Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2011

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department / School

Geospatial Science and Engineering

Abstract

Land surface phenology (LSP) is a young but very dynamic research field focused on characterization of growing cycle patterns on vegetated surfaces. The methodological arsenal of LSP research diverged historically into one set of methods to look at phenologies retrospectively and another set concentrated on the prognosis of LSPs. This dissertation set the goal to close the gap between diagnostic and prognostic LSP tools by building a model that effectively combines both capabilities. Following literature analysis, requirements for next generation of LSP models were identified and brought together to form functioning principles for the new Event Driven Phenology Model (EDPM). The model was formulated to build LSPs in discrete temporal steps connected multiplicatively using combinations of weather and disturbance events as step change factors. To advance LSP modeling this line of research was first dedicated to developing the EDPM concept, then to implementing the model, and finally to refining model performance in several trials. Several successful experiments were carried out in which the EDPM was tested as stand-alone model and in a coupling scheme re-creating and projecting seasonal trajectories of vegetation index and actual evapotranspiration both in point-based and spatially-explicit formats. In each trial the performance requirements for the EDPM were met and sometimes surpassed making the case for future use of the model in application studies.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Phenology -- Mathematical models

Vegetation mapping -- Remote sensing

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

272

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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