Linking Spatial and Temporal Variation at Multiple Scales in a Heterogeneous Landscape*

Anthropogenic, ecological, and land‐surface processes interact in landscapes at multiple spatial and temporal scales to create characteristic patterns. The relationships between temporally and spatially varying processes and patterns are poorly understood because of the lack of spatiotemporal observations of real landscapes over significant stretches of time. We report a new method for observing joint spatiotemporal landscape variation over large areas by analyzing multitemporal Landsat data. We calculate the spatiotemporal variation of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in the area covered by one Landsat scene footprint in north central Florida, over spatial windows of 10⁴–10⁸ m² and time steps of two to sixteen years. The correlations, slopes, and intercepts of spatial versus temporal regressions in the real landscape all differ significantly from results obtained using a null model of a randomized landscape. Spatial variances calculated within windows of 10⁵–10⁷ m² had the strongest relationships with temporal variances (regressions with both larger and smaller windows had lower coefficients of determination), and the relationships were stronger with longer time steps. Slopes and y‐intercepts increased with window size and decreased with increased time step. The spatial and temporal scales at which NDVI signals are most strongly related may be the characteristic scales of the processes that most strongly determine landscape patterns. For example, the important time and space windows correspond with areas and timing of fires and tree plantation harvests. Observations of landscape dynamics will be most effective if conducted at the characteristic scales of the processes, and our approach may provide a tool for determining those scales.     

The Use of Comaps to Explore the Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Fire Incidents: A Case Study in South Wales,United Kingdom*

This article reports on the results from a spatiotemporal analysis of disaggregate fire incident data. The innovative analysis presented here focuses on the exploration of spatial and temporal patterns for four principal fire incident categories: property, vehicle, secondary fires, and malicious false alarms. This research extends previous work on spatial exploration of spatiotemporal patterns by demonstrating the benefits of comaps and kernel density estimation in examining temporal and spatiotemporal dynamics in calls for services. Results indicate that fire incidents are not static in either time or space and that spatiotemporal variation is related to incident type. The application of these techniques has the potential to inform policy decisions both from a reactive, resource‐allocation perspective and from a more proactive perspective, such as through spatial targeting of preventive measures.     

Maps,Numbers, Text,and Context: Mixing Methods in Feminist Political Ecology*

Feminist post-structuralist theory, feminist empiricism, and field practice can all contribute to insights on the value of quantitative and qualitative methods in feminist geographical research. A political ecology study of gendered interests in a social forestry program in the Dominican Republic illustrates the methodological dilemmas and potentials of feminist research on environmental change. The study combined qualitative and quantitative data collection and analytical techniques. Examples from the case study address three methodological questions in feminist geography: (1) Should identity or affinity be the basis for situating ourselves and the subjects of our research? (2) How can we reconcile multiple subjectivities and quantitative methods in the quest for objectivity? and (3) Can we combine traditional positivist methods with participatory mapping and oral histories? The paper draws on theoretical literature as well as field experience to answer these questions.     

陆地生物圈动态模式:生态系统模拟的发展趋势

陆地生物圈是一个通过能量，水及各个化学要素与大气及物理气候系统进行交换而相互作用的动态系统。由于生物圈平衡模式有很多局限性，目前迫切需要发展新一代模式－生物圈动态模式，用来在全球变化的背景下评价和预测陆地生物圈初级生产力和生物地球化学循环。陆地生物圈动态模式的目的是模拟自然和人类活动扰动导致的陆地生态系统中的动态变化，以及陆地生物圈与大气之间能量，水和碳循环之间的相互作用。开发生物圈动态模式的关键差距并不在于我们没有构建模式源代码的能力，而在于不能很好地描述经验与构建模式所应用的要领之间的联系，尤其是缺乏构模式所必需的数，以及对陆地生态系统复杂机理的认识尚不完整，对如何提高和扩展我们已有的知识以及如何对模式进行验证缺乏了解。数据，模式结构，参数库和预测不确定性之间的相互作用将会推动生物圈动态模式的进步与发展。