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The utility of estimating net primary productivity over Alaska using baseline AVHRR data

International Journal of Remote Sensing
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.1080/01431160110113926

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Abstract

Net primary productivity (NPP) is a fundamental ecological variable that provides information about the health and status of vegetation communities. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, or NDVI, derived from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) is increasingly being used to model or predict NPP, especially over large remote areas. In this article, seven seasonally based metrics calculated from a seven-year baseline NDVI dataset were used to model NPP over Alaska, USA. For each growing season, they included maximum, mean and summed NDVI, total days, product of total days and maximum NDVI, an integral estimate of NDVI and a summed product of NDVI and solar radiation. Field (plot) derived NPP estimates were assigned to 18 land cover classes from an Alaskan statewide land cover database. Linear relationships between NPP and each NDVI metric were analysed at four scales: plot, 1-km, 10-km and 20-km pixels. Results show moderate to poor relationship between any of the metrics and NPP estimates for all data sets and scales. Use of NDVI for estimating NPP may be possible, but caution is required due to data seasonality, the scaling process used and land surface heterogeneity.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title The utility of estimating net primary productivity over Alaska using baseline AVHRR data
Series title International Journal of Remote Sensing
DOI 10.1080/01431160110113926
Volume 23
Issue 21
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Contributing office(s) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
Description 26 p.
First page 4571
Last page 4596
Country United States
State Alaska
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