Monitoring Effects of Land Cover Change on Biophysical Drivers in Rangelands Using Albedo
This paper explores the relationship between land cover change and albedo, recognized as a regulating ecosystems service. Trends and relationships between land cover change and surface albedo were quantified to characterise catchment water and carbon fluxes, through respectively evapotranspiration (...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-02-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/8/2/33 |
| _version_ | 1811270124718522368 |
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| author | Zahn Münch Lesley Gibson Anthony Palmer |
| author_facet | Zahn Münch Lesley Gibson Anthony Palmer |
| author_sort | Zahn Münch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper explores the relationship between land cover change and albedo, recognized as a regulating ecosystems service. Trends and relationships between land cover change and surface albedo were quantified to characterise catchment water and carbon fluxes, through respectively evapotranspiration (ET) and net primary production (NPP). Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat satellite data were used to describe trends at catchment and land cover change trajectory level. Peak season albedo was computed to reduce seasonal effects. Different trends were found depending on catchment land management practices, and satellite data used. Although not statistically significant, albedo, NPP, ET and normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) were all correlated with rainfall. In both catchments, NPP, ET and NDVI showed a weak negative trend, while albedo showed a weak positive trend. Modelled land cover change was used to calculate future carbon storage and water use, with a decrease in catchment carbon storage and water use computed. Grassland, a dominant dormant land cover class, was targeted for land cover change by woody encroachment and afforestation, causing a decrease in albedo, while urbanisation and cultivation caused an increase in albedo. Land cover map error of fragmented transition classes and the mixed pixel effect, affected results, suggesting use of higher-resolution imagery for NPP and ET and albedo as a proxy for land cover. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:55:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ca5075c45574a1cb879d2d008f1d88c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:55:06Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ca5075c45574a1cb879d2d008f1d88c2022-12-22T03:15:21ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2019-02-01823310.3390/land8020033land8020033Monitoring Effects of Land Cover Change on Biophysical Drivers in Rangelands Using AlbedoZahn Münch0Lesley Gibson1Anthony Palmer2Department Geography and Environmental Studies, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South AfricaSchool of Engineering, John Muir Building, The King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JL, Scotland, UKAgricultural Research Council-Animal Production, P.O. Box 101, Grahamstown 6140, South AfricaThis paper explores the relationship between land cover change and albedo, recognized as a regulating ecosystems service. Trends and relationships between land cover change and surface albedo were quantified to characterise catchment water and carbon fluxes, through respectively evapotranspiration (ET) and net primary production (NPP). Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat satellite data were used to describe trends at catchment and land cover change trajectory level. Peak season albedo was computed to reduce seasonal effects. Different trends were found depending on catchment land management practices, and satellite data used. Although not statistically significant, albedo, NPP, ET and normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) were all correlated with rainfall. In both catchments, NPP, ET and NDVI showed a weak negative trend, while albedo showed a weak positive trend. Modelled land cover change was used to calculate future carbon storage and water use, with a decrease in catchment carbon storage and water use computed. Grassland, a dominant dormant land cover class, was targeted for land cover change by woody encroachment and afforestation, causing a decrease in albedo, while urbanisation and cultivation caused an increase in albedo. Land cover map error of fragmented transition classes and the mixed pixel effect, affected results, suggesting use of higher-resolution imagery for NPP and ET and albedo as a proxy for land cover.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/8/2/33land cover changealbedotrend analysisgrasslandsecosystems servicesnet primary productionevapotranspiration |
| spellingShingle | Zahn Münch Lesley Gibson Anthony Palmer Monitoring Effects of Land Cover Change on Biophysical Drivers in Rangelands Using Albedo Land land cover change albedo trend analysis grasslands ecosystems services net primary production evapotranspiration |
| title | Monitoring Effects of Land Cover Change on Biophysical Drivers in Rangelands Using Albedo |
| title_full | Monitoring Effects of Land Cover Change on Biophysical Drivers in Rangelands Using Albedo |
| title_fullStr | Monitoring Effects of Land Cover Change on Biophysical Drivers in Rangelands Using Albedo |
| title_full_unstemmed | Monitoring Effects of Land Cover Change on Biophysical Drivers in Rangelands Using Albedo |
| title_short | Monitoring Effects of Land Cover Change on Biophysical Drivers in Rangelands Using Albedo |
| title_sort | monitoring effects of land cover change on biophysical drivers in rangelands using albedo |
| topic | land cover change albedo trend analysis grasslands ecosystems services net primary production evapotranspiration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/8/2/33 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zahnmunch monitoringeffectsoflandcoverchangeonbiophysicaldriversinrangelandsusingalbedo AT lesleygibson monitoringeffectsoflandcoverchangeonbiophysicaldriversinrangelandsusingalbedo AT anthonypalmer monitoringeffectsoflandcoverchangeonbiophysicaldriversinrangelandsusingalbedo |