Satellite Microwave Detection of Phenological Start of Season for North America using AMSR-E

Matthew O. Jones, University of Montana - NTSG / FLBS, matt.jones@ntsg.umt.edu (Presenter)
John S Kimball, University of Montana, johnk@ntsg.umt.edu
Kyle C. McDonald, JPL, kyle.c.mcdonald@jpl.nasa.gov
Lucas A Jones, University of Montana, lucas@ntsg.umt.edu

The carbon cycle and land-atmosphere water and energy exchanges are influenced by the timing, rate and duration of vegetation phenology events. The Vegetation Optical Depth (VOD) parameter from satellite passive microwave remote sensing provides a unique phenology signal responsive to changes in canopy water content and biomass. The VOD signal is insensitive to atmosphere and solar illumination effects, and provides high (4-day or better) temporal fidelity at moderate (25-km resolution) spatial scales. We used VOD retrievals from AMSR-E 10.7 GHz, V and H polarization brightness temperature series with TIMESAT to classify vegetation start of season (SOS) phenology metrics over a four year record (2003-07) for North America at the Level III Ecoregion scale. The VOD SOS phenology metric at the ecoregion scale was strongly correlated (0.66

Presentation: 2011_Poster_Jones_42_86.pptx (6884k)

Presentation Type:  Poster

Session:  Coupled Processes at Land-Atmosphere-Ocean Interfaces   (Mon 4:00 PM)

Associated Project(s): 

• McDonald, Kyle: Vegetation Phenology Assessment Using Satellite Radar Remote Sensing: Global Monitoring of Daily and Seasonal Changes in Canopy Structure and Water Status ...details

Poster Location ID: 42