HR: 0800h
AN: B51A-0044 [Abstracts]
TI: Landscape Phenological Characterization Using Time Series of Spectral Vegetation Indices: Arizona and its National Parks
AU: * van Leeuwen, W J
EM: leeuw@ag.arizona.edu
AF: University of Arizona, Office of Arid Lands Studies, Geography and Regional Development
1855 E. 6th Str, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States
AU: Kariyeva, J
EM: jahank@email.arizona.edu
AF: University of Arizona, Office of Arid Lands Studies, Geography and Regional Development
1855 E. 6th Str, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States
AB:
The Arizona landscape is undergoing changes in vegetation growth patterns that are due to disturbances related
to wildfire, extreme drought and precipitation events, and human interactions. Many vegetation communities are
also being affected by invasive species, variation in species range, and patch biodiversity. One means of
evaluating and monitoring these vital signs that is of interest to the National Park Monitoring Network is vegetation
phenology. Time series of spectral vegetation indices are used to examine the vegetation growth trajectories in
response to disturbance, climate and human interactions. Vegetation phenology of the Arizona landscape is
characterized with a focus on National Parks and surrounding areas. Long term MODIS and AVHRR time series
of vegetation index data (1989-current) are used to characterize phenological metrics that include: time of the
start, peak and end of the growing season with corresponding vegetation index values and time integrated
metrics related to seasonal biomass production. The spatio-temporal phenological characterization utilizing
MODIS and AVHRR time series data show distinctive vegetation response patterns and trajectories that provide a
means to monitor the natural resources of Arizona and the National Parks and provide a better understanding of
landscape response to disturbance, climate and human activities that can better inform conservation and
management practices.
DE: 0429 Climate dynamics (1620)
DE: 0439 Ecosystems, structure and dynamics (4815)
DE: 0480 Remote sensing
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting