Tropical climates - The Global Climate System: Patterns, Processes, and Teleconnections - page 86

Table 3.1 Land cover changes in the Altamira subsite study area: 1985-91

Percentage land cover

Land cover class 1985 1988 1991

Mature forest 44.32 40.71 39.21

Pasture/grass 18.71 10.88 5.71

Initial SS (SS1) 10.68 13.78 14.67

Intermediate SS (SS2) 6.43 18.82 26.42

Advanced SS (SS3) 1.33 6.91 10.65

Bare/nearly bare 14.74 2.72 0.93

Crop/agriculture 2.38 4.78 1.01

Water/wetland 1.41 1.41 1.41

Modified from Geocarto International (1993), Vol. 8, No. 4, p. 67.

Table 3.2 Land cover changes in the full Altamira study area: 1985-91

Percentage land cover

Land cover class 1985 1988 1991

Mature forest 64.01 58.73 56.99

Pasture/grass 10.82 7.92 3.06

Initial SS (SS1) 5.58 8.58 10.91

Intermediate SS (SS2) 4.19 9.97 15.47

Advanced SS (SS3) 0.91 3.96 5.93

Bare/nearly bare 7.59 1.71 1.33

Crop/agriculture 1.16 2.82 0.64

Water/ wetland 5.74 6.31 5.68

Modified from Geocarto International (1993), Vol. 8, No. 4, p. 69.

Quantitative insights into net gains or losses of carbon in the sequestered or
gaseous states are becoming possible to derive through biomass modeling
studies combining field and spectral data. Research is being conducted to use
moderate resolution spectral data and field sample data to inform lower
resolution sensor data to acquire accurate regional LULC information.
Neural network classification is being implemented in this scaling-up
research that promises to provide greater quantification of carbon sequestra-
tion/CO 2 release associated with remote sensing-derived LULC changes over
large areas.