Remote sensing-based determination of understory grass greening stage over boreal forest

• DOI: 10.1117/1.jrs.7.073578
• Publication Date: 2013-04-24T16:47:11Z
• Authors: Quazi K. Hassan; K. Mahmud Rahman
• Keywords: Understory; Moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer

Our objective was the determination of understory grass greening stage (GGS: defined as date when 75% in surrounding area a particular location would be green) using remote sensing data over boreal-dominant forested regions Canadian province Alberta. We used moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS)-derived accumulated growing degree days (AGDD) and normalized difference water index (NDWI) with ground-based GGS observations at approximately 120 lookout tower sites during period 2006 to 2008. During 2006, we extracted temporal dynamics AGDD/NDWI determined best thresholds (i.e., 90 degree-days for AGDD 0.45 NDWI). These were then implemented 2007 2008; observed that had better prediction capabilities comparison NDWI ∼94% ∼65% incidents fall within ±2 periods or ±16 deviations thresholds, respectively). The outcomes potentially useful understanding availability food habitat wildlife species/animals; microclimatic environment, composition, diversity plant community; forest fire danger behavior case occurrences.