On the Importance of High-Resolution Time Series of Optical Imagery for Quantifying the Effects of Snow Cover Duration on Alpine Plant Habitat

摘要: We investigated snow cover dynamics using time series of moderate (MODIS) to high (SPOT-4/5, Landsat-8) spatial resolution satellite imagery in a 3700 km2 region the southwestern French Alps. Our study was carried out context SPOT (Take 5) Experiment initiated by Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), with aim exploring utility and temporal multispectral for mapping applications alpine ecology. three objectives were: (i) validate remote sensing observations first free day derived from Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) relative ground-based measurements; (ii) generate regional-scale maps peak standing biomass Vegetation (NDVI); (iii) examine usefulness these habitat herbaceous vegetation communities above tree line. Imagery showed strong agreement measurements melt-out date, although R2 higher Landsat (0.92) than MODIS (0.79). Uncertainty surrounding estimates lower case MODIS, however (±3 days as compared ±9 Landsat), emphasizing importance well capturing local differences duration. The main floristic between plant were clearly visible two-dimensional template defined NDVI at biomass, accentuated when axes imagery. work demonstrates enhanced potential quantifying duration phenology temperate mountain regions, opens new avenues what extent community diversity functioning are controlled