Spatial variability of images and the monitoring of changes in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index |
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| Authors: | J. R. G. TOWNSHEND C. O. JUSTICE |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Laboratory for Global Remote Sensing Systems, Department of Geography, Room 1113 Lefrak Hall, University of Maryland , College Park, MD 20742, U.S.A.;2. Laboratory for Global Remote Sensing Systems, Department of Geography, University of Maryland , College Park, MD 20742 and Code 923 |
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| Abstract: | Pairs of Landsat Multispectral Scanner System images from seven contrasting areas were analysed using scale variance analysis to determine the spatial frequencies present. Specifically images of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were analysed, which is sensitive to vegetation activity. Analyses were performed on images for each of the two dates and change images derived by subtracting the NDVI values of the first images from those of the second date. As expected the change images were characterized by higher spatial frequencies than the images of individual dates, but this was only marked for four of the seven areas. Contrary to initial expectations, knowledge of the spatial frequency content of the images from the two dates could not be used to infer the spatial frequencies present in the change images and hence the spatial resolutions needed for detecting change in the NDVI. |
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