MONITORING WILDLAND VEGETATION PHENOLOGYIN NEAR REAL TIME WITH PhenoMap

Charlie Schrader-Pattoncschrader@fs.fed.us

Geospatial Analyst/DeveloperRedCastle Resources, Inc.

USDA Forest Service, Remote Sensing Applications Center

Nancy Grulkengrulke@fs.fed.us

Center Director,Western Wildlands Environmental Threat Assessment Center

USDA Forest Service, PNW Research Station

google ‘WWETAC’July 2017

• WWETAC’s web-based wildland vegetation phenology tool (PhenoMap) provides weekly updates of the change in vegetation (‘green-up’, peak greenness, ‘brown-down’).

• PhenoMap is based on multispectral satellite imagery (MODIS) obtained from the USGS. The resolution is 15 acres and the extent is the conterminous US.

• PhenoMap can provide information to aid in managing a wide array of resources – range, wildlife, invasive species, seed collection, application of biocontrols.

Monitoring vegetation condition…..from space

Satellite data can be used to monitor vegetation over large areas.

This information can be used to tell us when vegetation “green up” has occurred in spring, and when the growing season is over in the fall.

‘Greenness’ will be measured with the Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) using the red and near-infrared wavelengths

“green up”

“brown down”“green-up”

USDA Forest Service Western Wildlands Environmental Threat Assessment CenterPrineville, OR

ND

VI V

alu

e (G

reen

nes

s)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

How do we estimate the ‘greenness status’ of each pixel?

Midpoint between Max and Min NDVI

Max NDVI

Min NDVI

X

X

X X

Two methods:

1. Ratio of the current NDVI to the historical midpoint

2. Ratio of the current NDVI value to the historical maximum

“brown down”“green up”

PhenoMap web mapping application

Phenology raster layers produced and updated weekly (Friday)..

PhenoMap web mapping application

…along with National Weather Service observed precipitation estimates….

PhenoMap web mapping application

…the US Drought Monitor..

PhenoMap web mapping application

..and US NPN Growing Degree-Day.

PhenoMap web mapping application

Reference data (allotments, federal lands) provided to focus phenology observations.

• PhenoMap tools and features:

– Swipe between layers

– Add your local data

– Change basemaps, layers on/off

– Measure, print, bookmark

We need your help!

Explore the phenology data and let us know how well it describes vegetation green-up and senescence in your area. Do you have calibration data that we could use to test PhenoMap?

CONUS PhenoMap

Let us know how we can improve this tool to help you do your job/research…

Charlie Schrader-Patton cschrader@fs.fed.usGeospatial Analyst/DeveloperRedCastle Resources, Inc.USDA Forest Service Remote Sensing Applications Center

Nancy Grulkengrulke@fs.fed.usCenter DirectorUSDA Forest Service Western Wildands Environmental Threat Assessment Center

USDA Forest Service Western Wildlands Environmental Threat Assessment CenterPrineville, OR - http://www.fs.fed.us/wwetac/