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Estimating Terrestrial Primary Productivity by Combining Remote Sensing and Ecosystem Simulation

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Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 79))

Abstract

Beginning in 1972 with the launch of Landsat 1, estimation of terrestrial plant production has been one of the most important applications attempted of satellite remote sensing. Initial interest focused on the prediction of regional crop yields, such as wheat (Erickson, 1984). However, changing goals, hardware capabilities, and theory have produced a steady evolution in the approaches taken to calculate net primary production (NPP) of large areas. Interest has also expanded to calculating primary production of natural vegetation. The much wider array of topography, climate, canopy geometry, and life-cycle dynamics exhibited by natural vegetation make computation of primary production much more challenging than the rather controlled, organized field conditions of a crop.

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Running, S.W. (1990). Estimating Terrestrial Primary Productivity by Combining Remote Sensing and Ecosystem Simulation. In: Hobbs, R.J., Mooney, H.A. (eds) Remote Sensing of Biosphere Functioning. Ecological Studies, vol 79. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3302-2_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3302-2_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7958-7

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