Abrupt spatiotemporal land and water changes and their potential drivers in Poyang Lake, 2000–2012

Driven by various natural and anthropogenic factors, Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, has experienced significant land use/cover changes in the past few decades. The aim of this study is to investigate the spatial–temporal patterns of abrupt changes and detect their potential drivers in Poyang Lake, using time-series Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 16-day maximum value composite vegetation indices between 2000 and 2012. The breaks for additive seasonal and trend (BFAST) method was applied to the smoothed time-series normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), to detect the timing and magnitude of abrupt changes in the trend component. Large part of Poyang Lake (98.9% for trend component) has experienced abrupt changes in the past 13 years, and the change patterns, including the distributions in timing and magnitudes of major abrupt trend changes between water bodies and land areas were clearly differentiated. Most water bodies had abrupt increasing NDVI changes between 2010 and 2011, caused by the sequential severe flooding and drought in the two years. In contrast, large parts of the surrounding land areas had abrupt decreasing NDVI changes. Large decreasing changes occurred around 2003 at the city of Nanchang, which were driven by urbanization. These results revealed spatial–temporal land cover changing patterns and potential drivers in the wetland ecosystem of Poyang Lake.     

卫星遥感地表温度降尺度的光谱归一化指数法

针对卫星遥感技术监测地表温度(land surface temperature,LST)存在时空分辨率矛盾这一难题,以TsHARP温度降尺度算法为基础,根据地表覆盖类型的不同,分别选择与LST相关性更好的光谱指数(归一化植被指数,NDVI;归一化建造指数,NDBI;改进的归一化水体指数,MNDWI;增强型裸土指数,EBSI)提出了新的转换模型,并从定性和定量两个角度评价了TsHARP法和新模型的降尺度精度。结果表明:两种模型在提高LST空间分辨率的同时又能较好地保持MODIS LST影像热特征的空间分布格局,消除了原始1km影像中的马赛克效应,两种模型均能够达到较好的降尺度效果;全局尺度分析表明,不管是在降尺度结果的空间变异性还是精度方面,本文提出的模型(RMSE:1.635℃)均要优于TsHARP法(RMSE:2.736℃);TsHARP法在水体、裸地和建筑用地这些低植被覆盖区表现出较差的降尺度结果,尤其对于裸地和建筑用地更为明显(|MBE|3℃),新模型提高了低植被覆盖区地物的降尺度精度;不同季节的降尺度结果表明,两种模型都是夏、秋季的降尺度结果优于春、冬季,新模型的降尺度结果四季均好于TsHARP法,其中春、冬季的降尺度精度提升效果要优于夏、秋季。     

Monitoring vegetation dynamics with medium resolution MODIS-EVI time series at sub-regional scale in southern Africa

Currently there is a lack of knowledge on spatio-temporal patterns of land surface dynamics at medium spatial scale in southern Africa, even though this information is essential for better understanding of ecosystem response to climatic variability and human-induced land transformations. In this study, we analysed vegetation dynamics across a large area in southern Africa using the 14-years (2000–2013) of medium spatial resolution (250 m) MODIS-EVI time-series data. Specifically, we investigated temporal changes in the time series of key phenometrics including overall greenness, peak and timing of annual greenness over the monitoring period and study region. In order to specifically capture spatial and per pixel vegetation changes over time, we calculated trends in these phenometrics using a robust trend analysis method. The results showed that interannual vegetation dynamics followed precipitation patterns with clearly differentiated seasonality. The earliest peak greenness during 2000–2013 occurred at the end of January in the year 2000 and the latest peak greenness was observed at the mid of March in 2012. Specifically spatial patterns of long-term vegetation trends allowed mapping areas of (i) decrease or increase in overall greenness, (ii) decrease or increase of peak greenness, and (iii) shifts in timing of occurrence of peak greenness over the 14-year monitoring period. The observed vegetation decline in the study area was mainly attributed to human-induced factors. The obtained information is useful to guide selection of field sites for detailed vegetation studies and land rehabilitation interventions and serve as an input for a range of land surface models.     

