Detecting Ecosystem Performance Anomalies for Land Management in the Upper Colorado River Basin Using Satellite Observations, Climate Data, and Ecosystem Models

Remote Sensing
By:  and 

Links

Abstract

This study identifies areas with ecosystem performance anomalies (EPA) within the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) during 2005–2007 using satellite observations, climate data, and ecosystem models. The final EPA maps with 250-m spatial resolution were categorized as normal performance, underperformance, and overperformance (observed performance relative to weather-based predictions) at the 90% level of confidence. The EPA maps were validated using “percentage of bare soil” ground observations. The validation results at locations with comparable site potential showed that regions identified as persistently underperforming (overperforming) tended to have a higher (lower) percentage of bare soil, suggesting that our preliminary EPA maps are reliable and agree with ground-based observations. The 3-year (2005–2007) persistent EPA map from this study provides the first quantitative evaluation of ecosystem performance anomalies within the UCRB and will help the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) identify potentially degraded lands. Results from this study can be used as a prototype by BLM and other land managers for making optimal land management decisions.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Detecting Ecosystem Performance Anomalies for Land Management in the Upper Colorado River Basin Using Satellite Observations, Climate Data, and Ecosystem Models
Series title Remote Sensing
DOI 10.3390/rs2081880
Volume 2
Issue 8
Year Published 2010
Language English
Publisher MDPI
Contributing office(s) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Remote Sensing
First page 1880
Last page 1891
Country United States
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details