Assessment of different spectral indices in the red-near-infrared spectral domain for burned land discrimination

A new spectral index named Burned Area Index (BAI), specifically designed for burned land discrimination in the red-near-infrared spectral domain, was tested on multitemporal sets of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) images. The utility of BAI for burned land discrimination was assessed against other widely used spectral vegetation indices: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) and Global Environmental Monitoring Index (GEMI). BAI provided the highest discrimination ability among the indices tested. It also showed a high variability within scorched areas, which reduced the average normalized distances with respect to other indices. A source of potential confusion between burned land areas and low-reflectance targets, such as water bodies and cloud shadows, was identified. Since BAI was designed to emphasize the charcoal signal in post-fire images, this index was highly dependent on the temporal permanence of charcoal after fires.     

Relationships between percent vegetation cover and vegetation indices

In this paper, percent vegetation cover is estimated from vegetation indices using simulated Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data derived from in situ spectral reflectance data. Spectral reflectance measurements were conducted on grasslands in Mongolia and Japan. Vegetation indices such as the normalized difference, soil-adjusted, modified soil-adjusted and transformed soil-adjusted vegetation indices (NDVI, SAVI, MSAVI and TSAVI) were calculated from the spectral reflectance of various vegetation covers. Percent vegetation cover was estimated using pixel values of red, green and blue bands of digitized colour photographs. Relationships between various vegetation indices and percent vegetation cover were compared using a second-order polynomial regression. TSAVI and NDVI gave the best estimates of vegetation cover for a wide range of grass densities.     

土壤背景对冠层NDVI的影响分析

归一化差值植被指数NDVI是植被遥感中应用最为广泛的指数之一, 但它受土壤背景等因素的干扰比较强烈。结合实测的土壤数据以及公式推导、PROSAIL 模型模拟等方法分析了这种影响。首先, 假定与土壤线性混合且叶片呈水平分布的植被冠层, 根据土壤与植被分别在红光、近红外波段处的反射率值、植被覆盖度等参数, 利用公式推导了土壤背景对不同覆盖度下冠层NDVI的影响。其次, 利用PROSAIL冠层光谱模拟模型, 模拟分析了土壤背景对不同LAI下冠层NDVI的影响。分析的结果表明:LAI 越小, 土壤背景的影响越大; 暗土壤背景下的冠层NDVI值大于亮土壤背景下冠层的NDVI值; 并且,暗土壤条件下,NDVI值对土壤亮度的变化更敏感,而亮土壤下,NDVI值则对LAI或覆盖度的变化更敏感。最后利用实测的不同土壤背景下的冬小麦冠层光谱数据, 验证了公式推导和模型模拟的结果。     

Nondestructive estimation of canopy chlorophyll content using Hyperion and Landsat/TM images

Remote sensing offers a nondestructive tool for the quick and precise estimation of canopy chlorophyll content that serves as an important indicator of the plant ecosystem. In this study, the canopy chlorophyll content of 26 samples in 2007 and 40 samples in 2008 of maize were nondestructively estimated by a set of vegetation indices (VIs; Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI; Green Chlorophyll Index, CI_green; modified soil adjust vegetation index, MSAVI; and Enhanced Vegetation Index, EVI) derived from the hyperspectral Hyperion and Thematic Mapper (TM) images. The PROSPECT model was used for sensitivity analysis among the indices and results indicated that CI_green had a large linear correlation with chlorophyll content ranging from 100–1000 mg m^?2. EVI showed a moderate ability in avoiding saturation and reached a saturation of chlorophyll content above 600 mg m^?2. Both of the other two indices, MSAVI and NDVI, showed a clear saturation at chlorophyll content of 400 mg m^?2, which demonstrated they may be inappropriate for chlorophyll interpretation at high values. A validation study was also conducted with satellite observations (Hyperion and TM) and in-situ measurements of chlorophyll content in maize. Results indicated that canopy chlorophyll content can be remotely evaluated by VIs with r ² ranging from the lowest of 0.73 for NDVI to the highest of 0.86 for CI_green. EVI had a greater precision (r ²=0.81) than MASVI (r ²=0.75) in canopy chlorophyll content estimation. The results agreed well with the sensitivity study and will be helpful in developing future models for canopy chlorophyll evaluation.     

