U.S. Department of the InteriorU.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 CenterKevin James, NPS I&M Heartland Network

w/ Colin Talbert, USGS Fortand 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 alhttp://accweb.nascom.nasa.gov/project/docs/User_guide_PHN.pdf.

1. Beginning of season2. End of season3. Length of season4. Base value5. Peak time 6. Peak value7. Amplitude8. Left derivative9. Right derivative10. Integral over season -

absolute11. Integral over season -

scaled 12. Maximum value13. Minimum value14. Mean value15. 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…