Landscape phenology, vegetation condition, and relations with climate at Natural Bridges National Monument, 2000–2019
Thoma D . 2025. Landscape phenology, vegetation condition, and relations with climate at Natural Bridges National Monument, 2000–2019. Science Report. NPS/SR—2025/314. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2313610
Climate plays a major role in determining vegetation composition in parks, and changes in climate will affect vegetation conditions and composition in the future. This study, which examined changes in climate, water availability, and vegetation from 2000 to 2019 in Natural Bridges National Monument (NM) in Utah, USA, evaluates vegetation sensitivity to weather and climate to understand climate-vegetation relationships that can be used to predict what vegetation types may change. Specifically, it evaluates where change is likely in the monument, when change may happen, and why change may occur. This information is needed to help avoid surprises and can be used to 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. Since 2000, a very dry period, annual primary production has increased in all areas of Natural Bridges NM and there were only a few isolated decreases in production noted by the end of the study in 2019. The increase coincided with a slight increase in precipitation and actual evapotranspiration over the same period. Growing season production increased significantly in all alliance groups. During the study, there were dry years and dry periods extending for several years that resulted in substantial declines in vegetation production that largely rebounded by the end of the study. The information generated in this study can be applied to long-term management and planning, which can help preserve the natural resources of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Thoma, David
- Date of Issue
- 2025-06
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2313610
- Units
- NABR , NCPN , NRSS
- Keywords
- aridification, drought tolerance, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, MODIS, monitoring, NCPN Land Surface Monitoring, NDVI, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, remote sensing, vegetation condition, vegetation phenology, vegetation production, water balance