ESA for AO-ID122 project