Alternative methods for assessing and monitoring mangrove forests

红树林被认为是世界上生产力最高的生态系统之一，既为陆地和海洋食物网服务，又为热带沿海边缘化的人民提供服务，是当地一种基本的可再生资源，是抵御海啸、海平面上升和风暴潮的屏障。然而，这些森林湿地正在经历超过陆地热带雨林的年损失速度。保护这些森林的一个主要限制是无法获得有关其中许多森林的范围和状况的最新信息。因此，我提议的研究的一个重点是评估新的星载传感器，包括加拿大的Radatsat-2，是否可以用于从这些林分提取重要的生物物理参数数据(例如树高、树密度、生物量)。这些雷达卫星能够在夜间和云层中成像，现在配备了传感器，可能首次允许对准永久云层覆盖地区的红树林进行高精度测绘。红树林丧失的主要原因之一是旱地引水工程(如水坝)。因此，我还打算使用历史现场数据和卫星数据来模拟世界上两条最大的河流及其红树林不断变化的水文数据之间的关系。

Mangroves are considered one of the most productive ecosystems in the world, serving both terrestrial and marine food webs as well as acting, for marginalized peoples of tropical coasts, as an essential local renewable resource and barrier against tsunamis, sea-level rise and storm surges. However, these forested wetlands are experiencing annual rates of loss that exceed that of terrestrial tropical rainforests. One main limitation to their protection is the inability to receive updated information regarding the extent and condition of many of these forests. Consequently, a focus of my proposed research is to assess whether new space-borne sensors, including Canada's Radatsat-2, can be used to extract vital biophysical parameter data (e.g. tree height, tree density, biomass) from these stands. Able to image at night and through clouds, these radar satellite are now equipped with sensors that could possibly, for the first time, allow highly accurate mapping of mangroves in quasi-permanent cloud covered regions. One of the major causes of mangrove loss is upland water diversion projects (e.g. dams). Consequently, I also intend to model relationships between changing hydrological data for two of the world's largest rivers and their mangrove forests using historical in situ and satellite data.