U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Using Advanced Satellite Products to Better Understand I&M Data within the Context of the Larger Ecoregion Jeff Morisette, USGS Fort Collins Science Center Kevin James, NPS I&M Heartland Network w/ Colin Talbert, USGS Fort and Pete Ma, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Background…  “Parks are part of larger ecological systems and must be managed in that context” (Fancy, Gross, & Carter, 2008).  Worked funded through the USGS/NPS National Park Monitoring Project. Currently just starting year 2 of 3.  Primary objective: help park managers use cutting edge moderate- (250m) and high- (30m) resolution remote sensing products to place I&M observations within the context of the larger ecosystem.

MODIS land surface phenology data

Modified TIMESAT Parameters Phenology Product User Guide, Tan et al 1.Beginning of season 2.End of season 3.Length of season 4.Base value 5.Peak time 6.Peak value 7.Amplitude 8.Left derivative 9.Right derivative 10.Integral over season - absolute 11.Integral over season - scaled 12.Maximum value 13.Minimum value 14.Mean value 15.Root Mean Square Error

WELD Monthly composites…

Objectives:  Characterize phenology across the Southern Plains, Heartland, and Northern Great Plains Networks from 2000 on.  Building on the remote sensed vegetation indices and available Network data, identify appropriate sampling periods and locations that maximize information content for vegetation vital signs monitoring.  Evaluate the impact of management actions in light of intra- and inter-annual vegetation and climate variability.

Initial parks: selection criteria  Proposal focused on three networks: Southern Plains, Northern Great Plains, and Heartland Network  We wanted at least one park per network  Fairly large in spatial extent  Existing data from either I&M, veg map, or fire monitoring  Fairly native grassland

Initial parks

Live demo…