Continued evolution of the Lower Mississippi: changes to fluvial islands over five decades (1965 to 2015)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Landsat Imagery ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
The Past ◽  
Channel Engineering ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Morphologic Evolution

<p>The lower Mississippi continues to adjust to upstream human impacts and channel engineering. Fluvial islands (vegetated sandy bars > 1 ha) are a key mode of riverine adjustment along the Lower Mississippi, and have substantially increased in number and size over the past five decades, from 112 in 1965 to 295 by 2015, which can largely be attributed to groyne construction. This study examines the morphologic evolution of fluvial islands from Cairo, IL to the downstream-most island at about Bonnet Carre Spillway (~5 km upstream of New Orleans). The analysis utilizes lidar DEMs, historic air photos, and adjacent hydrologic (stage) data. Additionally, changes to island vegetation were examined by comparison of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) calculated from analysis of Landsat imagery for 1996 with 2014.</p><p>While each island is somewhat unique and influenced by local scale factors, there are clear geomorphic differences between new islands and older islands. New islands (did not exist in 1965) do not have appreciable natural levees and the island high point is at about flood stage. Older islands that are stable and larger have formed natural levees, which are higher than average flood stage and often higher than the adjacent floodplain surface. The downstream slope of new islands is an order of magnitude higher than old islands, averaging 0.0028 m/m and 0.0009 m/m, respectively. This is likely attributed to the downstream growth of islands, increasing in length and aggradation on the downstream flank. Additionally, between 1996 and 2014 island vegetation matured, with the area of moderate vegetation decreasing at the expense of an increase in denser vegetation. A comparison of the NDVI for the same islands in 1996 and 2014 between Vicksburg and Red River Landing reveals an increase in vegetation health and density. While the area of islands classified as sandy (NDVI 0.1-0.2) and scrubby (NDVI 0.2-0.3) vegetation did not substantially change between 1996 and 2014, the amount of dense vegetation (NDVI > 0.5) considerably increased (from 3.2 km<sup>2</sup> to 9.8 km<sup>2</sup>) as the amount of moderate vegetation (NDVI 0.3-0.5) decreased (15.1 km<sup>2</sup> to 8.4 km<sup>2</sup>). The increase in vegetation density can be attributed to the increased amount of time since island formation was initiated, and a maturation of the island surface with its geomorphic development.</p><p>The change to fluvial islands over the past five decades represents continued geomorphic evolution of the Lower Mississippi. This is of interest because, although it occurs during a period in which sediment supply has dramatically decreased, with the influence of channel engineering there remains sufficient coarse sediment to drive fluvial landform evolution along the Lower Mississippi.</p>

Alpine sparsely vegetated areas in the eastern Qilian Mountains shrank with climate warming in the past 30 years

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biao Zeng ◽  
Fuguang Zhang ◽  
Taibao Yang ◽  
Jiaguo Qi ◽  
Mihretab G Ghebrezgabher
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Warming ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Qilian Mountains ◽  
Visual Interpretation ◽  
Hydrothermal Conditions ◽  
The Past ◽  
Distribution Ranges

Alpine sparsely vegetated areas (ASVAs) in mountains are sensitive to climate change and rarely studied. In this study, we focused on the response of ASVA distribution to climate change in the eastern Qilian Mountains (EQLM) from the 1990s to the 2010s. The ASVA distribution ranges in the EQLM during the past three decades were obtained from the Thematic Mapper remote sensing digital images by using the threshold of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and artificial visual interpretation. Results indicated that the ASVA shrank gradually in the EQLM and lost its area by approximately 11.4% from the 1990s to the 2010s. The shrunken ASVA with markedly more area than the expanded one was mainly located at altitudes from 3700 m to 4300 m, which were comparatively lower than the average altitude of the ASVA distribution ranges. This condition led to the low ASVA boundaries in the EQLM moving upwards at a significant velocity of 22 m/decade at the regional scale. This vertical zonal process was modulated by topography-induced differences in local hydrothermal conditions. Thus, the ASVA shrank mainly in its lower parts with mild and sunny slopes. Annual maximum NDVI in the transition zone increased significantly and showed a stronger positive correlation with significantly increasing temperature than insignificant precipitation variations during 1990–2015. The ASVA shrinkage and up-shifting of its boundary were attributed to climate warming, which facilitated the upper part of alpine meadow in the EQLM by releasing the low temperature limitation on vegetation growth.