Spectral response of benthic diatoms with different sediment backgrounds

Remote sensing of terrestrial vegetation uses a wide range of vegetation indices (VIs) to monitor plant characteristics, but these indices can be very sensitive to canopy background reflectance. This study investigated background influences on VIs applied to intertidal microphytobenthos, using a synthetic spectral library constituted by a spectral combination of three contrasting types of sediment (sand, fine sand, and mud) and reflectance spectra of benthic diatom monospecific cultures obtained in controlled conditions. The spectral database exhibited, for the same biomass range (3-182 mg chlorophyll a m^− 2), marked differences in albedo and spectral contrast linked to sediment variability in water content, grain size, and organic matter content. Several VIs were evaluated, from ratios using visible and near infrared wavelengths, to hyperspectral indices (derivative analysis, continuum removal). Among the ratios, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) appeared less sensitive to background effects than VIs with soil corrections such as the Perpendicular Vegetation Index (PVI), the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), the Modified second Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI2) or the Transformed Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (TSAVI). The lower efficacy of soil-corrected VIs may be explained by the structural differences and optical behavior of soil vs. canopies compared to sediment vs. microphytobenthos biofilms. The background effects were minimized using Modified Gaussian Model indices at 632 nm and 675 nm, and the second derivative at 632 nm, while poor results were obtained with the red-edge inflection point (REIP) and the second derivative at 675 nm. The least sensitive index was the Phytobenthos Index which is very similar to the NDVI, but uses a red wavelength at 632 nm instead of 675 nm, to account for the absorption by chlorophyll c. The modified NDVI₇₀₅, where the 705 nm wavelength replaces the red band, showed moderate background sensitivity. Moreover, the NDVI₇₀₅ and the Phytobenthos Index have the additional relevant property of being less sensitive to the index saturation response with increasing biomass. Unfortunately, these VIs cannot be applied to broad-band multispectral satellite images, and require sensors with a hyperspectral resolution. Nevertheless, this study showed that the background influence was not a limitation to applying the ubiquitous NDVI to map intertidal microphytobenthos using multispectral satellite images.     

Comparison between vegetation change analysis in Kenya based on AVHRR and SeaWiFS images

An assessment of the suitability of the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) vegetation index to estimate land degradation in semi‐arid areas has been carried out, comparing its behaviour with that of vegetation indices based on Sea‐viewing Wide Field‐of‐view Sensor (SeaWiFS) images. Notwithstanding the importance of the classic Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) indicator, based on red–NIR channels, several studies have identified some limitations related to its use, such as its dependence on the atmospheric profile, saturation problems, non‐linearity in biophysical coupling with Leaf Area Index (LAI) and canopy background contamination. The relatively recent Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) overcomes these limits, using the information related to the blue channel and a soil adjustment factor. SeaWiFS data allow the computation of both vegetation indices. On the other hand, the NDVI based on AVHRR can be computed back in time to the 1980s, allowing a sufficient time span to obtain information on the desertification trend of the considered region (northern Kenya). In conclusion, taking advantage of both datasets, the accuracy of a change detection technique based on the classic NDVI has been confirmed as suitable for revealing any desertification trend.     

Assessing the capability of broadband indices derived from Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager to monitor above ground biomass and salinity in semiarid saline environments of the Bahía Blanca Estuary,Argentina

