Risk Assessment of Vegetation Degradation Using Geographic Information System: A Case Study of Qareh Aghaj Basin,Iran

The entire land of Southern Iran faces problems arising out of various types of land degradation of which vegetation degradation forms one of the major types. The Qareh Aghaj basin (1 265 000 ha), which covers the upper reaches of Mond River, has been chosen for a test risk assessment of this type. The different kinds of data for indicators of vegetation degradation were gathered from the records and published reports of the governmental offices of Iran. A new model has been developed for assessing the risk of vegetation degradation. Taking into consideration nine indicators of vegetation degradation the model identifies areas with “Potential Risk” (risky zones) and areas of “Actual Risk” as well as projects the probability of the worse degradation in future. The preparation of risk maps based on the GIS analysis of these indicators will be helpful for prioritizing the areas to initiate remedial measures. By fixing the thresholds of severity classes of the nine indicators a hazard map for each indicator was first prepared in GIS. The risk classes were defined on the basis of risk scores arrived at by assigning the appropriate attributes to the indicators and the risk map was prepared by overlaying nine hazard maps in the GIS. Areas under actual risk have been found to be widespread (78%) in the basin and when the risk map classified into subclasses of potential risk with different probability levels the model projects a statistical picture of the risk of vegetation degradation.     

Updating the Vegetation Layer of the NZLRI National Database Using Satellite Imagery

This paper describes four methods of rapidly mapping vegetation using satellite imagery, for use in updating the vegetation layer of the New Zealand Land Resource Inventory (NZLRI). The visual interpretation method was tested in a 500 km² study area on the North Island west coast where 3 6 NZLRI vegetation classes occurred. Sixteen distinct groups of NZLRI vegetation classes were identified on Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery, and named “image classes”. Classes were identified by correlating ground data with image colour and texture and by using recognisable landform and cultural features. A limited number of vegetation changes have occurred since NZLRI mapping was first carried out. Updating the vegetation layer of the NZLRI requires recognising and mapping changes and modifying the database. Identifying distinctive groups of NZLRI vegetation classes on satellite imagery will facilitate this.     

Accuracy assessment of the Mexican National Forest Inventory map: A study in four ecogeographical areas

The accuracy of the Mexican National Forest Inventory (NFI) map is derived in four distinct ecogeographical areas, using an assessment design tailored for the project. A main achievement of the design was to integrate the high diversity of classes encompassed at the most detailed subcommunity level of the classification scheme within a cost‐controlled statistically sound assessment. A hybrid double sampling strategy was applied to the 2.5 million‐ha study area. A total of 5955 reference sites were verified against their NFI map label. The availability of detailed quasi‐synchronous reference data for the 2000 Landsat‐derived NFI and the high diversity of mapped classes allowed a careful thematic analysis on the selected regions, relevant for national extrapolation. Global accuracy estimates of 64–78 per cent were registered among the four ecogeographical areas (two with mainly temperate climate and the other two with mainly tropical climate), with the lower accuracy levels found in areas more densely covered with forests. According to the estimates, the NFI map tends to underestimate the presence of temperate forest (especially oak) and overestimate the presence of tropical forest in the areas investigated. The analysis of confusions reveals difficulties in unambiguously interpreting or labelling forests with secondary vegetation, herbaceous and/or shrub‐like vegetation as well as distinguishing between aquatic vegetation types. The design proved useful from the perspective of accuracy assessments of regional maps in biodiverse regions.     

气候变化对中国植被可能影响的模拟

依据我国植被和气候的关系对生物地理模式MAPSS中的某些参数和过程进行了调整。将改进后MAPSS模拟的当前气候状况下潜在植被类型及叶面积指数的分布与我国植被区划图和多年平均的NDVI（NOAA／AVHRR）比较，发现结果有了很大的改进。将大气环流模式HadCM2对未来气候变化的预测结果应用于改进后的MAPSS对我国植被未来的变化进行了模拟。考虑到未来大气升高的CO2浓度对植物水分利用率（WUE）的可能影响，进行了WUE变化和不变化2种预测。结果发现未来气候变化可能导致我国东部森林植被带的北移，尤其是北方的落叶针叶林的面积减少很大，以至可能移出我国境内；华北地区和东北辽河流域未来可能草原化；西部的沙漠和草原可能略有退缩，相应被草原和灌丛取代；高寒草甸的分布可能略有缩小，将被萨瓦纳和常绿针叶林取代。同时模拟的结果表明模型对WUE非常敏感。最后对结果的不确定性进行了讨论。     

