A Review of Advances in the Identification and Characterization of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Using Geospatial Technologies

Hoyos, I. C.; Krakauer, Nir Y.; Khanbilvardi, R.; Armstrong, Roy A.

doi:10.3390/geosciences6020017

Cited by 48 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 99 publications

(117 reference statements)

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“…, Pérez Hoyos et al. ). Spring types with vertical or overhanging geomorphology (e.g., hanging gardens, gushets in cliff faces; Springer and Stevens ) are not well suited to assessment using satellite‐derived vegetation indicators.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Evaluation of hypothesized physical mechanisms supporting spring resilience (e.g., spring microclimates, recharge zone dynamics, and subsurface hydrogeology) can benefit from the integration of remote‐sensing metrics with other lines of evidence derived from field studies (Pérez Hoyos et al. ). In particular, field observations and conceptual and numerical models of GDEs developed using traditional hydrogeologic approaches can provide important context and constraints for interpreting remotely sensed time‐series data (Carroll et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Pérez Hoyos et al. ), estimate their evapotranspiration (Yang et al. ), and track their vegetation conditions over time (White and Lewis , Petus et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Springs as hydrologic refugia in a changing climate? A remote‐sensing approach

Cartwright

Johnson

2018

Ecosphere

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Abstract. Spring-fed wetlands are ecologically important habitats in arid and semi-arid regions. Springs have been suggested as possible hydrologic refugia from droughts and climate change; however, springs that depend on recent precipitation or snowmelt for recharge may be vulnerable to warming and drought intensification. Springs that are expected to maintain their ecohydrologic function in a warmer, drier climate may be priorities for conservation and restoration. Identifying such springs is difficult because many springs lack hydrologic records of adequate temporal extent and resolution to assess their resilience to water cycle changes. This study demonstrates proof-of-concept for the assessment of certain spring types (i.e., helocrene, hypocrene, and hillslope springs) in terms of hydrologic and ecological resilience to climatic water stress using freely available remote-sensing and climate data. We used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from 1985 through 2011 to delineate surface-moisture zones (SMZs) associated with 39 clusters of 172 springs in a montane sage-steppe landscape in southeastern Oregon, USA. We developed and synthesized seven NDVI-based indicators of SMZ resilience to interannual changes in water availability: (1) mean and (2) standard deviation of July NDVI; (3) mean difference in July NDVI and (4) difference in coefficient of variation for July NDVI between each SMZ and its surrounding watershed; (5) response of SMZ July NDVI to 90-day antecedent precipitation; (6) response of SMZ July NDVI to the previous winter's snowpack; and (7) range of NDVI values from an exceptionally wet year followed by three dry years. Because all resilience indicators were highly inter-correlated, we derived an overall metric of SMZ resilience using principal components analysis that accounted for 66% of total variance. This overall resilience score was positively correlated with SMZ elevation, slope, mean annual precipitation, and with the number of associated springs. Resilience was greater for SMZs on topographically shaded, north-facing slopes. Several high-resilience SMZs were located immediately below persistent snowbanks, suggesting a possible source of steady recharge throughout the growing season. The approach presented here-if combined with field assessments of spring hydrogeology, discharge, and groundwater age-could help identify spring-fed wetlands that are most likely to serve as hydrologic refugia from climate change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Springs as hydrologic refugia in a changing climate? A remote‐sensing approach

Cartwright

Johnson

2018

Ecosphere

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“…Many land management agencies aim to protect GDV. However, identification of GDV presence over large landscapes is challenging and beyond the scope of field surveys (reviewed in Pérez Hoyos, Krakauer, Khanbilvardi, & Armstrong, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in foliage projective cover and its implications for mapping groundwater dependent vegetation across a precipitation gradient

et al. 2018

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Adequate protection of groundwater dependent vegetation (GDV) at the landscape scale (>104 km2) is often hampered as their extent is poorly mapped. Remote sensing data sets have previously been used to delineate GDV by analysing both actual and changes, in green biomass over space and time. The rationale behind such approaches is based on the phenological characteristics of GDV, which often retain greater mean green biomass during dry periods, in comparison to vegetation with access to soil moisture only. However, such methods are hampered by inadequate knowledge about how average annual precipitation, seasonality, and differing water regimes of vegetation communities within a landscape influence green biomass. Therefore, we aimed to test for amount of foliage projective cover (FPC) and variation in FPC as indicators of GDV presence. We assessed differences in the FPC of GDV at 3 sites across a 1,500 mm−1 year−1 precipitation gradient, ranging from arid inland to humid coastal environments in Southern Queensland, Australia. Overall, we found that average annual precipitation had the largest influence on predicting FPC followed by seasonality. During winter in the semi‐arid and humid environments (season with least precipitation), FPC for non‐GDV was higher than subsurface GDV. For our study area, GDV delineation on the basis of higher green biomass than surrounding vegetation was effective when average annual precipitation was less than ~600 mm−1 year−1.

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“…However, Becker (2000) also notes that it is often difficult to separate such expressions of groundwater from seasonal or event-driven surface water. The review by Pérez Hoyos et al (2016) confirms a strong coupling between rainfall, water table depth, vegetation and soil. Toth's (1963) conceptual model of groundwater flow has implications: if the adopted RS approach is reliant on surface expressions of groundwater or groundwater proxies, characteristic of systems with relative shallow groundwater flow, then the shallower the groundwater flow, the smaller the surface expressions of the flow are likely to be, and the higher the required resolution of the RS imagery becomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community-based groundwater and ecosystem restoration in semi-arid north Rajasthan (3): Evidence from remote sensing

2016

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Community-based measures recharging groundwater in semi-arid India has historically underpinned rural socio-ecological resilience, though are declining through technological, policy and other changes. Nevertheless, exemplars of community action are achieving catchment regeneration, including in Alwar District (Rajasthan) since the mid-1980s. This study analysed satellite remote sensing (RS) data to detect trends in groundwater and linked ecosystem services. Data from Landsat satellite missions offered a long time series and free access, though data gaps in the LandSat archive prior to 1997 limited time series analysis. ISODATA (Iterative Self Organising Data Analysis Technique) was used to analyse land cover trends, detecting increasing vegetation cover but not river rejuvenation due to limited spatial and spectral resolution. Analyses of NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) and MSI (Moisture Stress Index) were used to assess change in vegetation cover, vigour and moisture stress over time. Analytical outputs were equivocal, although inter-annual fluctuations were observed to follow antecedent rainfall as vegetation responded to rising soil moisture and groundwater. Despite these equivocal conclusions, the research strongly suggests that analysis of RS data with improved resolution can provide surrogate indicators of change in groundwater and associated ecosystem services, supporting formulation of flexible policies incorporating local action to regenerate socio-ecological systems.

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A Review of Advances in the Identification and Characterization of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Using Geospatial Technologies

Cited by 48 publications

References 99 publications

Springs as hydrologic refugia in a changing climate? A remote‐sensing approach

Springs as hydrologic refugia in a changing climate? A remote‐sensing approach

Changes in foliage projective cover and its implications for mapping groundwater dependent vegetation across a precipitation gradient

Community-based groundwater and ecosystem restoration in semi-arid north Rajasthan (3): Evidence from remote sensing

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