Assessing land cover change resulting from large surface mining development

A remote sensing based land cover change assessment methodology is presented and applied to a case study of the Oil Sands Mining Development in Athabasca, Alta., Canada. The primary impact was assessed using an information extraction method applied to two LANDSAT scenes. The analysis based on derived land cover maps shows a decrease of natural vegetation in the study area (715,094 ha) for 2001 approximately −8.64% relative to 1992. Secondary assessment based on a key resources indicator (KRI), calculated using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI measurements acquired by NOAA–AVHRR satellites), air temperature and global radiation was performed for a time period from 1990 to 2002. KRI trend analysis indicates a slightly decreasing trend in vegetation greenness in close proximity to the mining development. A good agreement between the time series of inter-annual variations in NDVI and air temperature is observed increasing the confidence of NDVI as an indicator for assessing vegetation productivity and its sensitivity to changes in local conditions.     

Identification of environmental anomaly hot spots in West Africa from time series of NDVI and rainfall

Studies of the impact of human activity on vegetation dynamics of the Sahelian belt of Africa have been recently re-invigorated by new scientific findings that highlighted the primary role of climate in the drought crises of the 1970s–1980s. Time series of satellite observations revealed a re-greening of the Sahelian belt that indicates no noteworthy human effect on vegetation dynamics at sub continental scale from the 1980s to late 1990s. However, several regional/local crises related to natural resources occurred in the last decades despite the re-greening thus underlying that more detailed studies are needed. In this study we used time-series (1998–2010) of SPOT–VGT NDVI and FEWS–RFE rainfall estimates to analyse vegetation – rainfall correlation and to map areas of local environmental anomalies where significant vegetation variations (increase/decrease) are not fully explained by seasonal changes of rainfall. Some of these anomalous zones (hot spots) were further analysed with higher resolution images Landsat TM/ETM+ to evaluate the reliability of the identified anomalous behaviour and to provide an interpretation of some example hot spots. The frequency distribution of the hot spots among the land cover classes of the GlobCover map shows that increase in vegetation greenness is mainly located in the more humid southern part and close to inland water bodies where it is likely to be related to the expansion/intensification of irrigated agricultural activities. On the contrary, a decrease in vegetation greenness occurs mainly in the northern part (12°–15°N) in correspondence with herbaceous vegetation covers where pastoral and cropping practices are often critical due to low and very unpredictable rainfall. The results of this study show that even if a general positive re-greening due to increased rainfall is evident for the entire Sahel, some local anomalous hot spots exist and can be explained by human factors such as population growth whose level reaches the ecosystem carrying capacity as well as population displacement leading to vegetation recovery.     

Vegetation recovery monitoring over the waste dump in Haizhou opencast coalmine area,China, during 1975–2000 using NDVI and VF index

Vegetation condition monitoring has been done from 1975 to 2000 in the waste dump of Haizhou opencast coalmine area, China, using remote sensing techniques with the objective of improving our understanding of the temporal and spatial variation of vegetation recovery in the mining dump. Four historical vegetation indexes (NDVI, VF, soil brightness and vegetation greenness) from two Landsat 2 MSS images and two Landsat 5 TM images are extracted and analyzed. For the purpose of comparison and analysis two improved techniques such as normalization grading of change slope and image segmentation were used in this study. Based on the results obtained through the above analysis two conclusions are derived: (1) vegetation recovery in the study area is in an improved condition, (2) two remote sensing based vegetation indexes such as VF and NDVI are the optimal parameters to monitor vegetation condition, which could be used as the indicators of land reclamation progress in the mining area.     

