Objective Droughts affect most parts of the world. According to the recent previsions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change1 (IPCC), more frequent and severe droughts are expected. This observation makes it a priority to improve the existing methods of monitoring droughts and their impact on terrestrial ecosystems. Early warning systems need to be developed. Remote sensing (RS) technologies are well-placed to provide such monitoring. Thanks to RS, droughts can be monitored at large scale and at short time resolution (e.g. daily). The proposed project “INDRO” will focus on the definition of new RS-based indicators able to monitor vegetation status and how it is responding to drought. For example, the RS indicators implemented at the moment within the European Drought Observatory (EDO) early monitor system are not sensitive to rapid changes in plant photosynthesis since these indicators have no direct link to plant photosynthetic functioning. The project will analyse the relationships between ecophysiological variables, light use activity (LUE) and existing RS indicators calculated with the data from several satellite sensors. This analysis will reveal which sensors, and which spatial and temporal resolutions are best at quantifying drought. A new generation of RS indicators will be developed to give a better description of plant photosynthetic functioning in drought conditions. The project will map these new indicators for southern Europe to identify the areas affected by drought. Overall, the creation of new RS drought indicators, and the better definition of drought events they bring, will help the development of ecological models and early warning systems, and underpin new avenues for the improvement of national and international drought mitigation and adaptation strategies. Fields of science engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technologyengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringremote sensingengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbotany Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION ECOLOGICA Y APLICACIONES FORESTALES Net EU contribution € 170 121,60 Address UNIVERSITAT AUTONOMA DE BARCELONA EDIFICI C 08193 Bellaterra Spain See on map Region Este Cataluña Barcelona Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 170 121,60
