True-color image and land cover map of the study area. (A) Landsat true-color image of the study area on 2020 September 16 and (B) its land cover map.
The capacity to accurately monitor the timing of vegetation growth phases, known as land surface phenology (LSP), at fine spatial scales is critical for understanding ecosystem functions and managing natural resources. Despite advancements, the sparsity of high-resolution satellite data caused by cloud cover and limited revisit times complicates this task.
The study (DOI: 10.34133/remotesensing.0118), published in the Journal of Remote Sensing on February 23, 2024, assesses the accuracy of two spatiotemporal data fusion algorithms, Spatial and Temporal Adaptive Reflectance Fusion Model (STARFM) and Simultaneously generate Full-length normalized difference vegetation Index Time series (SSFIT), in extracting spring phenological dates at fine scales. These algorithms aim to reconstruct high-resolution and cloud-free time series data for improving the detection accuracy of the start of the growing season (SOS) across heterogeneous landscapes.
Utilizing Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data for a simulation study in Ogden, Utah, the research team evaluated the STARFM and SSFIT algorithms against traditional interpolation methods in reconstructing high-quality Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI2) time series to accurately identify the SOS. The study demonstrated that these algorithms significantly improve the accuracy of phenological dates, especially when limited cloud-free Landsat images are available during crucial growth periods. The research addressed the challenges of cloud cover and sparse high-resolution image capture, vital for detailed vegetation growth monitoring. By merging frequent MODIS observations with detailed, albeit infrequent, HLS data, the team crafted synthesized, cloud-free images that combine high resolution with regular capture intervals.
Professor Xiaolin Zhu, the corresponding author, emphasizes the necessity of accurately capturing the phenological stages to mitigate ecological and agricultural risks associated with climate variability. "Our research seeks to bridge the gap in phenology monitoring by leveraging the strengths of both coarse and fine-resolution satellite imagery through advanced data fusion techniques."
This research highlights the critical role of data fusion techniques in advancing land surface phenology monitoring by addressing the challenges of cloud cover and coarse-resolution satellite images. By enhancing the accuracy of vegetation stage detection, the study supports improved environmental management and climate adaptation efforts. It showcases the integration of satellite data as a significant leap forward in phenological research and practical applications.
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References
DOI
Original Source URL
https://doi.org/10.34133/remotesensing.0118
Funding information
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project Nos. 42271331 and 42022060) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Project Nos. 4-ZZND and Q-CDBP).
About Journal of Remote Sensing
The Journal of Remote Sensing, an online-only Open Access journal published in association with AIR-CAS, promotes the theory, science, and technology of remote sensing, as well as interdisciplinary research within earth and information science.
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