Spatial analysis of human-induced vegetation productivity decline over eastern Africa using a decade (2001–2011) of medium resolution MODIS time-series data

Climate variation and land transformations related to exploitative land uses are among the main drivers of vegetation productivity decline and ongoing land degradation in East Africa. We combined analysis of vegetation trends and cumulative rain use efficiency differences (CRD), calculated from 250-m MODIS NDVI time-series data, to map vegetation productivity loss over eastern Africa between 2001 and 2011. The CRD index values were furthermore used to discern areas of particular severe vegetation productivity loss over the observation period. Monthly 25-km Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) data metrics were used to mask areas of rainfall declines not related to human-induced land productivity loss. To provide insights on the productivity decline, we linked the MODIS-based vegetation productivity map to land transformation processes using very high resolution (VHR) imagery in Google Earth (GE) and a Landsat-based land-cover change map. In total, 3.8 million ha experienced significant vegetation loss over the monitoring period. An overall agreement of 68% was found between the rainfall-corrected MODIS productivity decline map and all reference pixels discernable from GE and the Landsat map. The CRD index showed a good potential to discern areas with ‘severe’ vegetation productivity losses under high land-use intensities.     

用基于知识的决策树方法分层提取矿区土地类型——以湖北大冶为例

以湖北大冶为研究区,采用多时相陆地卫星遥感图像,通过不同波段组合,以及ironoxide指数和归一化差异植被指数(NDVI)等,详细分析了各地表地物光谱特征和空间特征,建立了研究区分类知识库表,采用决策二叉树法进行分类,得到了高精度分类结果图。基于不同时相分类结果的变化检测,通过对研究区水体污染、矿区复垦、耕地变化等分析,认为从1986～2002年,研究区水质虽有一定改善,但矿区植被退化严重,耕地大量减少,停产矿区复垦仅为20%,为合理保护矿区生态环境和科学管理采矿企业提供了有用资料。     

THE DEPARTMENT OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND REMOTE SENSING AT WUHAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY,PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Many remote sensing applications are predicated on the fact that there is a known relationship between climate and vegetation dynamics as monitored from space. However, few studies investigate vegetation index variation on individual homogeneous land cover units as they relate to specific climate and environmental influences at the local scale. This study focuses on the relationship between the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and different vegetation types through the derivation of vegetation indices from Landsat 7 ETM+ data (NDVI, Tasseled Cap, and SAVI). A series of closely spaced through time images from 1999 to 2002 were selected, classified, and analyzed for an area in northeastern Ohio. Supervised classification of the images allowed us to monitor the response in individual land cover classes to changing climate conditions, and compare these individual changes to those over the entire larger areas. Specifically, the images were compared using linear regression techniques at various time lags to PDSI values for these areas collected by NOAA. Although NDVI is a robust indicator of vegetation greenness and vigor, it may not be the best index to use, depending on the type of vegetation studied and the scale of analysis used. A combination of NDVI and other prominent vegetation indices can be used to detect subtle drought conditions by specifically identifying various time lags between climate condition and vegetation response.     

Using remote sensing imagery to determine the impact of land cover changes on potential runoff for the Mid-Cibolo Creek watershed,Texas

Land cover changes within watersheds have the potential to produce dramatic changes in surface hydrology, namely runoff, in the event of storms. The Mid-Cibolo Creek watershed in south-central Texas has experienced extensive land-cover change in the past two decades due to mass residential development and land clearing in the wake of urban growth along the I-35 corridor. This study determined land-cover changes within the basin using supervised classification to classify land cover from LANDSAT images for the years 1986 and 1999. Changes in runoff volume were then calculated using the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) runoff equation for a series of rainfall scenarios. The results showed that an overall increase in impervious cover and decrease in natural vegetative cover has occurred leading to larger runoff volumes for all storm scenarios. The findings are important for watershed scale urban expansion and land clearing practices as current methods suggest that flood risk is increased.     

Spatiotemporal analysis of vegetation index after typhoons in the mountainous watershed

An extensive land cover change was triggered by a series of typhoons, especially Typhoon Morakot in 2009 in Taiwan. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) series from multiple satellite images were applied to monitor the change processes of land cover. This study applied spatiotemporal analysis tools, including empirical orthogonal functions (EOF), and multiple variograms in analyzing space–time NDVI data, and detected the effects of large chronological disturbances in the characteristics of land cover changes. Spatiotemporal analysis delineated the temporal patterns and spatial variability of NDVI caused by these large typhoons. Results showed that mean of NDVI decreased but spatial variablity of NDVI increased after typhoons in the study area. The EOF can clarify the major component of NDVI variations and identify the core area of the NDVI changes. Various approaches showed consistent results that Typhoon Morakot significantly lowered the NDVI in land cover change process. Furthermore, the spatiotemporal analysis is an effective monitoring tool, which advocates the use of the index for the quantification of land cover change and resilience.     

Spatial Analysis of Urban Growth Impacts on Vegetative Greenness with Landsat TM Data

Abstract

Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data have been used to monitor land cover types and to estimate biophysical parameters. However, studies examining the spatial relationships between land cover change and biophysical parameters are generally lacking. With the integration of remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), these relationships can be better explored. The research reported in this paper applies this integrated approach for detecting urban growth and assessing its impact on vegetative greenness in the Zhujiang Delta, China. Multi‐temporal Landsat TM data were utilized to map urban growth and to extract and identify changes in vegetative greenness. GIS analyses were conducted to examine the changing spatial patterns of urban growth and greenness change. Statistical analyses were then used to examine the impact of urban growth on vegetative greenness. The results revealed that there was a notably uneven urban growth pattern in the delta, and urban development had reduced the scaled Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) value by 30% in the urbanized area.     

1983—1992年中国陆地植被NDVI演变特征的变化矢量分析

以NDVI时序资料为基本数据源，综合应用变化矢量分析和主成分分析方法对1983年至1992年中国陆地植被NDVI的变化强度、变化类型及空间结构变化特征进行了分析。研究结果表明在此期间中国陆地植被NDVI变化有以下特点：（1）十年间NDVI变化东西分异明显，东部变化幅度远大于西部。NDVI变化整体表现为稳中略增，增加区主要分布在台湾、福建、四川、河南等地；减少区主要分布在云南省和新疆北部等地。（2）空间结构信息表现了景观异质性，其变化主要发生在南方，反映了植被的生长和衰老过程及地形（山脉走向）变化。     

Vegetation mapping with multitemporal NDVI in North Eastern China Transect (NECT)

Temporal changes in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) have been widely used in vegetation mapping due to the usefulness of NDVI data in distinguishing characteristic seasonal differences in the phenology of greenness of vegetation cover. Research has also shown that NDVI provides potential to derive meaningful metrics that describe ecosystem functions. In this paper, we have applied both unsupervised “k-means” classification and supervised minimum distance classification as derived from temporal changes in NDVI measured in 1997 along the North Eastern China Transect (NECT), and we have also utilized the same two classification methods together with NDVI-derived metrics, namely maximum NDVI, mean NDVI, NDVI amplitude, NDVI threshold, total length of growing season, fraction of growing season during greenup, rate of greenup, rate of senescence, integrated NDVI during the growing season, and integrated NDVI during greenup/integrated NDVI during senescence to map vegetation. The main objectives of this study are: (1) to test the relative performance of NDVI temporal profile metrics and NDVI-derived metrics for vegetation cover discrimination in NECT; (2) to test the relative performance of unsupervised (k-means) and supervised (minimum distance) methods for vegetation mapping; (3) to test the accuracy of the IGBP-DIS released land cover map for NECT; (4) to provide an up-to-date vegetation map for NECT. The results suggest that the classifications based on NDVI temporal profile metrics have higher accuracies than those based on any other metrics, such as NDVI-derived metrics, or all (NDVI temporal profile metrics + NDVI-derived metrics), or 15 metrics (NDVI temporal profile + Rate of greenup, Rate of senescence, and Integrated NDVI in greenup/integrated NDVI in senescence) for both methods. And among them, unsupervised k-means classification had the highest overall accuracy of 52% and Kappa coefficient of 0.2057. Both unsupervised (k-means) and supervised (minimum distance) methods achieved similar accuracies for the same metrics. The accuracy of IGBP-DIS released land cover map had an overall accuracy of 37% and a Kappa coefficient is 0.1441, and can improve to 46% by decomposing the crop/natural vegetation mosaic to cropland and other natural vegetation types. The results support using unsupervised k-means classification based on NDVI temporal profile metrics to provide an up-to-date vegetation cover classification. However, new effort is necessary in the future in order to improve the overall performance on this issue.     

Remote sensing monitoring of land restoration interventions in semi-arid environments with a before–after control-impact statistical design

Restoration interventions to combat land degradation are carried out in arid and semi-arid areas to improve vegetation cover and land productivity. Evaluating the success of an intervention over time is challenging due to various constraints (e.g. difficult-to-access areas, lack of long-term records) and the lack of standardised and affordable methodologies. We propose a semi-automatic methodology that uses remote sensing data to provide a rapid, standardised and objective assessment of the biophysical impact, in terms of vegetation cover, of restoration interventions. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is used as a proxy for vegetation cover. Recognising that changes in vegetation cover are naturally due to environmental factors such as seasonality and inter-annual climate variability, conclusions about the success of the intervention cannot be drawn by focussing on the intervention area only. We therefore use a comparative method that analyses the temporal variations (before and after the intervention) of the NDVI of the intervention area with respect to multiple control sites that are automatically and randomly selected from a set of candidates that are similar to the intervention area. Similarity is defined in terms of class composition as derived from an ISODATA classification of the imagery before the intervention. The method provides an estimate of the magnitude and significance of the difference in greenness change between the intervention area and control areas. As a case study, the methodology is applied to 15 restoration interventions carried out in Senegal. The impact of the interventions is analysed using 250-m MODIS and 30-m Landsat data. Results show that a significant improvement in vegetation cover was detectable only in one third of the analysed interventions, which is consistent with independent qualitative assessments based on field observations and visual analysis of high resolution imagery. Rural development agencies may potentially use the proposed method for a first screening of restoration interventions.     

基于NDVI序列影像精化结果的植被覆盖变化研究

植被归一化指数(NDVI)是地表植被覆盖特征的重要指标之一。本文以三峡库区2001-2003年MODIS遥感数据反演的NDVI时间序列影像为例,研究NDVI影像序列的精化问题,包括降云及去噪处理的有效方法。在改进的BISE技术降云处理的基础上,采用小波软阈值降噪方法提取有效变化趋势。然后进行库区2001-2003年植被变化的变化矢量分析,采用阈值分割的方法将库区变化强度影像分为未变化、小变化、中等变化与剧烈变化四个类型。研究成果可为三峡库区宏观生态环境变化的掌握提供一定的依据。     

Scrutinising MODIS and GIMMS Vegetation Indices for Extracting Growth Rhythm of Natural Vegetation in India

Satellite derived vegetation vigour has been successfully used for various environmental modeling since 1972. However, extraction of reliable annual growth information about natural vegetation (i.e., phenology) has been of recent interest due to their important role in many global models and free availability of time-series satellite data. In this study, usability of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) and Global Inventory Modelling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) based products in extracting phenology information about evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous and dry deciduous vegetation in India was explored. The MODIS NDVI and EVI time-series data (MOD13C1: 5.6 km spatial resolution with 16 day temporal resolution—2001 to 2010) and GIMMS NDVI time-series data(8 km spatial resolution with 15 day temporal resolution—2000 to 2006) were used. These three differently derived vegetation indices were analysed to extract and understand the vegetative growth rhythm over different regions of India. Algorithm was developed to derive onset of greenness and end of senescence automatically. The comparative analysis about differences in the results from these products was carried out. Due to dominant noise in the values of NDVI from GIMMS and MODIS during monsoon period the phenology rhythm were wrongly depicted, especially for evergreen and semi-evergreen vegetation in India. Hence, care is needed before using these data sets for understanding vegetative dynamics, biomass cestimation and carbon studies. MODIS EVI based results were truthful and comparable to ground reality. The study reveals spatio-temporal patterns of phenology, rate of greening, rate of senescence, and differences in results from these three products.     