In arid and semi-arid ecosystems, salinisation and desertification are the most common processes of land degradation, and satellite data may provide a valuable tool to assess land surface condition and vegetation status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability of Landsat 8 OLI (Operational Land Imager) remote sensing information and broadband indices derived from it, to monitor above ground biomass (AGB) and salinity in two different semiarid saline environments (unit a and unit b) in the Bahía Blanca Estuary. Unit a (Ua) is composed of bushes of Cyclolepis genistoides in association with Atriplex undulata and 41% of bare soil. Unit b (Ub) is composed of dense thickets of Allenrolfea patagonica in association with C. genistoides and 34% of bare soil. Pearson’s correlation analyses were performed between field estimates of AGB and salinity (soil salinity and interstitial water salinity) and remote sensing estimates. Satellite data include surface reflectance of individual bands, vegetation indices (NDVI [normalised difference vegetation index], SAVI [soil-adjusted vegetation index], MSAVI2 [modified soil-adjusted vegetation index], NDII [normalised difference infrared index], GNDVI [green normalised difference vegetation index], GRNDI [green-red normalised difference index], OSAVI [optimised soil-adjusted vegetation index], SR [simple ratio]), and salinity indices (SI1, SI2, SI3 [salinity index 1, 2 and 3, respectively] and BI [brightness index]). Correlation analyses involving AGB were performed twice; first considering all months and then again excluding the months with higher soil salinities. In Ua, soil adjusted vegetation indices SAVI and MSAVI2 showed to be suitable to detect changes in the total green AGB and C. genistoides green AGB (the major contributor to total green AGB). After excluding data from December and January (the months with the highest soil salinity), green AGB of A. undulata also showed a significant positive correlation with soil adjusted indices SAVI, MSAVI2 and OSAVI. Although proportionally this species was not a large contributor to the total biomass, it is characterised by a high leaf reflectance, which makes it suitable for biomass retrieval. In Ub, significant positive correlations were obtained between NDVI, SAVI, NDII, OSAVI and SR indices and the AGB green ratio, but significant negative correlations were obtained between A. patagonica red AGB and these vegetation indices. When December and January were excluded from the analysis the negative correlations between vegetation indices NDVI, OSAVI and SR and red AGB remained significant (r = ?0.68, ?0.76 and ?0.7, respectively). The positive correlations between these indices and AGB green ratio (r = 0.73, 0.78 and 0.75, respectively) remained significant as well. Significant negative correlations were also found between NDVI, NDII, GNDVI, OSAVI and SR indices and field salinity estimates. As soil salinisation induces A. patagonica reddening, red AGB and soil salinity covariate in the field, and the negative correlation with vegetation indices may be useful to retrieve information on both variables combined, which are indicative of water stress. Correlation analysis between field estimates of salinity and spectral salinity indices showed significant positive correlation for all the tested indices. The obtained results highlight the importance of a thoughtful selection of remote sensing indices to account for changes in vegetation biomass, especially in arid and semiarid environments particularly sensitive to desertification and salinisation. Also, ground truth cannot be overlooked, and field work is necessary to test index performance in every case.     

Land‐cover mixing and spectral vegetation indices

Vegetation indices have been widely used as indicators of seasonal and inter‐annual variations in vegetation caused by either human activities or climate, with the overall goal of observing and documenting changes in the Earth system. While existing satellite remote sensing systems, such as NASA's Multi‐angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), are providing improved vegetation index data products through correcting for the distortions in surface reflectance caused by atmospheric particles as well as ground covers below vegetation canopy, the impact of land‐cover mixing on vegetation indices has not been fully addressed. In this study, based on real image spectral samples for two‐component mixtures of forest and common nonforest land‐cover types directly extracted from a 1.1?km MISR image by referencing a 30?m land‐cover classification, the effect of land‐cover mixing on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) has been quantitatively evaluated. When the areal fraction of forest was lower than 80%, both NDVI and EVI varied greatly with mixed land‐cover types, although EVI varied less than NDVI. Such a phenomenon can cause errors in applications based on use of these vegetation indices. This study suggests that methods that reduce land‐cover mixing effects should be introduced when developing new spectral vegetation indices.     

Hyperspectral vegetation indices and novel algorithms for predicting green LAI of crop canopies: Modeling and validation in the context of precision agriculture

