Litcius/Paper detail

Spatial resolution for forest carbon maps

Laura Duncanson, Neha Hunka, Tommaso Jucker, John Armston, Nancy L. Harris, Temilola Fatoyinbo, C. A. Williams, Jeff W. Atkins, Brett Raczka, Shawn Serbin, Michael Keller, Ralph Dubayah, Chad Babcock, Mark A. Cochrane, Andrew T. Hudak, G. C. Hurtt, Paul Montesano, L. Monika Moskal, Taejin Park, Sassan Saatchi, Carlos Alberto Silva, Hao Tang, Rodrigo Vargas, Aaron R. Weiskittel, Konrad Wessels, S. J. Goetz

2025Science23 citationsDOI

Abstract

Forests are central to climate solutions, and transparent and accurate data on forest carbon stocks and fluxes are critical for scientists and decision-makers. Satellite-based forest carbon maps have recently proliferated from public agencies such as NASA and the private sector. These maps have tended toward ever-higher spatial resolutions. However, higher spatial resolutions increase the uncertainties of carbon maps, rendering products at very high spatial resolution largely meaningless for forest carbon monitoring.

Topics & Concepts

Carbon fibersRemote sensingImage resolutionResolution (logic)Environmental scienceGeographyComputer scienceComputer visionArtificial intelligenceAlgorithmComposite numberRemote Sensing and LiDAR ApplicationsRemote Sensing in AgricultureAtmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics