Annual forest aboveground biomass changes mapped using ICESat/GLAS measurements, historical inventory data, and time-series optical and radar imagery for Guangdong province, China

•A new mapping scheme of forest aboveground biomass(AGB) was proposed.•Two stochastic models were compared to simulate forest AGB.•A pixel-based algorithm was developed to create reliable yearly forest mask.•Changes in forest AGB in terms of climate and economy zones were analyzed.•Climate and human activities contributing to AGB dynamics were intensively assessed.