A data mining approach for evaluation of optimal time-series of MODIS data for land cover mapping at a regional level

Optical Earth Observation data with moderate spatial resolutions, typically MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), are of particular value to environmental applications due to their high temporal and spectral resolutions. Time-series of MODIS data capture dynamic phenomena of vegetation and its environment, and are considered as one of the most effective data sources for land cover mapping at a regional and national level. However, the time-series, multiple bands and their derivations such as NDVI constitute a large volume of data that poses a significant challenge for automated mapping of land cover while optimally utilizing the information it contains. In this study, time-series of 10-day cloud-free MODIS composites and its derivatives – NDVI and vegetation phenology information, are fully assessed to determine the optimal data sets for deriving land cover. Three groups of variable combinations of MODIS spectral information and its derived metrics are thoroughly explored to identify the optimal combinations for land cover identification using a data mining tool.The results, based on the assessment using time-series of MODIS data, show that in general using a longer time period of the time-series data and more spectral bands could lead to more accurate land cover identification than that of a shorter period of the time-series and fewer bands. However, we reveal that, with some optimal variable combinations of few bands and a shorter period of time-series data, the highest possible accuracy of land cover classification can be achieved.     

基于MODIS数据的环北京地区土地资源监测研究

本文基于MODIS 16天合成的NDVI时间序列数据及其他辅助数据,首先用PCA方法对NDVI时间序列数据进行信息增强与压缩处理,结合LST数据、DEM数据及降雨温度数据,利用模糊K-均值非监督分类法,进行环北京地区的土地覆盖分类,得到土地资源现状情况。然后利用变化矢量(CVA)分析方法对环北京地区的土地利用及植被覆盖的多年变化状况进行了分析。结果表明,MODIS数据能很好的应用于大范围的土地资源监测中,并能得到较好的结果。     

Driving forces of grassland vegetation changes in Chen Barag Banner,Inner Mongolia

ABSTRACT

Inner Mongolia is an important ecological zone of northern China and 67% of its land area is grassland. This ecologically fragile region has experienced significant vegetation degradation during the last decades. Although the spatial extents and rates of vegetation change have previously been characterized through various remote sensing and GIS studies, the underlying driving factors of vegetation changes are still not well understood. In this study, we first used time-series MODIS NDVI data from 2000 to 2016 to characterize the temporal trend of vegetation changes. These vegetation change trends were compared with climate and socioeconomic variables to determine the potential drivers. We used a set of statistical methods, including multiple linear regression (MLR), spatial correlation analysis, and partial least squares (PLS) regression analyzes, to quantify the spatial distribution of the driving forces and their relative importance to vegetation changes. Results show that the main driving factors and their impact magnitude (weight) are in the order of human activities (r = -0.785, p < 0.01, VIP = 1.37), precipitation (r = 0.541, p < 0.05, VIP = 0.89), temperature (r = -0.319, p > 0.05 VIP = 0.59). The area affected by human activities was 10.57%. Specific human activities, such as coal mining and grazing were negatively associated with vegetation cover, while eco-engineering projects had positive impacts. This study provided thorough quantification of driving forces of vegetation change and enhanced our understanding of their interactions. Our integrated geospatial-statistical approach is particularly important for sustainable development of ecosystem balance in Chen Barag Banner and other areas facing similar challenges.