黄河三角洲典型湿地地上植被生物量空间分布反演

Remote sensing inversion of the spatial distribution of aboveground vegetation biomass in typical wetlands of the Yellow River Delta

  • 摘要: 湿地生态系统在调节气候、净化水质和保护生物多样性等方面具有重要功能。湿地植被地上生物量(Aboveground biomass, AGB)是衡量湿地生态健康的重要指标,精准估算IAGB对湿地保护与恢复至关重要。利用多源遥感数据(Landsat-8、Sentinel-2)和GEE(Google Earth Engine)平台,针对黄河三角洲湿地的植被IAGB进行反演。对比5种机器学习模型,构建基于遥感波段、植被指数和水体指数的生物量模型,结合实地采样数据,评估不同遥感因子对IAGB估算的影响,最终实现黄河三角洲湿地IAGB的空间分布制图。结果表明:刁口河区域IAGB均值为112.05~170.09 g/m2,清水沟区域IAGB均值为114.72 ~165.47 g/m2。黄河三角洲湿地植被IAGB值分布在0~746.00 g/m2之间,低IAGB值区域IAGB≤304.00 g/m2)分布主要集中于离海较近的滩涂区域,IAGB中值区间(304.00 g/m2IAGB≤436.00 g/m2)区域分布较为聚集且分布面积最大,高IAGB值区域(IAGB>436.00 g/m2)主要分布在河道两侧。研究结果可为黄河三角洲湿地的生态保护与恢复提供科学依据,并为湿地碳储量评估及气候变化研究提供重要数据支持。

     

    Abstract: Wetland ecosystems perform a wide range of critical ecological functions, including regulating regional and global climate, purifying water, and conserving biodiversity. Among the various ecological indicators used to assess wetland health, aboveground biomass (IAGB) of vegetation has been widely recognized as a fundamental parameter, as it directly reflects vegetation productivity, nutrient cycling, and carbon storage capacity. Accurately estimating integrated aboveground biomass (IAGB) is therefore of great significance for wetland protection, ecological restoration, and long-term monitoring of ecosystem services. Traditional ground-based measurement methods, although precise at local scales, are constrained by high cost, labor intensity, and limited applicability for capturing the large-scale and temporally dynamic characteristics of wetlands. This challenge highlights the necessity of developing remote sensing-based approaches that can provide spatially explicit, cost-efficient, and repeatable biomass estimates. In this study, we focus on the wetlands of the Yellow River Delta, one of the most ecologically important coastal wetlands in China, characterized by complex hydrological processes, tidal influences, and rapid land-sea interactions. To address the limitations of traditional field surveys, we integrate multi-source satellite remote sensing datasets from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 with the computational capacity of the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to estimate IAGB across this dynamic wetland region. Ground-based IAGB sampling data collected in the Yellow River Delta were used as reference measurements to calibrate and validate biomass prediction models. A comparative analysis of five machine learning algorithms was conducted to assess their predictive performance in estimating IAGB. These models incorporated a diverse set of predictors, including raw spectral bands, vegetation indices, and water-related indices, which are particularly relevant in wetland ecosystems due to the strong influence of hydrological conditions on vegetation distribution and growth. The results revealed significant spatial variation in IAGB across different wetland regions. Specifically, in the Diaokou River area, mean IAGB values ranged from 112.05 to 170.09 g/m2, while in the Qingshuigou area, mean IAGB values ranged from 114.72 to 165.47 g/m2. Across the broader Yellow River Delta wetlands, IAGB values ranged from 0 to 746.00 g/m2, illustrating the wide heterogeneity of biomass distribution under varying environmental conditions. Spatially, areas with low IAGB values (≤ 304.00 g/m2) were mainly distributed along tidal flats near the sea, where vegetation coverage is sparse due to high salinity and frequent tidal inundation. Medium IAGB regions (304.00 g/m2 < IAGB≤ 436.00 g/m2) were the most widespread, representing zones of moderate vegetation productivity. In contrast, high IAGB values (> 436.00 g/m2) were primarily observed along riverbanks, reflecting favorable hydrological conditions, nutrient availability, and soil moisture that support dense vegetation growth. These findings not only provide new insights into the spatial distribution of wetland vegetation biomass but also underscore the ecological drivers of biomass variability, particularly the influence of proximity to the sea and rivers. Importantly, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating multi-source remote sensing data with advanced machine learning algorithms for biomass estimation in wetland ecosystems. By combining spectral and index-based variables with ground-truth data, the study improves the accuracy and reliability of biomass predictions. Moreover, the methodological framework developed here shows strong potential for application beyond the Yellow River Delta, as it can be adapted to other wetland regions worldwide for biomass estimation, ecological assessment, and carbon stock evaluation. In conclusion, this research highlights the importance of accurate IAGB estimation for understanding the ecological functions of wetlands, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem service provision. The results provide valuable scientific evidence to inform wetland ecological protection and restoration strategies in the Yellow River Delta, while also supplying essential data for wetland carbon storage assessment and climate change research. Moreover, the study demonstrates that integrating remote sensing technologies, machine learning approaches, and field-based validation constitutes a powerful means of advancing wetland monitoring and management. By linking large-scale remote observations with detailed field measurements, this research makes a significant contribution to both the theoretical understanding and practical application of biomass estimation in wetland ecosystems, ultimately supporting sustainable wetland management and global climate change mitigation.

     

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