Imaging spectroscopy studies of Hawaiian ecosystems, carbon properties, and disturbance

Gregory Paul Asner; Peter M. Vitousek

doi:10.1117/12.588738

10 January 2005 Imaging spectroscopy studies of Hawaiian ecosystems, carbon properties, and disturbance

Gregory Paul Asner, Peter M. Vitousek

Proceedings Volume 5657, Image Processing and Pattern Recognition in Remote Sensing II; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.588738
Event: Fourth International Asia-Pacific Environmental Remote Sensing Symposium 2004: Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Ocean, Environment, and Space, 2004, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

The Hawaiian Islands contain more than two-thirds of the global life zones delineated by Holdridge1. We used high-fidelity imaging spectroscopy and shortwave-infrared (SWIR) spectral mixture analysis to analyze the lateral distribution of plant tissues and bare substrate across bioclimatic gradients and ecological life zones in Hawai'i. Unique quantities of photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic vegetation (PV, NPV) and bare substrate identified fundamental differences in ecosystem structure across life zones. There was a nearly 20-fold increase in PV fractional cover with a 10-fold increase in mean annual precipitation (< 250 to 2000 mm yr^-1). NPV fractional cover remained nearly constant at ~50% in ecosystems with a mean annual precipitation < 1500 mm yr^-1. Thereafter, NPV steadily declined to a minimum of ~ 20% at 3000 mm yr^-1 of rainfall. Bare substrate fractions were highest (~50%) at precipitation levels < 750 mm yr^-1, then declined to < 20% in the 750-1000 mm yr^-1 zones. The combination of low bare substrate and high NPV cover in the 750-1000 mm yr^-1 rainfall zones identified these areas as high fire risk. The results verify the applicability of SWIR imaging spectroscopy for ecosystem research on a global scale. They also set the framework for continued studies of ecosystem structure, function and invasive species throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago.

Citation Download Citation

Gregory Paul Asner and Peter M. Vitousek "Imaging spectroscopy studies of Hawaiian ecosystems, carbon properties, and disturbance", Proc. SPIE 5657, Image Processing and Pattern Recognition in Remote Sensing II, (10 January 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.588738

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