基于规则的植被地图综合的研究

植被地图综合是专题地图综合的一个特例,需要遵循地理数据综合规则,以解决因表达空问缩小而造成的地物要素间的冲突问题,确保图面上图形表达的合理、清晰和美观;同时植被地图综合也要遵循植被分布自身的规律。该文主要研究和分析影响植被地图综合的主要规则,首先描述植被地图的特征,在此基础上分析讨论影响植被地图综合的主要综合规则,并简要介绍了用于表达综合规则的产生式规则方法,用实例描述了这些规则在植被地图综合各个阶段的应用和结果,以此来反映综合规则在植被地图综合过程中的重要性。     

Satellite-derived vegetation index and cover type maps for estimating carbon dioxide flux for arctic tundra regions

The spatial variability and co-variability of two different types of remote sensing derivatives that portray vegetation and geomorphic patterns are analyzed in the context of estimating regional-scale CO₂ flux from land surfaces in the arctic tundra. For a study area encompassing the Kuparuk River watershed of the North Slope of Alaska, we compare satellite-derived maps of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) generated at two different spatial resolutions to a map of vegetation types derived by image classification of data from the Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS). Mean values of NDVI for each cover type stratum are unique (with the exception of moist acidic tundra and shrubland types). Based on analysis of semi-variograms generated for SPOT-NDVI data, most of the vegetation cover and landform features of this arctic tundra landscape have spatial dimensions of less than 1 km. Thaw lakes on the coastal plain and glacial depositional landforms, such as moraines in the foothills, seem to be the largest features, with vegetation units having dimensions no larger than 700 m. Frequency distributions of NDVI and vegetation types extracted for sampling transects flown by an aircraft sensing CO₂ flux, relative to distributions for the entire Kuparuk River watershed, suggest a slight sampling bias towards greater cover of mesic wet sedge tundra and thaw lakes and associated lower NDVI values. The regional pattern of NDVI for the North Slope of Alaska corresponds primarily to differences between the two major physiographic provinces of this region.     

南北过渡带1∶5万植被类型图遥感制图案例研究

编制南北过渡带地区1∶25万和典型山地1∶5万植被类型图是南北过渡带综合科学考察的主要任务之一。以往植被类型图的编制都是采用大量的地面调查来完成的,地面调查方法虽然精确,但费时费力,并且由于自然条件的限制,地面调查往往只能覆盖较小的范围。遥感数据因为其全覆盖的优势,可以很好地弥补样方调查的局限性,但目前大范围的植被类型遥感信息提取尤其是自动提取方面仍然存在一定的困难和瓶颈。本文以1∶5万太白山植被类型图的编制为例,利用多源多时相的高分辨率遥感数据,结合地面调查数据、以往的各种比例尺的植被类型图数据和森林资源调查数据等,探讨并研究基于山地垂直带谱的中大比例尺植被类型图的遥感提取方法和制图方法。研究结果表明：① 山地植被垂直带谱可以有效地支持1∶5万山区植被类型图的遥感制图。利用太白山植被垂直带谱和1∶1万数字表面模型数据（DSM）可以生成具有垂直带谱信息的地形约束因子;将地形约束因子与多源多时相高分辨率遥感数据、地面调查数据、以往的小比例尺植被类型图数据等相结合,可以有效提取各级植被类型,从而实现中大比例尺植被类型图的编制。② 典型山地1∶5万植被类型图的遥感制图基本流程为植被型组解译→植被群系组、群系、亚群系解译→植被型、植被亚型分类,采取自上而下和自下而上相结合的分类方法来分类。本文的研究成果可以为中大比例尺植被类型图的编制提供示范和科学依据。     