A growing number of studies have focused on evaluating spectral indices in terms of their sensitivity to vegetation biophysical parameters, as well as to external factors affecting canopy reflectance. In this context, leaf and canopy radiative transfer models are valuable for modeling and understanding the behavior of such indices. In the present work, PROSPECT and SAILH models have been used to simulate a wide range of crop canopy reflectances in an attempt to study the sensitivity of a set of vegetation indices to green leaf area index (LAI), and to modify some of them in order to enhance their responsivity to LAI variations. The aim of the paper was to present a method for minimizing the effect of leaf chlorophyll content on the prediction of green LAI, and to develop new algorithms that adequately predict the LAI of crop canopies. Analyses based on both simulated and real hyperspectral data were carried out to compare performances of existing vegetation indices (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index [NDVI], Renormalized Difference Vegetation Index [RDVI], Modified Simple Ratio [MSR], Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index [SAVI], Soil and Atmospherically Resistant Vegetation Index [SARVI], MSAVI, Triangular Vegetation Index [TVI], and Modified Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index [MCARI]) and to design new ones (MTVI1, MCARI1, MTVI2, and MCARI2) that are both less sensitive to chlorophyll content variations and linearly related to green LAI. Thorough analyses showed that the above existing vegetation indices were either sensitive to chlorophyll concentration changes or affected by saturation at high LAI levels. Conversely, two of the spectral indices developed as a part of this study, a modified triangular vegetation index (MTVI2) and a modified chlorophyll absorption ratio index (MCARI2), proved to be the best predictors of green LAI. Related predictive algorithms were tested on CASI (Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager) hyperspectral images and, then, validated using ground truth measurements. The latter were collected simultaneously with image acquisition for different crop types (soybean, corn, and wheat), at different growth stages, and under various fertilization treatments. Prediction power analysis of proposed algorithms based on MCARI2 and MTVI2 resulted in agreements between modeled and ground measurement of non-destructive LAI, with coefficients of determination (r²) being 0.98 for soybean, 0.89 for corn, and 0.74 for wheat. The corresponding RMSE for LAI were estimated at 0.28, 0.46, and 0.85, respectively.     

Integrating spectral indices into prediction models of soil phosphorus in a subtropical wetland

Remote sensing, in combination with multivariate geostatistical methods, has the potential to improve the prediction of soil properties at landscape scales. In the Everglades region, and particularly in Water Conservation Area 2A (WCA-2A), phosphorus enrichment has drawn a lot of attention and has led to an extensive documentation of different aspects of the degradation of the system. This study presents a hybrid geospatial modeling approach to predict soil total phosphorus (TP) using remotely-sensed data and ancillary landscape properties as supporting variables. Two remote sensors, Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM)+ and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), were used to investigate relationships between spectral data and indices and soil TP. A variation of a vegetation index (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index - NDVI green) was found to be the most effective in predicting floc TP values, due to its capacity to capture small variations in chlorophyll a that are associated to TP levels in periphyton, especially in aquatic/non-impacted areas. On the other hand, NDVI, a more traditionally used vegetation index, was still a good indicator of TP variability, particularly in the soil surface layer, due to its stronger relationship with impacted areas dominated by cattail (Typha domingensis Pers.).Findings from this study indicate that: a) remote sensing can play an important role in optimizing monitoring of environmental variables, particularly below-ground properties of floc and soils; b) because of limitations about the numbers and frequency of soil samples that can be taken, the combination of remote sensing and geostatistics could represent a non-invasive and cost-effective method to monitor soil nutrient status in complex wetland systems, and c) variations of traditional remote sensing indices such as NDVI can be used to better capture the spatial variability associated with soil and periphyton TP.     

植被类型对温度植被干旱指数(TVDI)的影响研究-以黑河绿洲区为例

温度植被干旱指数（TVDI）是进行干旱研究的有效指标，是反演土壤湿度的重要方法。植被覆盖类型是影响TVDI大小的重要因素。利用修正的土壤调整植被指数MSAVI替换NDVI，以便最小化土壤背景影响和提高对密植被的光谱敏感性，并在此基础上，比较基于植被分类计算的TVDI与基于传统方法计算的TVDI的大小，来研究植被类型对TVDI提取结果的影响。对比分析表明，阔叶林、灌丛和密草地的平均值与传统方法计算的差别较大，变化分别是+7.2%、-5.5%和-6.6%，产生平均值偏移主要是由于植被类型的冠层结构和光学属性的差异带来的LST-MSAVI空间特征干湿边的变化引起的。因此，在应用TVDI指数进行大范围干旱化研究和土壤湿度反演时，不同植被类型不能一起作LST-MSAVI空间特征来计算TVDI指数，需要考虑植被类型等影响因素，达到提高土壤湿度反演精度的目的。     

Assessing crop residue cover using shortwave infrared reflectance

Management of crop residues is an important consideration for reducing soil erosion and increasing soil organic carbon. Current methods of measuring residue cover are inadequate for characterizing the spatial variability of residue cover over large fields. The objectives of this research were to determine the spectral reflectance of crop residues and soils and to assess the limits of discrimination that can be expected in mixed scenes. Spectral reflectances of dry and wet crop residues plus three diverse soils were measured over the 400-2400 nm wavelength region. Reflectance values for scenes with varying proportions of crop residues and soils were simulated. Additional spectra of scenes with mixtures of crop residues, green vegetation, and soil were also acquired in corn, soybean, and wheat fields with different tillage treatments. The spectra of dry crop residues displayed a broad absorption feature near 2100 nm, associated with cellulose-lignin, that was absent in spectra of soils. Crop residue cover was linearly related (r²=0.89) to the Cellulose Absorption Index (CAI), which was defined as the relative depth of this absorption feature. Green vegetation cover in the scene attenuated CAI, but was linearly related to the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI, r²=0.93). A novel method is proposed to assess soil tillage intensity classes using CAI and NDVI. Regional surveys of soil conservation practices that affect soil carbon dynamics may be feasible using advanced multispectral or hyperspectral imaging systems.     

Sensitivity of vegetation indices to atmospheric aerosols: continental-scale observations in Northern Asia

Satellite observations play an important role in characterization of the interannual variation of vegetation. Here, we report anomalies of two vegetation indices for Northern Asia (40°N-75°N, and 45°E-179°E), using images from the SPOT-4 VEGETATION (VGT) sensor over the period of April 1, 1998 to November 20, 2001. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), which are correlated to a number of vegetation properties (e.g., net primary production, leaf area index), were compared. The results show that there is a large disagreement between NDVI and EVI anomalies in 1998 and 1999 for Northern Asia. The NDVI anomaly in 1998 was largely affected by atmospheric contamination, predominantly aerosols from extensive forest fires in that year. The EVI anomaly in 1998 was less sensitive to residual atmospheric contamination, as it is designed to be, and thus EVI is a useful alternative vegetation index for the large-scale study of vegetation. The EVI anomaly also suggests that potential vegetation productivity in Northern Asia was highest in 1998 but declined substantially in 2001, consistent with precipitation data from 1998-2001.     

Estimations of Chlorophyll Content from Vegetation Indicesby Using PROSPECT and DART

With the aid of a well known leaf optical model PROSPECT and a canopy scale model DART (Discrete Anisotropic Radiative Transfer),sensitivities between chlorophyll content and six different vegetation indices were investigated by simulating eucalyptus,one of a dominant fast growing tree in China,as an example.Vegetation indices used here include Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI),Structure Insensitive Pigment Index (SIPI),Colouration Index (COI),Simple Ratio Index (SR),Cater Index (CAI),and Red edge Position Linear Interpolation (REP_Li).Results indicate that at the leaf scale,COI and SIPI are sensitive to the LCC (Leaf Chlorophyll Content)as the Chlorophyll Content changes.Meanwhile,no obvious saturation phenomenon is observed for these two indices compared to other indices.Further investigations show that all these vegetation indices are incapable of estimating LCC at the canopy scale,due to significant influences from LAI(Leaf Area Index).Nevertheless,it suggests that SIPI and COI can be applied to estimate the CCC (Canopy Chlorophyll Content).     

基于大疆精灵4无人机多光谱影像的西沙植被监测

西沙群岛位于热带,常年多云,在光学卫星数据获取时易受天气影响导致缺失,使得地表动态监测困难。为解决这一问题,探讨无人机低空平台对西沙群岛植被的监测能力,选取大疆精灵4多光谱无人机,通过5个多光谱波段提取4项植被指数,包括归一化差值植被指数（NDVI）、叶绿素指数（GCI）、绿色归一化植被指数（GNDVI）以及归一化绿红差值指数（NGRDI）,评估了2020年5月西沙群岛北岛的植被生长状况,并结合关键气象参数以及Worldview2卫星光学影像对比分析了2020年5月和2018年5月北岛植被生长变化及其潜在归因。研究结果表明：2020年5月北岛平均NDVI、GCI、GNDVI和NGRDI别为0.30、0.84、0.26和0.05,反映出植被覆盖度较低,可能存在枯黄现象,与地面监测结果一致;2020年人工管理植被区和自然生长植被区各项指数差异由2018年的-23%—15%增加到15%—40%,表明2020年自然生长植被长势显著差于人工管理植被,反映出较强的环境胁迫;气象数据显示2020年4月—5月该地区日平均温度较常年同期升高、累计降水量减少、平均风速增大同时增加了土壤水分亏缺,可能是引起...     

