1. Global Landcover and Disturbance Analysis NRSM 532 BIOS 534
April 17, 2017
City Lights from night time images
(Chris Elvidge NOAA)

2. -Biogeochemistry -Genetic bank -Water -Air
DYNAMIC GLOBAL LAND TRANSITIONS
LANDUSE
[Human control]
LANDCOVER
[Biophysically controlled]
Human
Systems
Ecological
Systems
HUMAN DECISION MAKING
political/economic choices
-Institutions
Culture
Technology
Population
Economic
-Biogeochemistry -Genetic bank -Water -Air
Economic Problems
-poverty
-unequal wealth
-war
-globalization
Ecological Problems
pollution
diseases
food/fibre/fuel shortages
overcrowding
Ecosystem goods & services
clean air/water
waste recycling
food/fibre/fuel
recreation

3. 10/08/2002
UNBC Seminar

4. The world’s forests: take your pick
> 60% IGBP Closed forest
>10% FAO Official definition
> 40% - Forestry definition
10/08/2002
UNBC Seminar

5. Cartoon of Bush 1st
10/08/2002
UNBC Seminar

6. 10/08/2002
UNBC Seminar

7. Uncertainties concerning forest monitoring
Different definitions and protocols between and within countries.
Very varying national capabilities to monitor forests and land cover.
Remote sensing data are often unavailable
Costs
Satellite acquisition strategies
Internationally published results yield uncertain results.
No current commitment for many key products and services.
10/08/2002
UNBC Seminar

8. Global land cover classification (8 km resolution)
Key: 1: Evergreen Needleleaf Forests 2:Evergreen Broadleaf Forests 3: Deciduous Needleleaf
Forests 4: Deciduous Broadleaf Forests 5: Mixed Forests 6: Woodlands 7: Wooded Grasslands/Shrubs 8: Closed Bushlands or Shrublands 9: Open Shrublands 10: Grasses 11: Croplands 12: Bare 13: Mosses and Lichens
10/08/2002
UNBC Seminar

9. 10/08/2002
UNBC Seminar

10. MODIS 500 meter continuous field result for the lower 48 United States
Comparing results with USFS
forest area estimates by state
Percent tree cover threshold at which continuous field
area estimate matches USFS estimate.
Note much lower threshold used in south west
10/08/2002
UNBC Seminar

11. MODIS Phenology Logic

12. 10/08/2002
UNBC Seminar

13. MOD12Q2: Global Vegetation Phenology
From Mark Friedl, Boston Univ.
First global products for vegetation phenology based on MODIS EVI data released for
Identifies key transition
dates in growing season
Onset EVI increase
Onset EVI maximum
Available globally
Legend provides julian date for
Onset EVI decrease
Onset EVI minimum

14. Landcover Change

15. The difference between potential” and “actual” landcover and the role of humans
10/08/2002
UNBC Seminar

16. 23 March 2001, p
10/08/2002
UNBC Seminar

17. New York Times June 11, 1992
10/08/2002
UNBC Seminar

18. British Colombia, Canada: The bright blue patches are areas of mostly bare ground left after logging. While clearcuts in the 1992 image have likely been replanted, the limited red return from these patches in the 1999 image demonstrate how slowly forest regenerates in these environments. This 1169 Km2 region lost 92 Km2 of forest (10%) from
August 15, 1992
September 12, 1999
Land Cover Classification
4,5,3 (RGB) Landsat TM
4,5,3 (RGB) Landsat ETM+
13.1 Km2
Forest Lost/Year
10%
Percent Forest Lost
92 Km2
Forest Cover Lost
Research Partners
10/08/2002
UNBC Seminar

19. Landsat Disturbance History Example: Virginia
Undisturbed
Forest
Clearing
Epoch

20. Global Forest Cover Change 2000 - 2012
Hansen, M. et al. Science 2013

22. GLOBAL Generalized Disturbance Index
Mildrexler et al 2006
Mildrexler et al 2006

23. Comparison of Land Surface Temperatures from Aqua MODIS
Sahara Desert vs central African Tropical Forest
Mildrexler, Zhou, Running. AGU Eos 87:461, 2006

25. Aqua MODIS Maximum Annual Land Surface Temperature (2003-2009)
Mildrexler, Zhou, Running. AGU Eos 87:461, 2006

26. Comparison of Land Surface Temperatures from Aqua MODIS Irrigated Poplar vs arid Sagebrush, central Oregon
Mildrexler, Zhou, Running. AGU Eos 87:461, 2006

28. Disturbance Impact on Land Biophysics

31. MODIS Fire Detection YD 211-220, 2006

32. Time Lag in Biospheric Responses to Changing Climate
700
360
CO2 Concentration (ppm)
Relative Change
2100
2150
2000
Year
CO2
Land Temperature
Phenology, NPP
Disturbance
Biome Shifts