Remote Observation of Phenological Variables across Aridity and Land Use Intensity Gradients in the Kalahari: Implications for Future Productivity and Dust Emission
Abstract
Aired lands globally are sensitive to land use and climate change. One of the premier locations to observe the effects of these is the Kalahari Transect, with its precipitation gradient on consistent sandy soils in Southern Africa. Climate projections for the region suggest changing aridity and therefore the Kalahari is an excellent proxy for studying the effects of climate change and land use in this and other savanna systems. In this region, in situ data is scarce and remote sensing is an effective tool for understanding the response of vegetation to climate and land use. Here, we use the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) to investigate changes in phenological variables across aridity and land use gradients throughout the Kalahari during the MODIS era. We show that the timing and amount of greening is clearly sensitive to both rainfall and grazing intensity. The implication of these differences under various land use and climate change scenarios will be discussed, both in terms of ecological productivity and function. In particular, we investigate the impact of these changes on dust production and export from the sandy soils of the region.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013AGUFM.H33H1495M
- Keywords:
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- 1899 HYDROLOGY General or miscellaneous