1982~1999 年我国东部暖温带植被 生长季节的时空变化

利用1982~1996 年5 个站点的植物群落物候观测数据和物候累积频率拟合法, 划分各站逐年的植被物候季节, 并确定各季节初日对应的当地归一化差值植被指数(NDVI) 阈值。 在此基础上, 通过对物候站各年NDVI 曲线的年型聚类分析和区内所有像元逐年NDVI 曲线的空间聚类分析, 实现植被物候季节的时空外推估计, 从而得到我国暖温带落叶阔叶林地区1982~1999 年植被物候季节初日和生长季节长度的时空格局。结果表明, 多年平均的植被物 候季节初日和生长季节长度呈现出主要随纬度和海拔高度变化的空间格局。在这18 年中, 整 个区域的物候春季初日以提前为主, 且以华北平原提前的趋势最为显著;夏季、秋季和冬季 初日以推迟为主, 也以华北平原推迟的趋势比较显著;因此, 华北平原植被生长季节呈显著 延长的趋势。本文揭示的植被物候季节初日的趋势变化与华北地区各季节气温的趋势变化基本吻合;植被生长季节的趋势变化特征与欧洲单种植物物候生长季节, 以及欧亚大陆和我国温带遥感植被生长季节的趋势变化基本一致, 但植被生长季节初、终日期和长度的趋势值明显大于后者, 表明该地区植物物候对于气候变暖的响应更加敏感。     

Improving the assessment of the natural fire hazard in nature reserves

The need to improve the assessment of the wildfire hazard in nature reserves is considered. It is suggested that the natural vegetation fuel map compiled by using a specially developed determinant of the types of main conductors of burning having regard to the period of a fire-hazardous season should be used for such purposes. The types of prime conductors of burning constitute the major group of vegetation fuels which determines the possibility of the spread of burning across the territory covered by vegetation. A classification of this group was carried out on the basis of long-term pyrological investigations in different regions of the RF. The vegetation fuel maps are presented for the Stolby nature reserve, separately for the spring (autumn) and summer seasons, because the southern-taiga forests are characterized by a predominance of the grass forest types with the involvement of gramineous species. The map of the current wildfire hazard is compiled and presented as an example, on the basis of the vegetation fuel map for the spring (autumn) periods of the season for drought class II according to the weather conditions. This map is representative of the possibility or impossibility of the spread of burning for each area in the nature reserve in the event that the source of fire (of anthropogenic or natural origins) appears. It is shown that vegetation fuel map can be compiled for any nature reserve by using the determinant of the types of prime conductors of burning.     

Vegetation stability in the system of geobotanical forecasting

Presented are the results of cartographic-prognostic investigations into vegetation by considering an example of the key area on the Lena-Angara interfluve. We examine a variety of aspects of vegetation stability for the case of geobotanical forecasting. Maps of modern and potential (regenerated) vegetation were used to compile the map of pyrogenic stability of vegetation. The map of potential vegetation with a forecast interval of 200 years was developed.     

Correlation analysis between vegetation coverage and climate drought conditions in North China during 2001–2013

Climate change is one of the most important factors that affect vegetation distribution in North China. Among all climatic factors, drought is considered to have the most significant effect on the environment. Based on previous studies, the climate drought index can be used to assess the evolutionary trend of the ecological environment under various arid climatic conditions. It is necessary for us to further explore the relationship between vegetation coverage (index) and climate drought conditions. Therefore, in this study, based on MODIS-NDVI products and meteorological observation data, the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and vegetation coverage in North China were first calculated. Then, the interannual variations of PDSI and vegetation coverage during 2001–2013 were analyzed using a Theil-Sen slope estimator. Finally, an ecoregion perspective of the correlation between them was discussed. The experimental results demonstrated that the PDSI index and vegetation coverage value varied over different ecoregions. During the period 2001–2013, vegetation coverage increased in the southern and northern mountains of North China, while it showed a decreasing trend in the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan City Circle area and suburban agricultural zone located in Hebei Province and Henan Province). Over 13 years, the climate of the northeastern part of North China became more humid, while in the southern part of North China, it tended to be dry. According to the correlation analysis results, 73.37% of North China showed a positive correlation between the vegetation coverage and climate drought index. A negative correlation was observed mainly in urban and suburban areas of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province, and Henan Province. In most parts of North China, drought conditions in summer and autumn had a strong influence on vegetation coverage.     

2001-2013年华北地区植被覆盖度与干旱条件的相关分析

基于MODIS-NDVI遥感数据以及地表气象数据,计算了2001-2013年华北地区的修正Palmer干旱指数（Palmer Drought Severity Index,PDSI）和植被覆盖度,总结出植被覆盖度以及PDSI的年际变化规律,从华北地区生态分区的角度分析了二者的相关关系。结果表明：① 华北平原的植被覆盖度呈南高北低、中部高四周低的分布特点,最低为内蒙古高原草原生态区的0.61,最高为淮阳丘陵地区的0.84;② 2001-2013年,华北平原整体植被覆盖度主要呈上升趋势,其中华北的北部、西部、南部山区及丘陵地带植被覆盖度主要呈上升趋势,而华北平原农业区以及京津唐城郊地带植被覆盖度呈下降趋势;③ 华北地区的东北部有变潮湿的趋势,南部则有变干旱的趋势,其他地区干旱条件变化不明显;④ 华北地区植被覆盖度与气候干旱程度的平均相关系数为0.20,73.37%的地区相关系数为正,正相关关系最为明显的地区为华北地区的西北部,而北京、天津、以及河北省与河南省一级、二级城市的城郊地区相关系数多为负值。⑤ 在华北大部分地区,夏季和秋季的气候干旱条件对植被覆盖度的影响最为明显。     