scholarly journals Changes in Vegetation Phenology and Productivity in Alaska Over the Past Two Decades

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Potter ◽  
Olivia Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Vegetation Phenology ◽  
Vegetation Growth ◽  
The Past ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

Understanding trends in vegetation phenology and growing season productivity at a regional scale is important for global change studies, particularly as linkages can be made between climate shifts and the vegetation’s potential to sequester or release carbon into the atmosphere. Trends and geographic patterns of change in vegetation growth and phenology from the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite data sets were analyzed for the state of Alaska over the period 2000 to 2018. Phenology metrics derived from the MODIS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time-series at 250 m resolution tracked changes in the total integrated greenness cover (TIN), maximum annual NDVI (MAXN), and start of the season timing (SOST) date over the past two decades. SOST trends showed significantly earlier seasonal vegetation greening (at more than one day per year) across the northeastern Brooks Range Mountains, on the Yukon-Kuskokwim coastal plain, and in the southern coastal areas of Alaska. TIN and MAXN have increased significantly across the western Arctic Coastal Plain and within the perimeters of most large wildfires of the Interior boreal region that burned since the year 2000, whereas TIN and MAXN have decreased notably in watersheds of Bristol Bay and in the Cook Inlet lowlands of southwestern Alaska, in the same regions where earlier-trending SOST was also detected. Mapping results from this MODIS time-series analysis have identified a new database of localized study locations across Alaska where vegetation phenology has recently shifted notably, and where land cover types and ecosystem processes could be changing rapidly.

Isometric scaling in home-range size of male and female bobcats (Lynx rufus)

2009 ◽  
Vol 87 (11) ◽  
pp. 1052-1060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam W. Ferguson ◽  
Nathan A. Currit ◽  
Floyd W. Weckerly
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Spatial Dynamics ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Lynx Rufus ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Order Of Magnitude

For solitary carnivores a polygynous mating system should lead to predictable patterns in space-use dynamics. Females should be most influenced by resource distribution and abundance, whereas polygynous males should be strongly influenced by female spatial dynamics. We gathered mean annual home-range-size estimates for male and female bobcats ( Lynx rufus (Schreber, 1777)) from previous studies to address variation in home-range size for this solitary, polygynous carnivore that ranges over much of North America. Mean annual home ranges for bobcats (171 males, 214 females) from 29 populations covering the entire north to south and east to west range demonstrated female home-range sizes varied more than an order of magnitude and that, on average, males maintained home ranges 1.65 times the size of females. Male home-range sizes scaled isometrically with female home-range sizes indicating that male bobcats increase their home-range size proportional to female home-range size. Using partial correlation analysis we also detected an inverse relationship between environmental productivity, estimated using the normalized difference vegetation index, and home-range size for females but not males. This study provides one of the few empirical assessments of how polygyny influences home-range dynamics for a wide-ranging carnivore.

scholarly journals Generating annual estimates of forest fire disturbance in Canada: the National Burned Area Composite

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 878 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Hall ◽  
R. S. Skakun ◽  
J. M. Metsaranta ◽  
R. Landry ◽  
R.H. Fraser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Landsat Imagery ◽  
Fire Disturbance ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Burned Area ◽  
Average Accuracy ◽  
Mapping System

Determining burned area in Canada across fire management agencies is challenging because of different mapping scales and methods. The inconsistent removal of unburned islands and water features from within burned polygon perimeters further complicates the problem. To improve the determination of burned area, the Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation and the Canadian Forest Service developed the National Burned Area Composite (NBAC). The primary data sources for this tool are an automated system to derive fire polygons from 30-m Landsat imagery (Multi-Acquisition Fire Mapping System) and high-quality agency polygons delineated from imagery with spatial resolution ≤30m. For fires not mapped by these sources, the Hotspot and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index Differencing Synergy method was used with 250–1000-m satellite data. From 2004 to 2016, the National Burned Area Composite reported an average of 2.26 Mha burned annually, with considerable interannual variability. Independent assessment of Multi-Acquisition Fire Mapping System polygons achieved an average accuracy of 96% relative to burned-area data with high spatial resolution. Confidence intervals for national area burned statistics averaged±4.3%, suggesting that NBAC contributes relatively little uncertainty to current estimates of the carbon balance of Canada’s forests.

