Landscape patterns and dynamics monitoring protocol for the Arctic Network: Narrative
Swanson DK. 2017. Landscape patterns and dynamics monitoring protocol for the Arctic Network: Narrative. Natural Resource Report. NPS/ARCN/NRR—2017/1380. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
The long-term monitoring vital sign “Terrestrial Landscape Patterns and Dynamics” addresses the “big-picture” of changes in ecosystems of the National Park Service (NPS) Arctic Inventory and Monitoring Network (ARCN; the five NPS units in northern Alaska). This monitoring program consists of five basic projects: Vegetation greenness monitoring by satellite. Satellite measurements of reflected solar radiation in the red (620–670) and near-infrared (841–876 nm) bands is used to compute the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI, an indicator of biomass). These NDVI measurements are used to track changes in the timing of the growing season and the overall greenness of the landscape across all of ARCN. Snow cover monitoring by satellite. Satellite measurements of green (545-565 nm) and short-wavelength infrared (1628-1652 nm) light are used to track changes in the length and timing of the snow season across all of ARCN. Vegetation and snow phenology monitoring by remote automated cameras. Cameras at five ARCN climate monitoring stations take five photographs each day through the year. These photographs are analyzed to determine the timing of the growing season and the snow season. Land cover and landform monitoring with high-resolution aerial photographs. A systematic grid of aerial photographs taken at intervals of ten or more years to track changes in vegetation and landforms across all of ARCN. Lake surface area monitoring by satellite. Satellite measurements of reflected short-wavelength infrared (1.55-1.75 µm) light are used to map surface water in lakes and ponds each year across all of ARCN. Taken together these various projects provide us with broad picture of changes occurring in the dynamic landscape of Alaska’s arctic National Parks. This report contains the narrative for the Arctic Network landscape patterns and dynamics monitoring protocol.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Swanson, David
- Date of Issue
- 2017-02
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ARCN , BELA , CAKR , GAAR , KOVA , NOAT , NRSS
- Keywords
- arctic, geomorphology, landscape, permafrost, remote sensing, vegetation