中国人口分布的密度分级与重心曲线特征分析

依据2000年全国第五次人口普查数据,利用ArcGIS的空间分析功能,将人口密度图分层显示,并形成中国人口分布图系.在此基础上,建立人口重心曲线,根据人口重心曲线上点的邻近性实施人口密度再分级,由此获得了更具空间集聚特征的人口密度图.基于人口密度分级的多圈层迭加分析表明:随着人口密度增大,人口分布重心逐渐由西北向东南移动,由稀疏趋于稠密,中国人口分布多圈层集聚特征明显.人口重心曲线表明,人口分布总体上是从高密度向低密度分布过渡的,其中在低密度中也有高密度地区分布,高密度地区也有相对稀疏的地区.基于人口重心曲线的中国人口密度再分级表明,中国人口密度可以适度划分为9级,据此可以将中国人口地理分布划分为集聚核心区、高度集聚区、中度集聚区、低度集聚区、一般过渡区、相对稀疏区、绝对稀疏区、极端稀疏区、基本无人区等9大类型区.统计表明,中国3/4以上的人口集中分布在不到1/5的国土面积上,半数以上的国土面积上居住着不到2%的人口,研究结果较好地揭示了中国人口分布的空间规律性.     

Monitoring the grazing resources of the Badia region, Jordan, using remote sensing

In this paper we discuss how low spatial resolution (1 km) ERS ATSR-2 and NOAA AVHRR satellite data were used to map and monitor changes in the grazing vegetation of the Badia region of Jordan. This area is typical of many arid zone grazing areas, comprising sparse vegetation and highly reflective soils. These two factors were found to severely limit the usefulness of satellite-derived vegetation indices that are frequently used to map and monitor vegetation in more temperate areas. Furthermore, the relationship between vegetation indices and percentage vegetation cover was found to be site-specific, thus reducing their application for large-scale vegetation monitoring. As an alternative, a hybrid geometric optical/empirically based model was developed for the area. This was based on the illumination geometry and reflectance values from the red and near-infrared scattergram of the satellite images. The output of the model was a series of maps indicating percentage vegetation cover for different dates and these were used to construct maps showing areas of vegetation change. Strong correlations (r²=0.837) were found between estimates of percentage vegetation cover derived from the model, and measurements made at a series of 16 field sites in the area. The use of geometric optical models based on satellite imagery improves the ability to map areas of grazing vegetation in arid areas such as the Badia and provides a good alternative to the use of vegetation indices.     

Homeowners associations: Friend or foe to native desert avifauna? Conservation concerns and opportunities for research

The rapid urbanization experienced in arid environments worldwide has raised the issue of how wildlife adapt to such drastic landscape changes. Along the periphery of many desert cities are housing developments governed by homeowners associations. These homeowners associations often place strict restrictions on planted vegetation which may have implications for bird usage, particularly for those dependent on thorny vegetation. However despite the potential negative effects of such restrictions, such organizations may offer promise as a means of maintaining consistent landscape cover over a large urban area. Consideration of such organizations, through research and education can provide a means of pursuing conservation practice in difficult urban areas.     

Cartographic assessment of the present status of vegetation in Prebaikalia for water use optimization

We bring up the issue related to the need and importance of undertaking an assessment of the present status of vegetation in Prebaikalia. The vegetation of this region has long been experiencing strong anthropogenic destructions, especially in the southern, more developed, areas. Anthropogenic impacts on vegetation continue to be enhanced thus influencing the processes of spontaneous development of vegetation and decreasing its ecological potential. Assessment of the present status of vegetation as a complex self-evolving autotrophic natural entity having its own evolutionary history of development and dynamical potential is used in reference to identifying and evaluating the degree of disturbance of its native (spontaneous) florocenotic structure. To improve objectivity of research results uses a cartographic method supported by GIS technologies. On the basis of the principles of a structural-dynamical classification of plant communities as suggested by V. B. Sochava, we compiled a universal geobotanical medium-scale (1:500 000) map for Prebaikalia. The map was generated for two purposes: inventory, i.e. identifying the typological belonging of existing plant communities in the region, and for assessment–dynamical purpose to identify the epitaxon structure of the entire vegetation cover. These efforts were accompanied by a formalized assessment of the age structure of tree stands of the region’s forest communities as well as a clear differentiation between forest and non-forest vegetation by identifying new burns and felling areas. The findings formed the basis for generating a detailed 1:500 000 map of disturbances to Prebaikalia’s vegetation displaying 11 kinds of vegetation disturbances ranging from the persisting native communities to those substituted by agrocenoses and introductions of urban settlements. A general outline of the present status of vegetation is provided as well as the main directions for nature management optimization in the region within the framework of the state ecological policy.     

Absorbing heavy industry in marginal areas. The prospects of petroleum development in northern Norway

The vegetation of Norway varies along three main gradients: from south to north, from the lowlands to the mountains, and inland from the coast. The underlying criteria used in preparing the enclosed new map of the vegetational regions of Norway in the scale 1:1.5 mill, are discussed, especially with regard to Central Norway. On the major maps of the vegetational zones of the Nordic countries so far published, Norway has received different treatment. A new zonal map based on the abovementioned regional map is presented and discussed. A coastal section is distinguished in the far west of Norway, and on the regional map this section is subdivided into three separate altitudinal belts. The remaining part of Norway is split into regions on the detailed regional map or into zones on the zonal map, as follows: nemoral, present only in the far south of Norway; boreonemoral, which extends north to the Trondheimsfjord; southern boreal, as far north as Salten; middle boreal, from the Østlandet area northwards up the major valleys into Central Norway and northeastwards to Alta in North Norway; northern boreal, up to the altitudinal (climatic) forest limit; and finally the low, middle and high alpine regions in the mountains. The vegetational regions of Central Norway are thereafter described in more detail and contour maps (isohypses) presented for the upper limits of the regions.     

The Evolutionary-Genetic Basis of Structural-Cenotic Diversity of Modern Vegetation in Prebaikalia

An assessment is made of the uniqueness of modern vegetation in Prebaikalia as a biogeographical entity. It is shown that its complex structural-cenotic diversity is represented on the new universal geobotanical map of vegetation at a scale of 1:500 000. The map legend, constructed on the principles of V. B. Sochava’s multidimensional and multistage structural-dynamical classification of plant communities, displayed more than 160 cenotic subdivisions of vegetation of Prebaikalia representing its different types. An analysis is made of the development paths of vegetation for assessing its evolutionary potential. The study revealed the main stages of philocenogenesis in the Late Cainozoic. Its main directions have been revealed, which are important for understanding the characteristics of the region’s modern vegetation cover. The heterogeneity and heterochronicity of modern cenotic diversity of vegetation is shown. Emphasis is placed on the evolutionary processes of vegetation of Prebaikalia in the Holocene which can last for at least 40 thousand years. In this connection, it is proposed to change interpretation of the Holocene Optimum as an optimum for the evolution of the dark-coniferous taiga of Siberia. It is shown that the genetic linkages of the cenotic structure of modern vegetation cover in Prebaikalia are clearly pronounced via regional-typological categories of vegetation reflecting profound links of modern vegetation with natural-geographical regions where its philogenetic processes were taking place in interaction with the general evolution of the natural environment. An analysis is made of the significance of the floristic and cenotic boundaries having an important biogeographical significance. Such boundaries, on the one hand, are the footprint of the past evolutionary processes in vegetation, and in the natural environment as a whole, and, on the other, indicate the dynamical potential of possible changes in vegetation under global climate change.     

库姆塔格沙漠东南边缘天然植被调查研究

通过对库姆塔格沙漠东南缘天然植被调查结果显示:调查区天然植被以荒漠植被类型为主,在5种植被型23个植被群系中,荒漠植被群系占到52%,表现出植被类型的荒漠特性。荒漠植物群落有经向、纬向和海拔高度变化的分布格局,水分是影响植被径向分布的主要因素,气候则反映了植被纬向和海拔高度分布的变化。同时对主要的典型植物群落的特征进行了分析,为荒漠植被的恢复及其沙漠综合治理提供理论依据。