Vegetation health: Nature's climate monitor

Gray, T. I.; Tapley, Byron D

doi:10.1016/0273-1177(85)90343-6

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Strong correlations between NDVI and interannual precipitation variability related to ENSO in deserts in Australia, South America, and Africa (27,28) indicate that the processes described in the U.S. Southwest may apply to deserts globally. The strength of the NDVI-precipitation relationships has resulted in the proposed use of NDVI as a proxy for precipitation variability (27,29).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological controls on water-cycle response to climate variability in deserts

Scanlon¹,

Levitt²,

Reedy³

et al. 2005

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

140

138

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The impact of climate variability on the water cycle in desert ecosystems is controlled by biospheric feedback at interannual to millennial timescales. This paper describes a unique field dataset from weighing lysimeters beneath nonvegetated and vegetated systems that unequivocally demonstrates the role of vegetation dynamics in controlling water cycle response to interannual climate variability related to El Niñ o southern oscillation in the Mojave Desert. Extreme El Niñ o winter precipitation (2.3-2.5 times normal) typical of the U.S. Southwest would be expected to increase groundwater recharge, which is critical for water resources in semiarid and arid regions. However, lysimeter data indicate that rapid increases in vegetation productivity in response to elevated winter precipitation reduced soil water storage to half of that in a nonvegetated lysimeter, thereby precluding deep drainage below the root zone that would otherwise result in groundwater recharge. Vegetation dynamics have been controlling the water cycle in interdrainage desert areas throughout the U.S. Southwest, maintaining dry soil conditions and upward soil water flow since the last glacial period (10,000 -15,000 yr ago), as shown by soil water chloride accumulations. Although measurements are specific to the U.S. Southwest, correlations between satellite-based vegetation productivity and elevated precipitation related to El Niñ o southern oscillation indicate this model may be applicable to desert basins globally. Understanding the two-way coupling between vegetation dynamics and the water cycle is critical for predicting how climate variability influences hydrology and water resources in water-limited landscapes.climate change ͉ ecohydrology ͉ El Niñ o

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological controls on water-cycle response to climate variability in deserts

Scanlon¹,

Levitt²,

Reedy³

et al. 2005

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

140

138

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The foundation for using NDVI data in monitoring arid and semi-arid lands is based on a large body of research in the 1980s in a wide range of arid land regions demonstrating the close relationship between NDVI and rainfall variations on seasonal to interannual time scales (Gray and Tapley, 1985;Tucker et al, 1985;Justice and Hiernaux, 1986;Townshend and Justice, 1986;Nicholson et al, 1990;Tucker et al, 1991;Tucker and Nicholson, 1999;Rasmusson, 1998). This relationship between NDVI and rainfall provided the basis for using time series NDVI data for drought monitoring and development of famine early warning derived from a blend of satellite measurements and rain gauge network (a-top).…”

Section: Data and Analysis Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Sahelian vegetation dynamics using NOAA-AVHRR NDVI data from 1981–2003

Anyamba

Tucker

2005

Journal of Arid Environments

620

375

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“…Presented as a time series, the NDVI is a good indicator of vegetation phenology [ Townshend and Justice , 1985]. A number of studies have shown that temporal variations in NDVI are associated with the seasonal dynamics of rainfall and evapotranspiration in a wide range of environmental conditions [ Gray and Tapley , 1985; Justice et al , 1986; Nicholson et al , 1990; Cihlar et al , 1991] and on global scale with atmospheric CO 2 fluxes. The compilation of more than 20 years of these data has resulted in more detailed studies of the biosphere‐climate coupling.…”

Section: Data and Analysis Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal to interannual variability of vegetation and fires at SAFARI 2000 sites inferred from advanced very high resolution radiometer time series data

2003

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NOAA advanced very high resolution radiometer data are used to place the SAFARI 2000 and SAFARI 1992 intensive campaigns in the context of the interannual variability of vegetation conditions in southern Africa. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) measurements and sea surface temperature (SST) indices of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are compared and the connections explained. The paper shows the vegetation evolution for the 2000 growing season, with unprecedented high and persistent NDVI anomalies associated with a cold phase of ENSO (La Niña) and above average rainfall between November and May, south of 15°S. In contrast, the 1992 season showed marked negative NDVI anomalies associated with an extreme drought in the southern part of the region, associated with the warm phase of ENSO (El Niño). These differences in NDVI patterns resulted in different patterns of fire distribution. More satellite detections of active fires were observed in 2000 than in 1992, especially for Botswana, Namibia, southern Zimbabwe, and southern Mozambique. Comparisons between in situ airborne measurements collected in 2000 and 1992 require an understanding of the extremely different vegetation and fire conditions associated with those years. Generalizations from results of the two SAFARI campaigns should be made with careful consideration of the extreme differences in conditions and the large interannual variability encountered in southern Africa, as depicted by the long‐term record of satellite vegetation measurements.

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Vegetation health: Nature's climate monitor

Cited by 18 publications

References 5 publications

Ecological controls on water-cycle response to climate variability in deserts

Ecological controls on water-cycle response to climate variability in deserts

Analysis of Sahelian vegetation dynamics using NOAA-AVHRR NDVI data from 1981–2003

Seasonal to interannual variability of vegetation and fires at SAFARI 2000 sites inferred from advanced very high resolution radiometer time series data

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