Objective
The objective is to use an integration of ecological models and information from operationnal earth observation and meteorological satellites to assess and monitor regional scale indicators of sensitivity to desertification.
Based on the work on three study sites: Languedoc (France), Valencia Province (Spain), and
Crete Island (Greece) conceptual and methodological pathways for deriving coherent
indicators of vegetation abundance and the erosional state of soils from remotely sensed
imagery (reflective and thermal domains) will be optimised, including methodological
refinements which permit to use this approach within a larger variety of climatic conditions
throughout the Mediterranean (i.e. regionalised data interpretation concepts, GIS-based
integration of ancillary information layers such as bedrock lithology, and digital elevation
data, the completion of spectral library information on vegetation and exposed soil and rock
surfaces, and the combined analysis of satellite measurements in the reflective and thermal
domain).
The project further attempts to define the conceptual requirements needed for designing an
operational 'Satellite-based Desertification Observatory' for the Mediterranean basin,
including the validation of the methods and processing modules needed for its implementation
in the context of three retrospective case studies.
Ecosystem dynamics and biochemistry models have become a popular means to examine the
ecological consequences of historic and future climatic changes. By simulating the seasonal
and multi-annual course of ecosystem functional processes (mainly carbon and water cycling)
from local to regional level the project attempts to gain deeper understanding of biophysical
processes which may be responsible for soil/vegetation changes recorded from the
retrospective satellite monitoring during the 1975-1995 period, and to predict likely future
changes, especially in most sensible areas.
The development of an approach for future projections of desertification, particularly with
respect to the risk of soil erosion and further degradation of vegetation communities
(Desertification Susceptibility Index) is an essential part of the project activities. In particular
the incorporation of 'degradation trends' (based on retrospective analysis of RS-derived
vegetation and soil characteristics), terrain parameters (from digital elevation data), such as
slope and exposition in terms of water availability and erosion susceptibility (model outputs),
appear particularly attractive for predicting the future development of desertification and
erosion at regional scales
The project is completed by a case study on the sustainable management of rangelands in
mountain ecosystems which attempts to integrate findings from the modules mentioned above.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologylithology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistry
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
You need to log in or register to use this function
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
54286 Trier
Germany