Tracking desertification on the Mongolian steppe through NDVI and field-survey data

Abstract

Changing environmental and socio-economic conditions make land degradation, a major concern in Central and East Asia. Globally satellite imagery, particularly Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data, has proved an effective tool for monitoring land cover change. This study examines 33 grassland water points using vegetation field studies and remote sensing techniques to track desertification on the Mongolian plateau. Findings established a significant correlation between same-year field observation (line transects) and NDVI data, enabling an historical land cover perspective to be developed from 1998 to 2006. Results show variable land cover patterns in Mongolia with a 16% decrease in plant density over the time period. Decline in cover identified by NDVI suggests degradation; however, continued annual fluctuation indicates desertification – irreversible land cover change – has not occurred. Further, in situ data documenting greater cover near water points implies livestock overgrazing is not causing degradation at water sources. In combination of the two research methods – remote sensing and field surveys – strengthen findings and provide an effective way to track desertification in dryland regions.     

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。     

Multispectral remote sensing for mapping grassland degradation using the key indicators of grass species and edaphic factors

Land degradation is believed to be one of the most severe and widespread environmental problems. In South Africa, large areas of land have been identified as degraded, as shown by the lower vegetation cover. One of the major causes of grassland degradation is change in plant species composition that leads to presence of unpalatable grass species. Some grass species have been successfully used as indicators of different levels of grassland degradation in the country. This paper, therefore explores the possibility of mapping grassland degradation in Cathedral Peak, South Africa, using indicators of grass species and edaphic factors. Multispectral SPOT 5 data were used to produce a grassland degradation map based on the spatial distribution of decreaser (Themeda triandra) and increaser (Hyparrhenia hirta) species. To improve mapping accuracy, soil samples were collected from each species site and analysed for nutrient content. A t-test and machine learning random forest classification algorithm were applied for variable selection and classification using SPOT 5 data and edaphic variables. Results indicated that the decreaser and increaser grass species can be mapped with modest accuracy using SPOT 5 data (overall accuracy of 75.30%, quantity disagreement = 2 and allocation disagreement = 23). The classification accuracy was improved to 88.60%, 1 and 11 for overall accuracy, quantity and allocation disagreements, respectively, when SPOT 5 bands and edaphic factors were combined. The study demonstrated that an approach based on the integration of multispectral data and edaphic variables, which increased the overall classification accuracy by about 13%, is a suitable when adopting remote sensing to monitor grassland degradation.     

SSM／I微波辐射计数据中国陆地覆盖特征季节变化分析

利用星载微波辐射计SSM／I多通道、多时相亮温数据开展了中国陆地覆盖特征的季节变化研究。通过对国内外星载微波辐射应用研究分析，提出了归一化极化指数(NDPI)的概念。处理了1997年4月、7月、10月和1998年1月的(每月的20、24日各两天)多通道SSM／I数据，在此基础上计算形成了第一幅中国陆地区域的归一化微波极化指数图，开展了中国陆地区域覆盖特征随季节变化的研究。研究结果表明，不同的陆地覆盖特征有特征的NDPI值，NDPI随季节而变化，植被、水分是引起NDPI变化的主要因子。     

Remote sensing and GIS application in the detection of environmental degradation indicators

The main aim of this research is to highlight the environment change indicators during the last 20 years in a representa-tive area of the southern part of Iraq(Basrah Province was taken as a case) to understand the main causes which led to widespread environment degradation phenomena using a 1:250000 mapping scale.Remote sensing and GIS’s software were used to classify Landsat TM in 1990 and Landsat ETM+ in 2003 imagery into five land use and land cover(LULC) classes:vegetation land,sand land,urban area,unused land,and water bodies.Supervised classification and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI),Normalized Difference Build-up Index(NDBI),Normalized Difference Water Index(NDWI),Normalized Difference Salinity In-dex(NDSI),and Topsoil Grain Size Index(GSI) were adopted in this research and used respectively to retrieve its class boundary.The results showed a clear deterioration in vegetative cover(514.9 km2) and an increase of sand dune accumulations(438.6 km2),accounting for 10.1,and 10.6 percent,respectively,of the total study area.In addition,a decrease in the water bodies’ area was de-tected(228.9 km2).Sand area accumulations had increased in the total study area,with an annual increasing expansion rate of(33.7 km2·yr·1) during the thirteen years covered by the study.It is therefore imperative that Iraqi government undertake a series of pru-dent actions now that will enable to be in the best possible position when the current environmental crisis ultimately passes.     

