Remote Sens. 2013, 5(7), 3305-3330; doi:10.3390/rs5073305
Global Biogeographical Pattern of Ecosystem Functional Types Derived From Earth Observation Data
1
Land Resource Management Unit, European Commission Joint Research Centre, I-21027 Ispra, Italy
2
Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Oster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 22 May 2013 / Revised: 27 June 2013 / Accepted: 1 July 2013 / Published: 10 July 2013
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Global Vegetation with AVHRR NDVI3g Data (1981-2011))
Abstract
The present study classified global Ecosystem Functional Types (EFTs) derived from seasonal vegetation dynamics of the GIMMS3g NDVI time-series. Rotated Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was run on the derived phenological and productivity variables, which selected the Standing Biomass (approximation of Net Primary Productivity), the Cyclic Fraction (seasonal vegetation productivity), the Permanent Fraction (permanent surface vegetation), the Maximum Day (day of maximum vegetation development) and the Season Length (length of vegetation growing season) variables, describing 98% of the variation in global ecosystems. EFTs were created based on Isodata classification of the spatial patterns of the Principal Components and were interpreted via gradient analysis using the selected remote sensing variables and climatic constraints (radiation, temperature, and water) of vegetation growth. The association of the EFTs with existing climate and land cover classifications was demonstrated via Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA). The ordination indicated good description of the global environmental gradient by the EFTs, supporting the understanding of phenological and productivity dynamics of global ecosystems. Climatic constraints of vegetation growth explained 50% of variation in the phenological data along the EFTs showing that part of the variation in the global phenological gradient is not climate related but is unique to the Earth Observation derived variables. DCA demonstrated good correspondence of the EFTs to global climate and also to land use classification. The results show the great potential of Earth Observation derived parameters for the quantification of ecosystem functional dynamics and for providing reference status information for future assessments of ecosystem changes. View Full-Text
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 3.0).
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Ivits, E.; Cherlet, M.; Horion, S.; Fensholt, R. Global Biogeographical Pattern of Ecosystem Functional Types Derived From Earth Observation Data. Remote Sens. 2013, 5, 3305-3330.
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