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New generation geostationary satellite observations support seasonality in greenness of the Amazon evergreen forests

Author

Listed:
  • Hirofumi Hashimoto

    (California State University – Monterey Bay
    NASA Ames Research Center)

  • Weile Wang

    (California State University – Monterey Bay
    NASA Ames Research Center)

  • Jennifer L. Dungan

    (NASA Ames Research Center)

  • Shuang Li

    (Guizhou Education University)

  • Andrew R. Michaelis

    (NASA Ames Research Center
    Bay Area Environmental Research Institute)

  • Hideaki Takenaka

    (JAXA Earth Observation Research Center
    Chiba University)

  • Atsushi Higuchi

    (Chiba University)

  • Ranga B. Myneni

    (Boston University)

  • Ramakrishna R. Nemani

    (NASA Ames Research Center)

Abstract

Assessing the seasonal patterns of the Amazon rainforests has been difficult because of the paucity of ground observations and persistent cloud cover over these forests obscuring optical remote sensing observations. Here, we use data from a new generation of geostationary satellites that carry the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) to study the Amazon canopy. ABI is similar to the widely used polar orbiting sensor, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), but provides observations every 10–15 min. Our analysis of NDVI data collected over the Amazon during 2018–19 shows that ABI provides 21–35 times more cloud-free observations in a month than MODIS. The analyses show statistically significant changes in seasonality over 85% of Amazon forest pixels, an area about three times greater than previously reported using MODIS data. Though additional work is needed in converting the observed changes in seasonality into meaningful changes in canopy dynamics, our results highlight the potential of the new generation geostationary satellites to help us better understand tropical ecosystems, which has been a challenge with only polar orbiting satellites.

Suggested Citation

  • Hirofumi Hashimoto & Weile Wang & Jennifer L. Dungan & Shuang Li & Andrew R. Michaelis & Hideaki Takenaka & Atsushi Higuchi & Ranga B. Myneni & Ramakrishna R. Nemani, 2021. "New generation geostationary satellite observations support seasonality in greenness of the Amazon evergreen forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-20994-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-20994-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Matheus Henrique Nunes & José Luís Campana Camargo & Grégoire Vincent & Kim Calders & Rafael S. Oliveira & Alfredo Huete & Yhasmin Mendes de Moura & Bruce Nelson & Marielle N. Smith & Scott C. Stark &, 2022. "Forest fragmentation impacts the seasonality of Amazonian evergreen canopies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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