Greening and Browning Trends on the Pacific Slope of Peru and Northern Chile

• DOI: 10.20944/preprints202305.0351.v1
• Publication Date: 2023-05-06T00:54:46Z
• Authors: Hugo Vincent Lepage; Eustace Barnes; Eleanor Kor; Morag Hunter; Crispin H. W. Barnes
• Keywords: Foothills

Accurate detection and quantification of regional vegetation trends is essential for understanding the dynamics landscape ecology distribution. We applied a comprehensive trend analysis to satellite data describe geo-spatial changes in along Pacific slope Peru northern Chile, from sea level continental divide, region characterised by biologically unique highly sensitive arid semi-arid environments. Our statistical analyses show broad patterns positive EVI, called “greening” alongside “browning” where are negative between 2000 2020. The coastal plain foothills, up 1000m, contain notable greening Lomas newly irrigated agricultural lands occurring browning related land use practices urban development. Strikingly, precordilleras distinct ’greening strip’ which extends approximately 6°S 22°S, with an altitudinal trend; ascending tropical lowlands (170-780 m) Peru, subtropics (1000-2800 central temperate zone (2600-4300 southern Chile. find that geographical characteristics strip do not match climate zones previously established Köppen Geiger. Greening deserts high Andes lie within well defined climatic life zones, producing variable but identifiable trends. However, presents unexpected distribution respect Köppen-Geiger zones. This work provides insights on effects change Peru’s diverse ecosystems sensitive, rich environments slope.