Landscape phenology, vegetation condition, and relations with climate at Bryce Canyon National Park: 2000–2019
Thoma D . 2024. Landscape phenology, vegetation condition, and relations with climate at Bryce Canyon National Park: 2000–2019. Science Report. NPS/SR—2024/189. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2305968
Climate determines the vegetation composition in parks and climate change will affect vegetation condition and composition in the future. This study evaluates vegetation sensitivity to weather and climate for the purpose of understanding climate-vegetation relationships that can be used to understand what vegetation types may change. Specifically, it evaluates where change is likely, when change may happen and why change may occur. This information is needed to help avoid surprises and can be used to help plan for inevitable change. Satellite images were analyzed with climate data to quantify vegetation sensitivity to climate and drought tolerance. Historic trends in vegetation production and phenology were evaluated and analysis with climate data identified which aspects of climate were most important to annual production and phenology for different vegetation types. Additionally, trends in climate and climate drivers of vegetation phenology were also identified. Finally, the information generated in this study was placed in the context of a climate adaptation planning framework to demonstrate how it can be used for long-range planning.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Thoma, David
- Date of Issue
- 2024-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2305968
- Units
- BRCA , NCPN , NRSS
- Keywords
- climate change, Drought tolerance, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer, MODIS, monitoring, NCPN Land Surface Monitoring, NDVI, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Remote Sensing, snow-cover extent, vegetation condition, vegetation phenology, Vegetation production, Water balance
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Air and Climate | Weather and Climate | Weather and Climate , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Vegetation Complex , Ecological Framework: Landscapes | Landscape Dynamics | Land Cover and Use , Ecological Framework: Landscapes | Energy Flow | Primary Production , NPS.gov Subject Site: Climate Change