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Spatio-Temporal Changes in Vegetation Greenness Across Continental Ecuador, 1982 - 2010
  • Xavier Haro Carrion,
  • Peter Waylen,
  • Jane Southworth
Xavier Haro Carrion
University of Florida

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Peter Waylen
University of Florida
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Jane Southworth
University of Florida
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Abstract

We analyze changes in vegetation greenness across the coastal, Andean, and Amazonian regions of continental Ecuador, 1982-2010. Using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) anomalies derived from the Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on monthly and annual bases, we identify: i) long-term changes in annual NDVI, ii) seasonal shifts in greenness patterns, and iii) spatial patterns of change in vegetation greenness. Results indicate overall significant greening, or NDVI increase, after the mid-1990s, with distinct seasonal and regional variations. In the Amazon changes occur between September and February, resulting in a prolonged growing season during the later period. Significant increases are witnessed in coastal regions between February and May, but with no change in growing season. Fluctuations in NDVI in the Andes mimic the coast in the western slopes and the Amazon in the eastern slopes but exclude major changes in NDVI. The research investigates the possible effects of precipitation and CO2, and contributes to the understanding of tropical vegetation change in a rapidly changing environment.