Optimal Dynamic Predictions of Semi-Arid Land Cover Change and Implications for Ecosystem Goods and Services
John
D
Albertson, Duke University, john.albertson@duke.edu
(Presenting)
Silvia
Ferrari, Duke University, sferrari@duke.edu
Eric
Wood, Princeton University, efwood@princeton.edu
Hank
Shugart, University of Virginia, hhs@virginia.edu
Savannas have two stable states, the typical savanna in which trees and grasses coexist as well as a state of complete trees known as bush encroachment. Transitions between states can be caused by changes in the climate and/or land use, depending on the sensitivity of savannas to these factors. The project focuses on a region of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), spanning from the border of Kenya and Ethiopia (4°N) to the border of Botswana and South Africa (24°S). This area was chosen because it provides a diverse range of precipitation frequency and intensity as well as a range in the grass versus tree population. In this poster we explore precipitation and NDVI data taken from seven different stations spanning the research region with latitude and longitude coordinates of (0.5°N, 39.5°E), (5.5°S,35.5°E), (10.5°S, 30.5°E), (15.5°S, 30.5°E), (20.5°S, 26.5°E), (22.5°S, 21.5°E), and (23.5°S, 20.5°E). The seasonality, mean frequency and depth, and mean annual rainfall were examined with respect to the prevailing NDVI. A discussion is presented of controls on Savanna structure and its representation in ecohydrological models.
Presentation Type: Poster
Poster Session: Ecosystems Science
NASA TE Funded Awards Represented:
Albertson, John
Optimal Dynamic Predictions of Semi-Arid Land Cover Change and Implications for Ecosystem Goods and Services