Unravelling long-term vegetation change patterns in a binational watershed using multitemporal land cover data and historical photography

By: , and 

Links

Abstract

A significant amount of research conducted in the Sonoran Desert of North America has documented, both anecdotally and empirically, major vegetation changes over the past century due to human land use activities. However, many studies lack coincidental landscape-scale data characterizing the spatial and temporal manifestation of these changes. Vegetation changes in a binational (USA and Mexico) watershed were documented using a series of four land cover maps (1979-2009) derived from multispectral satellite imagery. Cover changes are compared to georeferenced, repeat oblique photographs dating from the late 19 th century to present. Results indicate the expansion of grassland over the past 20 years following nearly a century of decline. Historical repeat photography documents early-mid 20 th century mesquite invasions, but recent land cover data and rephotography demonstrate declines in xeroriparian/riparian mesquite communities in recent decades. These vegetation changes are variable over the landscape and influenced by topography and land management.

Study Area

Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title Unravelling long-term vegetation change patterns in a binational watershed using multitemporal land cover data and historical photography
ISBN 9781457712036
DOI 10.1109/Multi-Temp.2011.6005058
Year Published 2011
Language English
Description 4 p.
Larger Work Title 2011 6th International Workshop on the Analysis of Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Images, Multi-Temp 2011 - Proceedings
First page 101
Last page 104
Conference Title 2011 6th International Workshop on the Analysis of Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Images, Multi-Temp 2011
Conference Location Trento, Italy
Conference Date July 12-14, 2011
Country United States
State Arizona, California
Other Geospatial Sonoran Desert of North America
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details