scholarly journals Assessment of Maize Growth and Development with High- and Medium-Resolution Remote Sensing Products

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 940
Author(s):  
Rocío Ballesteros ◽  
Miguel A. Moreno ◽  
Fellype Barroso ◽  
Laura González-Gómez ◽  
José F. Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Landsat Imagery ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Multilinear Regression ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Canopy Development

The availability of a great amount of remote sensing data for precision agriculture purposes has set the question of which resolution and indices, derived from satellites or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), offer the most accurate results to characterize vegetation. This study focused on assessing, comparing, and discussing the performances and limitations of satellite and UAV-based imagery in terms of canopy development, i.e., the leaf area index (LAI), and yield, i.e., the dry aboveground biomass (DAGB), for maize. Three commercial maize fields were studied over four seasons to obtain the LAI and DAGB. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and visible atmospherically resistant index (VARI) from satellite platforms (Landsat 5TM, 7 ETM+, 8OLI, and Sentinel 2A MSI) and the VARI and green canopy cover (GCC) from UAV imagery were compared. The remote sensing predictors in addition to the growing degree days (GDD) were assessed to estimate the LAI and DAGB using multilinear regression models (MRMs). For LAI estimation, better adjustments were obtained when predictors from the UAV platform were considered. The DAGB estimation revealed similar adjustments for both platforms, although the Landsat imagery offered slightly better adjustments. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the advantage of remote sensing platforms as a useful tool to estimate essential agronomic features.

scholarly journals Analisis Perubahan Penggunaan Lahan Menggunakan Metode NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) pada Kecamatan Natar, Kabupaten Lampung Selatan

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22
Author(s):  
Fattur Rachman
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Land Conversion ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Index Method ◽  
Landsat 7 ◽  
Open Land

Natar District is one of the districts in South Lampung Regency which has an area of 213.77 km2 or around 21,377 HA. In the agricultural sector, most of the land in Natar District is dominated by maize and paddy fields. This study aims to determine changes in land use in 2002, 2009 and 2019 in Natar District, South Lampung Regency. This study uses imagery from Landsat 7 and 8 processed in the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) method with the formula "NDVI = (NIR-RED) / (NIR + RED)". After processing the data, field observations were made to 30 sample points which were spread evenly throughout the Natar District. In this study, the results showed that land conversion to open land increased every year, on the other hand the area of land with low to moderate vegetation density decreased every year. In field observations, it was found that various land uses ranging from settlements, markets, and various uses for agricultural and plantation land.

scholarly journals Dynamics of Vegetation Greenness and Its Response to Climate Change in Xinjiang over the Past Two Decades

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 4063
Author(s):  
Jie Xue ◽  
Yanyu Wang ◽  
Hongfen Teng ◽  
Nan Wang ◽  
Danlu Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Dynamic Change ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
The Past

Climate change has proven to have a profound impact on the growth of vegetation from various points of view. Understanding how vegetation changes and its response to climatic shift is of vital importance for describing their mutual relationships and projecting future land–climate interactions. Arid areas are considered to be regions that respond most strongly to climate change. Xinjiang, as a typical dryland in China, has received great attention lately for its unique ecological environment. However, comprehensive studies examining vegetation change and its driving factors across Xinjiang are rare. Here, we used the remote sensing datasets (MOD13A2 and TerraClimate) and data of meteorological stations to investigate the trends in the dynamic change in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and its response to climate change from 2000 to 2019 across Xinjiang based on the Google Earth platform. We found that the increment rates of growth-season mean and maximum NDVI were 0.0011 per year and 0.0013 per year, respectively, by averaging all of the pixels from the region. The results also showed that, compared with other land use types, cropland had the fastest greening rate, which was mainly distributed among the northern Tianshan Mountains and Southern Junggar Basin and the northern margin of the Tarim Basin. The vegetation browning areas primarily spread over the Ili River Valley where most grasslands were distributed. Moreover, there was a trend of warming and wetting across Xinjiang over the past 20 years; this was determined by analyzing the climate data. Through correlation analysis, we found that the contribution of precipitation to NDVI (R2 = 0.48) was greater than that of temperature to NDVI (R2 = 0.42) throughout Xinjiang. The Standardized Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) was also computed to better investigate the correlation between climate change and vegetation growth in arid areas. Our results could improve the local management of dryland ecosystems and provide insights into the complex interaction between vegetation and climate change.

scholarly journals A Long-term Spatial and Temporal Analysis of NDVI Changes in Java Island Using Google Earth Engine

2021 ◽  
Vol 936 (1) ◽  
pp. 012038
Author(s):  
Benedict ◽  
Lalu Muhamad Jaelani
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Image Data ◽  
Temporal Analysis ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Angle Sensor ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Google Earth Engine

Abstract Java is Indonesia’s and the world’s most populous island. The increase in population on the island of Java reduces the area of forest and other vegetation covers. Landslides, floods, and other natural disasters are caused by reduced vegetation cover. Furthermore, it has the potential to lead to the extinction of flora and fauna. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) can be used to monitor the vegetation cover. This study analyzes the NDVI changes value from 2005 to 2020 using Terra and Aqua MODIS image data processed using Google Earth Engine. Processing was carried out in some stages: down-setting, performing NDVI processing, calculating monthly average NDVI, calculating annual average NDVI, and analyzing. From the study results, the NDVI value of Terra and Aqua MODIS data has a solid but imperfect correlation coefficient due to differences in orbital time which causes differences in solar zenith angle, sensor viewing angle, and azimuth angle. Then from this study, it was found that overall, changes in vegetation density cover on the island of Java decreased, which was indicated by the NDVI decline rate of -0.00047/year. The most significant decrease in NDVI value occurred in the period 2015–2016, covering an area of 13994.630 km2, and the most significant increase in NDVI occurred in the period 2010–2011, covering an area of 2256.101 km2.

scholarly journals Phenological behavior of Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) forest to snow and precipitation variability in Boutaleb and Babors Mountains, Algeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled Missaoui ◽  
Rachid Gharzouli ◽  
Yamna Djellouli ◽  
Frençois Messner
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Satellite Images ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Precipitation Variability ◽  
Monthly Precipitation ◽  
Cedrus Atlantica ◽  
The Past

Abstract. Missaoui K, Gharzouli R, Djellouli Y, Messner F. 2020. Phenological behavior of Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica)  forest to snow and precipitation variability in Boutaleb and Babors Mountains, Algeria. Biodiversitas 21: 239-245. Understanding the changes in snow and precipitation variability and how forest vegetation response to such changes is very important to maintain the long-term sustainability of the forest. However, relatively few studies have investigated this phenomenon in Algeria. This study was aimed to find out the response of Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) G.Manetti ex Carrière) forest in two areas (i.e Boutaleb and Babors Mountains) and their response to the precipitation and snow variability. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) generated from satellite images of MODIS time series was used to survey the changes of the Atlas cedar throughout the study area well as dataset of monthly precipitation and snow of the province of Setif (northeast of Algeria) from 2000 to 2018. Descriptive analysis using Standarized Precipitation Index (SPI) showed the wetter years were more frequent in the past than in the last two decades. The NDVI values changes in both areas with high values were detected in Babors Mountains with statistically significant differences. Our findings showed important difference in Atlas cedar phenology from Boutaleb mountains to Babors Mountains which likely related to snow factor.

scholarly journals A Calculation and Compiling Models of Land Cover Quality Index 2019 uses the Geographic Information System in Pariaman City, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 6406-6411
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Director General ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Forest Region

The purpose of calculation and compiling the Land Cover Quality Index (LCQI) is to evaluate the value of natural and environmental resources based on land cover conditions in an administrative region such as city, regency and province in Indonesia referring to the Regulation Director General of Pollution Control and Environmental Damage Number P.1/PPKL/PKLA.4/2018. The analytical method used in the calculation of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Maximum likelihood classification approach, and the preparation of LCQI calculation methods based on 1) sufficiency area (forest region) and forest cover at minimal 30% on rivers and islands; 2) Ability and suitability of land minimal 25%; and 3) a link with the direction of land use in urban areas of at minimal 30%. The results showed the vegetation density index value in Pariaman city was classified as a good category with a value of 0.474903 μm, the results of a land cover classification in Pariaman City with the largest region are found in mixed gardens land of 2,736.57 ha or 37%. Whereas the smallest region is found in cypress vegetation land as a greenbelt at the coastal border 12.06 ha or 0,16%. and the results of the LCQI calculation indicate the LCQI value in 2019 (24,06) which is in the alert classification (<50). The increase in land cover outside the forest region is mainly directed at increasing green open space because Pariaman City does not have natural forest which are vulnerable to changes in land cover because of its high population density

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