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The role of C3 and C4 grasses to interannual variability in remotely sensed ecosystem performance over the US Great Plains

International Journal of Remote Sensing
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.1080/0143116031000070454

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Abstract

Time integrated normalized difference vegetation index (ΣNDVI) derived from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) multi-temporal imagery over a 10-year period (1989–1998) was used as a surrogate for primary production to investigate the impact of interannual climate variability on grassland performance for central and northern US Great Plains. First, the contribution of C3 and C4 species abundance to the major grassland ecosystems of the US Great Plains is described. Next, the relation between mean ΣNDVI and the ΣNDVI coefficient of variation (CV ΣNDVI) used as a proxy for interannual climate variability is analysed. Results suggest that the differences in the long-term climatic control over ecosystem performance approximately coincide with changes between C3- and C4-dominant grassland classes. Variation in remotely sensed net primary production over time is higher for the southern and western plains grasslands (primarily C4 grasslands), whereas the C3-dominated classes in the northern and eastern portion of the US Great Plains, generally show lower CV ΣNDVI values.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title The role of C3 and C4 grasses to interannual variability in remotely sensed ecosystem performance over the US Great Plains
Series title International Journal of Remote Sensing
DOI 10.1080/0143116031000070454
Volume 24
Issue 22
Year Published 2003
Language English
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Contributing office(s) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
Description 11 p.
First page 4421
Last page 4431
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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