Dry-Land Biodiversity Indicator Maps
Figure 1: Comparison of Interim Results in Mexico (surrounded by red boundary line) - (a) IGBP1992/93, (b) GLC2000
This product will be a status map of worldwide drylands and their changes over the past 13 years (1993 to 2005) to support the CBD 2010 Biodiversity Target. Data sources for the product will be GlobCover, GlobCarbon, Global Land Cover (GLC) and Global Land Cover Characteristics (GLCC). From these global land cover databases the development of seven indicators (2 status, 5 trend) is foreseen, which will illustrate the human pressure on dry-land ecosystems as well as the impact of land degradation. The derived maps and indicators will be validated using higher resolution national land cover databases for specific parts of the global map.
For further information, please contact Stefan Kleeschulte, GeoVille
Email:
Phone: ++43 (0)512 562021 10
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor Maps
Figure 2: Initial classification result “Historic Dataset” (MODIS 2000 – dry season)
This service (“Regional Information service to support the planning and monitoring of the Mesoamerical Biological Corridor”) provides regional and – for five selected areas – local information on land cover, land cover changes, and derived indicators. The products are derived based on satellite imagery from ENVISAT – MERIS and SPOT, respectively. “Historic” land cover as a base for change maps are derived from MODIS datasets. Land cover maps are generated at regional and local level, applying hybrid (supervised/unsupervised and object based) image classification techniques and vegetation index based monitoring of spectral changes (MERIS). The latter will provide regional information on ongoing land cover changes in order to derive areas of changing land cover. Using FRAGSTAT’s based indicator calculation tools, spatial biodiversity and forest related indicators will be derived. Asides from stratified random sampling validation an overall map comparison will be performed with GLOBCOVER
For further information, please contact Stefan Kleeschulte, GeoVille
Email:
Phone: ++43 (0)512 562021 10
Coral Reef Maps and relevant Environmental Impacts
This product group comprises two different products:
1.) Coral reef maps and coral reef change maps
Figure 3: MERIS FR - segment of a regional scale reef map showing Glovers Atoll and Lighthouse reef. Individual pixels are 300 m x 300 m. In this preview map pixel classes have not been fully characterised but lagoonal areas (green) and open water (blue) and reef cover (red) are clearly distinguished.
Coral reef maps and coral reef change maps are produced using the cost- effective large scale coverage of the ENVISAT Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) and SPOT data for detailed targeting of specific hotspot areas. MERIS data are subjected to traditional ‘whole pixel’ classification and also new unmixing methods MSEL developed in-house. Assessment of the capability for detecting coral bleaching will also be carried out (using modelled data in the event that there is no bleaching event in the project time frame). Evaluation will be carried out using existing field and Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI) data, which we have for some of the hotspot areas.
For further information, please contact Peter Mumby, MSEL
Email:
Phone: ++44 1392 263798
2.) Ocean water quality monitoring service
Figure 4: Sample 7-days binned product for June 26th 2007 – Chlorophyll-a concentration
An integrated ocean water quality monitoring service is implemented based on satellite EO data to be integrated with other information for studies of the Mesoamerican Coral Reef in the Caribbean Sea. These products are based on experiences from other waters and ocean modelling for the Gulf of Mexico. The service includes information about chlorophyll-a, sediments, dissolved organic compounds (DOC), turbidity, sea surface temperature (SST), and surface current expressions obtained from satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images, as well as algae bloom assessment and modelled ocean currents.
For further information please contact Lasse H. Pettersson, Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, Bergen, Norway
Email:
Phone: ++47 55 2058 00
Mangrove Maps
Figure 5: First result on prototype Terraba-Sierpe Reserve – (a) Landsat satellite optical imagery, (b) first classification result using ERS- radar satellite imagery
Mangrove forest maps are derived for two different areas of interest: Terraba Sierpe Reserve (Costa Rica) and Yucatan Carribean Coast. Multiple SAR data of two different time periods (e.g. 1992-1995, 2nd half of 2006) acquired by ERS-1/2, respectively, are classified using average texture, average backscattering and temporal backscatter variability. The resulting mangrove forest maps and derived products, the change maps, will indicate those areas, where the existence of mangroves is heavily endangered.
For further information, please contact Stefan Kleeschulte, GeoVille
Email:
Phone: ++43 (0)512 562021 10
Investigation on Wildlife Migration
Figure 6: A MEDSPIRATION SST map shown on the CLS data viewer
Near-real-time satellite-derived maps of oceanographic conditions (sea surface temperature, water quality, surface current) in the Tropical East Pacific Corridor (TEPC) area are derived using results from ESA’s Medspiration and Oceancolour projects. Oceanic conditions inducing, or at least facilitating, marine migrations from Galapagos to Isla de Cocos are studied.
For further information, please contact Philippe Gaspar, CLS
Email:
Phone: ++33 561 3947 81
