Relationship between green leaf biomass volumetric density and ERS-2 SAR backscatter of four vegetation formations in the semi-arid zone of Israel

Relationships between ERS-2 SAR backscatter and the biophysical properties of four Mediterranean vegetation formations (forest, shrubs, dwarf shrubs and herbaceous vegetation) were assessed. Low correlation was found between ERS-2 SAR backscatter and both aboveground biomass and LAI. However, significantly higher correlation (r =0.92) was found between ERS-2 SAR backscatter and a new index of Green leaf biomass Volumetric Density (GVD). These results stress the dominant influence of leaves in the uppermost part of the vegetation layer on ERS-2 SAR backscatter.