植被指数在城市绿地信息提取中的比较研究

利用植被指数从TM 影像中提取植被, 从技术与经济成本方面综合考虑, 是一个比较好的手段。但在城市绿地信息提取中, 由于城市下垫面的特殊性和植被指数的繁多, 究竟哪些植被指数最适合于城市绿地, 还仍然是一个急待解决的难点问题。通过以上海中心城区为研究靶区, 利用单因子方差分析与多重比较对植被指数在城市绿地信息提取中的优劣进行比较研究, 得到如下结论: ①TM 影像经过植被指数计算处理后, 植被信息确实得到了增强, 但不同的植被指数也有所差别。如果以区分植被与非植被之间差异程度做标准, 那么植被指数提取植被由优到劣则依次是GEMI、RDVI、NDVI、GNDVI、RVI、TNDVI、DVI、EVI 和TGDVI。②植被指数基本能从TM 影像提取植被, 但把植被再细分的效果不是太好。总体来看, 除EVI 和TGDVI 以外, 植被指数能较好的区分草地与农田; 而树林与农田及草地与树林的区分则因不同的植被指数有所差异。区分草地与树林较好的是EVI, 区分草地与农田较好的是GEMI, 区分树林与农田较好的是TNDVI。③植被指数不但细分植被的效果不是太理想, 而且也不能很好的细分非植被地物。总体来说, 所有的植被指数都很难把建筑物与道路区别开, 尤其TGDVI、DVI 和EVI 更是如此。不过NDVI、GNDVI、TNDVI 和GEMI 能很好地把水体从TM 影像中提取出来, 其余的植被指数则只能区分植被与非植被, 不能再进一步的区分非植被地物。     

Analysis of teleconnections between AVHRR-based sea surface temperature and vegetation productivity in the semi-arid Sahel

Vegetation productivity across the Sahel is known to be affected by a variety of global sea surface temperature (SST) patterns. Often climate indices are used to relate Sahelian vegetation variability to large-scale ocean-atmosphere phenomena. However, previous research findings reporting on the Sahelian vegetation response to climate indices have been inconsistent and contradictory, which could partly be caused by the variations in spatial extent/definitions of climate indices and size of the region studied. The aim of this study was to analyze the linkage between climate indices, pixel-wise spatio-temporal patterns of global sea surface temperature and the Sahelian vegetation dynamics for 1982-2007. We stratified the Sahel into five subregions to account for the longitudinal variability in rainfall. We found significant correlations between climate indices and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in the Sahel, however with different magnitudes in terms of strength for the western, central and eastern Sahel. Also the correlations based on NDVI and global SST anomalies revealed the same East-West gradient, with a stronger association for the western than the eastern Sahel. Warmer than average SSTs throughout the Mediterranean basin seem to be associated with enhanced greenness over the central Sahel whereas colder than average SSTs in the Pacific and warmer than average SSTs in the eastern Atlantic were related to increased greenness in the most western Sahel. Accordingly, we achieved high correlations for SSTs of oceanic basins which are geographically associated to the climate indices yet by far not always these patterns were coherent. The detected SST-NDVI patterns could provide the basis to develop new means for improved forecasts in particular of the western Sahelian vegetation productivity.     

Neural networks as a tool for constructing continuous NDVI time series from AVHRR and MODIS

The long term Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)‐Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) record provides a critical historical perspective on vegetation dynamics necessary for global change research. Despite the proliferation of new sources of global, moderate resolution vegetation datasets, the remote sensing community is still struggling to create datasets derived from multiple sensors that allow the simultaneous use of spectral vegetation for time series analysis. To overcome the non‐stationary aspect of NDVI, we use an artificial neural network (ANN) to map the NDVI indices from AVHRR to those from MODIS using atmospheric, surface type and sensor‐specific inputs to account for the differences between the sensors. The NDVI dynamics and range of MODIS NDVI data at 1° is matched and extended through the AVHRR record. Four years of overlap between the two sensors is used to train a neural network to remove atmospheric and sensor specific effects on the AVHRR NDVI. In this paper, we present the resulting continuous dataset, its relationship to MODIS data, and a validation of the product.