Biomass structure is an important feature of terrestrial vegetation. The parameters of forest biomass structure are important for forest monitoring, biomass modelling and the optimal utilization and management of forests. In this paper, we used the most comprehensive database of sample plots available to build a set of multi-dimensional regression models that describe the proportion of different live biomass fractions (i.e., the stem, branches, foliage, roots) of forest stands as a function of average stand age, density (relative stocking) and site quality for forests of the major tree species of northern Eurasia. Bootstrapping was used to determine the accuracy of the estimates and also provides the associated uncertainties in these estimates. The species-specific mean percentage errors were then calculated between the sample plot data and the model estimates, resulting in overall relative errors in the regression model of −0.6%, −1.0% and 11.6% for biomass conversion and expansion factor (BCEF), biomass expansion factor (BEF), and root-to-shoot ratio respectively. The equations were then applied to data obtained from the Russian State Forest Register (SFR) and a map of forest cover to produce spatially distributed estimators of biomass conversion and expansion factors and root-to-shoot ratios for Russian forests. The equations and the resulting maps can be used to convert growing stock volume to the components of both above-ground and below-ground live biomass. The new live biomass conversion factors can be used in different applications, in particular to substitute those that are currently used by Russia in national reporting to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and the FAO FRA (Food and Agriculture Organization’s Forest Resource Assessment), among others.

The absorption of sunlight by oceanic constituents significantly contributes to the spectral distribution of the water-leaving radiance. Here it is shown that current parameterizations of absorption coefficients do not apply to the optically complex waters of the Crimea Peninsula. Based on in situ measurements, parameterizations of phytoplankton, nonalgal, and total particulate absorption coefficients are proposed. Their performance is evaluated using a log–log regression combined with a low-pass filter and the nonlinear least-square method. Statistical significance of the estimated parameters is verified using the bootstrap method. The parameterizations are relevant for chlorophyll a concentrations ranging from 0.45 up to $2\mathrm{mg}/{\mathrm{m}}^3$.

To enhance the efficiency of machine-learning algorithms of optical remote sensing imagery processing, optimization techniques are evolved of the land surface objects pattern recognition. Different methods of supervised classification are considered for these purposes, including the metrical classifier operating with Euclidean distance between any points of the multi-dimensional feature space given by registered spectra, the K-nearest neighbors classifier based on a majority vote for neighboring pixels of the recognized objects, the Bayesian classifier of statistical decision making, the Support Vector Machine classifier dealing with stable solutions of the mini-max optimization problem and their different modifications. We describe the related techniques applied for selected test regions to compare the listed classifiers.

This paper describes a problem of thematic processing of hyperspectral aerospace images. A recommended technique is based on a decoding algorithm and makes it possible to construct an effective...

The problem of segmentation of natural and technogenic objects by panchromatic satellite images of ultra-high spatial resolution (<1 m) using textur