遥感和GIS技术应用于伊拉克南部Basrah省土地利用/覆盖变化及城市扩张研究(英文)

In recent years, land use/cover dynamic change has become a key subject that needs to be dealt with in the study of global environmental change. In this paper, remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) are integrated to monitor, map, and quantify the land use/cover change in the southern part of Iraq (Basrah Province was taken as a case) by using a 1:250 000 mapping scale. Remote sensing and GIS software were used to classify Landsat TM in 1990 and Landsat ETM+ in 2003 imagery into five land use and land cover (LULC) classes: vegetation, sand, urban area, unused land, and water bodies. Supervised classification and normalized difference build-up index (NDBI) were used respectively to retrieve its urban boundary. An accuracy assessment was performed on the 2003 LULC map to determine the reliability of the map. Finally, GIS software was used to quantify and illustrate the various LULC conversions that took place over the 13-year span of time. Results showed that the urban area had increased by the rate of 1.2% per year, with area expansion from 3 299.1 km² in 1990 to 3 794.9 km² in 2003. Large vegetation area in the north and southeast were converted into urban construction land. The land use/cover changes of Basrah Province were mainly caused by rapid development of the urban economy and population immigration from the countryside. In addition, the former government policy of “returning farmland to transportation and huge expansion in military camps” was the major driving force for vegetation land change. The paper concludes that remote sensing and GIS can be used to create LULC maps. It also notes that the maps generated can be used to delineate the changes that take place over time. Supported by the Al-Basrah University, Iraq, the Geo-information Science and Technology Program (No. IRT 0438)China).     

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。     

石漠化遥感评价因子提取研究

通过地面光谱试验,验证了植被指数和线性光谱分解方法提取石漠化遥感评价因子的有效性,并基于光谱吸收特征发展了石漠化综合指数(karst rocky desertification synthesis indices,KRDSI).结果表明,植被指数能够比较有效地提取绿色植被盖度,土壤背景对基于植被指数的喀斯特地区绿色植被...     

中国陆地生态系统脆弱带遥感模型

本研究通过对我国陆地生态系统8个典型样地的植被指数取样实验和图像计算结果发现，这8个样地植被指数随着水、热因子的季节变化，在时间和空间上具有一定的“绿波推移”和“景观更替”规律。在中国东部湿润的季风区（样地1－3），随着纬度的增高，其月平均植被指数与月平均气温有较大的相关。发现降水相对丰沛的地带，热量和光照条件的变化成为植被生长和变化的自然限制因子；而在中国北方森林－森林草原－典型昌原－荒漠草原－荒漠地带上，随着从东部（湿润地区）到西部（干旱地区）干湿条件的更替，月平均植被指数与降水多寡有较大的正相关关系。在8个样地上都呈现出共同的规律，即定向风的分布与植被指数的分布在时间和空间上具有逆相分布的“套合关系”。尤其在时间上有相逆套合关系，这正是中国北方沙尘暴和沙漠化加剧的自然原因。本研究定量地给出了我国陆地不同经纬度带生态系统脆弱季节和累积时间的分布。     

Use of Very High Spatial Resolution Remotely Sensed Imagery for Assessing Land‐Cover Changes in Shrub Habitat Preserves of Southern California

Abstract

The goal of this research was to explore the utility of very high spatial resolution, digital remotely sensed imagery for monitoring land‐cover changes in habitat preserves within southern California coastal shrublands. Changes were assessed for Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, a large open space in San Diego County, over the 1996 to 1999 period for which imagery was available.

Multispectral, digital camera imagery from two summer dates, three years apart, was acquired using the Airborne Data Acquisition and Registration (ADAR) digital‐camera system. These very high resolution (VHR) image data (1m), composed of three visible and one near‐infrared wavebands (V/NIR), were the primary image input for assessing land cover change. Image‐derived datasets generated from georeferenced and registered ADAR imagery included multitemporal overlays and multitemporal band differencing with threshold selection. Two different multitemporal image classifications were generated from these datasets and compared. Single‐date imagery was analyzed interactively with image‐derived datasets and with information from field observations in an effort to discern change types. A ground sampling survey conducted soon after the 1999 image acquisition provided concurrent ground reference data.

Most changes occurring within the three‐year interval were associated with transitional phenological states and differential precipitation effects on herbaceous cover. Variations in air temperatures and timing of rainfall contributed to differences that the seven‐week image acquisition offset may have caused. Disturbance factors of mechanical clearing, erosion, potentially invasive plants, and fire were evident and their influence on the presence, absence, and type of vegetation cover were likely sources of change signals.

The multitemporal VHR, V/NIR image data enabled relatively fine‐scale land cover changes to be detected and identified. Band differencing followed by multitemporal classification provided an effective means for detecting vegetation increase or decrease. Detailed information on short‐term disturbance effects and long‐term vegetation type conversions can be extracted if image acquisitions are carefully planned and geometric and radiometric processing steps are implemented.     

Land degradation mapping in the upper catchment of river Tons

A study on land degradation in the upper catchment of river Tons, a tributary of Yamuna river, in Uttarkashi district of the Uttarakhand state, was carried out using on-screen visual interpretation of IRS LISS-III + PAN merged data. The study area, which is largely mountainous, includes Govind Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. Vegetation cover, slope and erosion status were used as criteria for the delineation of four major land degradation categories viz., undegraded, moderately degraded, degraded and severely degraded. More than 50 per cent of the study area is reported to be covered with snow and grassland. The moderate to severely degraded area worked out to be 42.4 per cent of the total area. The 32.8 per cent of area was found to be moderately degraded, followed by degraded (6.63%) and severely degraded (2.88%) areas. The depletion of vegetation cover on mountainous terrain and subsequent cultivation without proper protection measures is the reason for severe soil erosion and land degradation. In view of the existing land degradation situation, the catchment requires immediate treatment on priority for the sustenance of agriculture and wild life. It is expected that these measures will reduce the silt load in the river Tons and eventually, in river Yamuna.     

High positive correlation between soil temperature and NDVI from 1982 to 2006 in alpine meadow of the Three-River Source Region on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Using satellite-observed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data and Rotated Empirical Orthogonal Function (REOF) method, we analyzed the spatio-temporal variation of vegetation during growing seasons from May to September in the Three-River Source Region, alpine meadow in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from 1982 to 2006. We found that NDVI in the centre and east of the region, where the vegetation cover is low, showed a consistent but slight increase before 2003 and remarkable increase in 2004 and 2005. Impact factors analysis indicted that among air temperature, precipitation, humid index, soil surface temperature, and soil temperature at 10 cm and 20 cm depth, annual variation of NDVI was highly positive correlated with the soil surface temperature of the period from March to July. Further analysis revealed that the correlation between the vegetation and temperature was insignificant before 1995, but statistically significant from 1995. The study indicates that temperature is the major controlling factor of vegetation change in the Three-River Source Region, and the currently increase of temperature may increase vegetation coverage and/or density in the area. In addition, ecological restoration project started from 2005 in Three-River Source Region has a certain role in promoting the recovery of vegetation.     

Snow effects on alpine vegetation in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Understanding the relationships between snow and vegetation is important for interpretation of the responses of alpine ecosystems to climate changes. The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is regarded as an ideal area due to its undisturbed features with low population and relatively high snow cover. We used 500 m Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) datasets during 2001–2010 to examine the snow–vegetation relationships, specifically, (1) the influence of snow melting date on vegetation green-up date and (2) the effects of snow cover duration on vegetation greenness. The results showed that the alpine vegetation responded strongly to snow phenology (i.e., snow melting date and snow cover duration) over large areas of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Snow melting date and vegetation green-up date were significantly correlated (p < 0.1) in 39.9% of meadow areas (accounting for 26.2% of vegetated areas) and 36.7% of steppe areas (28.1% of vegetated areas). Vegetation growth was influenced by different seasonal snow cover durations (SCDs) in different regions. Generally, the December–February and March–May SCDs played a significantly role in vegetation growth, both positively and negatively, depending on different water source regions. Snow's positive impact on vegetation was larger than the negative impact.     

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。     

Changing landscape in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area of Yangtze River from 1977 to 2005: Land use/land cover,vegetation cover changes estimated using multi-source satellite data

The eco-environment in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) in China has received much attention due to the construction of the Three Gorges Hydropower Station. Land use/land cover changes (LUCC) are a major cause of ecological environmental changes. In this paper, the spatial landscape dynamics from 1978 to 2005 in this area are monitored and recent changes are analyzed, using the Landsat TM (MSS) images of 1978, 1988, 1995, 2000 and 2005. Vegetation cover fractions for a vegetation cover analysis are retrieved from MODIS/Terra imagery from 2000 to 2006, being the period before and after the rising water level of the reservoir. Several analytical indices have been used to analyze spatial and temporal changes. Results indicate that cropland, woodland, and grassland areas reduced continuously over the past 30 years, while river and built-up area increased by 2.79% and 4.45% from 2000 to 2005, respectively. The built-up area increased at the cost of decreased cropland, woodland and grassland. The vegetation cover fraction increased slightly. We conclude that significant changes in land use/land cover have occurred in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. The main cause is a continuous economic and urban/rural development, followed by environmental management policies after construction of the Three Gorges Dam.     

南水北调中线水源区植被覆盖度遥感监测分析

南水北调中线工程是我国大规模跨流域调水工程的一部分,开展该区域植被覆盖度变化的研究与分析,对于保护该区域的生态环境及水质具有重要意义。该文以2000年和2009年两期遥感图像为本底数据,利用基于NDVI的像元二分模型对南水北调中线水源区的植被覆盖度进行了估算,并分析了该区植被覆盖度的时空变化特征。结果表明:2000年该水源区植被覆盖度的平均值为67.5%,2009年的平均值达到72%,植被覆盖度总体呈增长趋势;植被覆盖度增幅的空间特征表现为水源区中部地区高,东西部地区相对较低;在不同植被类型中,落叶针叶林的覆盖度平均值增幅最大,草地覆盖度增幅最小;位于水源区的大多数县(市)的植被覆盖度在近十年来都有不同程度的增加,其中柞水县的植被覆盖度平均值增长幅度最大,这与国家实施退耕还林、封山育林、基本农田建设等政策有关。     

Lake variations in response to climate change in the Tibetan Plateau in the past 40 years

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau plays an important role in global climate and environmental change and holds the largest lake area in China, with a total surface area of 36,900 km². The expansion and shrinkage of these lakes are critical to the water cycle and ecological and environmental systems across the plateau. In this paper, surface areas of major lakes within the plateau were extracted based on a topographic map from 1970, and Landsat MSS, TM and ETM+ satellite images from the 1970s to 2008. Then, a multivariate correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between the changes in lake surface areas and the changes in climatic variables including temperature, precipitation, evaporation, and sunshine duration. Initial results suggest that the variations in lake surface areas within the plateau are closely related to the warming, humidified climate transition in recent years such as the rise of air temperature and the increase in precipitation. In particular, the rising temperature accelerates melting of glaciers and perennial snow cover and triggers permafrost degradation, and leads to the expansion of most lakes across the plateau. In addition, different distributions and types of permafrost may cause different lake variations in the southern Tibetan Plateau.     

基于Landsat影像的木里煤田矿区植被覆盖提取及时空变化分析

木里煤田地处青藏高原典型生态环境脆弱地带的大通河源头,本文以Landsat影像为数据源,基于归一化植被指数像元二分模型估算木里煤田矿区1990-2016年植被覆盖度,监测其动态变化及时空发展规律。研究发现,1990-2016年矿区裸土及低植被覆盖面积增加156.60 km^2,中植被覆盖面积增加153.37 km^2,高植被覆盖面积减少309.99 km^2。动态监测结果表明,1990-2016年木里煤田植被覆盖呈现严重退化趋势,退化最明显区域出现在矿区周边;时空格局变化分析结果表明,矿区植被覆盖等级逐渐向低植被覆盖等级转变,植被覆盖区域面积逐渐缩小。通过监测木里煤田矿区植被覆盖动态变化并分析其时空变化特征,为研究区生态环境修复,土地复垦等工作提供相关数据参考及技术支撑。     

An assessment of the impact of urbanization and land use changes in the fast-growing cities of Saudi Arabia

Understanding rates, patterns and types of land use and land cover (LULC) changes are essential for various decision-making processes. This study quantified LULC changes and the effect of urban expansion in three Saudi Arabian cities: Riyadh, Jeddah and Makkah using Landsat images of 1985, 2000 and 2014. Seasonal change of vegetation cover was conducted using normalised difference vegetation index, and object-based image analysis was used to classify the LULC changes. The overall accuracies of the classified maps ranged from 84 to 95%, which indicated sufficiently robust results. Urban area was the most changed land cover, and most of the converted land to urban was from bare soil. The seasonal analysis showed that the change of vegetation cover was not constant due to climatic conditions in these areas. The agricultural lands were significantly decreased between 1985 and 2014, and most of these lands were changed to bare soil due to dwindling groundwater resources.     

基于TM图像的农业区域植被覆盖变化检测

以交叉相关光谱匹配(cross correlogram spectral matching,CCSM)为基础构建土地覆盖变化强度指标,利用华北农业植被覆盖区2期不同时相的TM图像计算该地区土地覆盖变化强度图像.认为变化强度图像任意二阶邻域中像素的变化强度服从隐马尔可夫模型,用马尔可夫随机场-最大后验估计(maxium a psteriori estimationof markov random field,MRF - MAP)的方法从变化强度图像中提取植被变化区域.实验证明:该方法能够有效识别各种外源噪声造成的农业植被覆盖区域同物异谱的现象,可准确提取植被变化区域;但对于水体区域存在误判现象.