Abstract
Our study demonstrates the utility of coarse spatial-resolution satellite spectra for analysis of vegetation phenophases and response to moisture availability in an arid ecosystem. We show the feasibility of deriving information on vegetation parameters such as stress and growth patterns in arid regions through the use of satellite-derived vegetation indices, despite the usual problems associated with a high ratio of soil to vegetation cover. Vegetation in our study area consists of Chihuahuan Desert grassland and scrub, including extensive zones of mixed desert scrub and grassland. Historic vegetation change has been well documented and is exemplified by decreasing grass cover and increasing shrub cover, a general trend of desertification. Our analysis suggests that satellite-based inputs can be used to improve our understanding of the spatial dynamics of climatic impacts on natural vegetation and to help us distinguish these processes from human-caused desertification.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Buffington, L.C. and C.H. Herbei. 1965. Vegetational changes on a semidesert grassland range from 1858 to 1963. Ecological Monographs 35: 139–164.
Di, L. and D.C. Rundquist. 1994. A one-step algorithm for correction and calibration of AVHRR level lb data. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 60: 165–171.
Dick-Peddie, W.A. 1993. New Mexico vegetation: Past, present and future, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.
Dobyns, H.F. 1981. From fire to flood: Historic human destruction of Sonoran Desert riverine oases. Anthropological Papers No. 20, Ballena Press, Socorro, New Mexico.
Dregne, H.E. 1977. Desertification of arid lands. Economic Geography 3: 329.
Eidenshink, J.C. and R.H. Hass. 1992. Analyzing vegetation dynamics of land systems with satellite data. Geocarto International 1: 53–61.
Elvidge, CD. and R.J.P. Lyon. 1985. Influence of rock-soil spectral variation on assessment of green biomass. Remote Sensing of Environment 17: 265–279.
Fisher, FM., J.C. Zak, G.L. Cunningham and W.G. Whitford. 1988. Water and nitrogen effects on growth and allocation patterns of creosotebush in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Journal of Range Management 41: 387–391.
Frank, T.D. 1985. Differentiating semiarid environments using Landsat reflectance indexes. Professional Geographer 37: 36–46.
Gross, F.A. and W.A. Dick-Peddie, 1979. A map of primeval vegetation in New Mexico. The Southwestern Naturalist 24: 115–122.
Huete, A.R. and R.D. Jackson. 1987. Suitability of spectral indices for evaluating vegetation characteristics on arid rangelands. Remote Sensing of Environment 23: 213–232.
Huete, A.R. and C.J. Tucker. 1991. Investigation of soil influences in AVHRR red and near-infrared vegetation index imagery. International Journal of Remote Sensing 12: 1223–1242.
Jensen, J.R. 1986. Introductory digital image processing, Prentice Hall, New York.
Lillesand, T.M. and R.W. Kiefer. 1994. Remote sensing and image interpretation, John Wiley, New York.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 1989. Climatological data — New Mexico. Vol. 93. NOA A National Climate Data Center, Asheville, North Carolina.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 1990. Climatological data — New Mexico. Vol. 94. NOAA National Climate Data Center, Asheville, North Carolina.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 1991a. Climatological data — New Mexico. Vol. 95. NOAA National Climate Data Center, Asheville, North Carolina.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 1991b. NOAA Polar Orbiter data user’s guide, U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, NESDIS, NCDC and the Satellite Data Services Division, Washington.
Paulsen, H.A. and F.N. Ares. 1962. Grazing values and management of black grama and tobosa grasslands and associated shrub ranges of the Southwest. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Technical Bulletin No. 1270. Washington.
Peters, A.J., M.D. Eve and W.G. Whitford. In review. Analysis of desert plant community growth patterns with high temporal resolution satellite spectra. Journal of Applied Ecology.
Peters, A.J., B.C. Reed, M.D. Eve and K.M. Havstad. 1993. Satellite assessment of drought impact on native plant communities of southeastern New Mexico, USA. Journal of Arid Environments 24: 305–319.
Schlesinger, W.H., J.F. Reynolds, G.L. Cunningham, L.F. Huenneke, W.M. Jarrell, R.A. Virginia and W.G. Whitford. 1990. Biological feedbacks in global desertification. Science 47: 1043–1048.
Stephens, G. and W.G. Whitford. 1993. Responses of Bouteloua eripoda to irrigation and nitrogen fertilization in a Chihuahuan Desert grassland. Journal of Arid Environments 24: 415–421.
Tucker, C.J. 1979. Red and photographic infrared linear combinations for monitoring vegetation. Remote Sensing of Environment 8: 127–150.
Tucker, C.J., H.E. Dregne and W.W. Newcomb. 1991. Expansion and contraction of the Sahara Desert from 1980 to 1990. Science 253: 299–301.
Warren, P.L. and C.F. Hutchinson. 1984. Indicators of rangeland change and their potential for remote sensing. Journal of Arid Environments 7: 107–126.
York, J.C. and W.A. Dick-Peddie. 1969. Vegetation changes in southern New Mexico during the past hundred years, in W.G. McGinnies and B.J. Goldman (Eds.), Arid lands in perspective, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, pp. 157–166.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1995 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Peters, A.J., Eve, M.D. (1995). Satellite Monitoring of Desert Plant Community Response to Moisture Availability. In: Mouat, D.A., Hutchinson, C.F. (eds) Desertification in Developed Countries. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1635-7_20
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1635-7_20
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7231-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1635-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive