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Exploring the relationship between vegetation spectra and eco-geo-environmental conditions in karst region, Southwest China

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Abstract

Remote sensing of local environmental conditions is not accessible if substrates are covered with vegetation. This study explored the relationship between vegetation spectra and karst eco-geo-environmental conditions. Hyperspectral remote sensing techniques showed that there were significant differences between spectral features of vegetation mainly distributed in karst and non-karst regions, and combination of 1,300- to 2,500-nm reflectance and 400- to 680-nm first-derivative spectra could delineate karst and non-karst vegetation groups. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) successfully assessed to what extent the variation of vegetation spectral features can be explained by associated eco-geo-environmental variables, and it was found that soil moisture and calcium carbonate contents had the most significant effects on vegetation spectral features in karst region. Our study indicates that vegetation spectra is tightly linked to eco-geo-environmental conditions and CCA is an effective means of studying the relationship between vegetation spectral features and eco-geo-environmental variables. Employing a combination of spectral and spatial analysis, it is anticipated that hyperspectral imagery can be used in interpreting or mapping eco-geo-environmental conditions covered with vegetation in karst region.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China

    Yuemin Yue, Kelin Wang & Hongsong Chen

  2. Center for Earth Observation and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100080, China

    Bing Zhang, Zhengchao Chen & Quanjun Jiao

  3. State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Jointly Sponsored by the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications of Chinese Academy of Science and Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100101, China

    Bo Liu

  4. Huanjiang Experimental Station of Karst Ecosystem, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang, Guangxi Province, 547100, China

    Yuemin Yue, Kelin Wang & Hongsong Chen

  5. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Yuemin Yue & Bo Liu

Authors
  1. Yuemin Yue
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  2. Kelin Wang
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  3. Bing Zhang
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  4. Zhengchao Chen
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  5. Quanjun Jiao
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  6. Bo Liu
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  7. Hongsong Chen
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Correspondence to Yuemin Yue.

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Yue, Y., Wang, K., Zhang, B. et al. Exploring the relationship between vegetation spectra and eco-geo-environmental conditions in karst region, Southwest China. Environ Monit Assess 160, 157–168 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0665-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0665-z

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