Estimation of the North-South Transect of Eastern China forest biomass using remote sensing and forest inventory data

The assessment of forest biomass is required for the estimation of carbon sinks and a myriad other ecological and environmental factors. In this article, we combined satellite data (Thematic Mapper (TM) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS)), forest inventory data, and meteorological data to estimate forest biomass across the North-South Transect of Eastern China (NSTEC). We estimate that the total regional forest biomass was 2.306 × 10⁹ Megagrams (Mg) in 2007, with a mean coniferous forest biomass density of 132.78 Mg ha^-1 and a mean broadleaved forest biomass density of 142.32 Mg ha^-1. The mean biomass density of the entire NSTEC was 129 Mg ha^-1. Furthermore, we analysed the spatial distribution pattern of the forest biomass and the distribution of biomass along the latitudinal and longitudinal gradients. The biomass was higher in the south and east and lower in the north and west of the transect. In the northern part of the NSTEC, the forest biomass was positively correlated with longitude. However, in the southern part of the transect, the forest biomass was negatively correlated with latitude but positively correlated with longitude. The biomass had an increasing trend with increases in precipitation and temperature. The results of the study can provide useful information for future studies, including quantifying the regional carbon budget.