Vegetation monitoring for Guatemala: a comparison between simulated VIIRS and MODIS satellite data |
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| Authors: | Vijendra K Boken Gregory L Easson James Rowland |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Geography and Earth Science , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney, NE, 68849, USA bokenv1@unk.edu;3. Department of Geology and Geological Engineering , University of Mississippi , MS, 38677, USA;4. Famine Early Warning Systems Network, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) , Sioux Falls, SD, 57198, USA |
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| Abstract: | The advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) and moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) data are being widely used for vegetation monitoring across the globe. However, sensors will discontinue collecting these data in the near future. National Aeronautics and Space Administration is planning to launch a new sensor, visible infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS), to continue to provide satellite data for vegetation monitoring. This article presents a case study of Guatemala and compares the simulated VIIRS-Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) with MODIS-NDVI for four different dates each in 2003 and 2005. The dissimilarity between VIIRS-NDVI and MODIS-NDVI was examined on the basis of the percent difference, the two-tailed student's t-test, and the coefficient of determination, R 2. The per cent difference was found to be within 3%, the p-value ranged between 0.52 and 0.99, and R 2 exceeded 0.88 for all major types of vegetation (basic grains, rubber, sugarcane, coffee and forests) found in Guatemala. It was therefore concluded that VIIRS will be almost equally capable of vegetation monitoring as MODIS. |
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| Keywords: | performance evaluation statistical difference Central America remote sensing food security crop condition monitoring |
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