5 research outputs found

    Global satellite monitoring of climate-induced vegetation disturbances

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    Terrestrial disturbances are accelerating globally, but their full impact is not quantified because we lack an adequate monitoring system. Remote sensing offers a means to quantify the frequency and extent of disturbances globally. Here, we review the current application of remote sensing to this problem and offer a framework for more systematic analysis in the future. We recommend that any proposed monitoring system should not only detect disturbances, but also be able to: identify the proximate cause(s); integrate a range of spatial scales; and, ideally, incorporate process models to explain the observed patterns and predicted trends in the future. Significant remaining challenges are tied to the ecology of disturbances. To meet these challenges, more effort is required to incorporate ecological principles and understanding into the assessments of disturbance worldwide

    Windthrows Inventory Data Base (WInD) v1

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    <p>In total 1403 windthrow swere identified, of which 1343 were processed, identified, and Classify.</p&gt

    Global satellite monitoring of climate-induced vegetation disturbances

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    Climatically driven terrestrial disturbances such as drought, biotic agents, wind, and wildfire are suspected to be accelerating in size and severity globally. Many disturbances and their impacts go un-quantified, however, due to the lack of a comprehensive monitoring system that can detect, attribute, determine causation, and establish consequences of disturbances. Remote sensing has experienced rapid evolution over recent years and now offers enormous potential for nearly continuous, wall-to-wall observation and interpretation of disturbances and their drivers. Here we review the state of optical remote sensing in disturbance ecology, develop a framework for a global disturbance monitoring system, and provide evidence to support the framework. We make three broad conclusions regarding this idealized global disturbance monitoring system: (i) it should accurately detect disturbances and identify their proximal cause(s), and should be compatible with end-product objectives such as assessments of ecosystem resources or climate forcing; (ii) this system is now largely challenged by integrating global scale data with fine-scale monitoring; and (iii) a successful monitoring system can support representation of ecosystem disturbances and successional processes in Earth system models. The significant remaining challenges are tied to the ecology, extent, and grain of the disturbances because they directly affect our remotely sensed observations. An ecological perspective of remote sensing is therefore vital to continue rapid development of terrestrial disturbance monitoring.JRC.H.3-Forest Resources and Climat
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