BFTP - Biome Detection through Remote Sensing

Learning Goals

This is an exercise which is part of the greater Biological Scientific Research in Theory and Practice scheme at Aarhus University. Here, you will learn how to:

• Identify vegetation clusters from space
• Analyse how those clusters have shifted over time
• Identify areas that have experienced frequent change of predominant biomes

A few challenges to overcome include:

• Which vegetation index to use? Which measures therein?
• How to identify clusters?
• How to validate the accuracy of our cluster products?
• How to link resilience to shifts in biome states?

Background

Biomes are large, somewhat homogeneous biological communities which are usually characterised by one predominant vegetation type. As a consequence of climate change, we expect these to shift poleward leading to a change in landcover classification schemes.

Resilience is a concept/charactersitic of a system which enables it to persist in time and place despite perturbations. Global policy makers have adopted resilience goals.

Disclaimer

This work was inspired heavily by my work on Remote Sensing And Predicting Shifts In Biome Distribution And Resilience Using NDVI Data for my B.Sc. thesis.

If you find any typos in my material, are unhappy with some of what or how I am presenting or simply unclear about thing, do not hesitate to contact me.

All the best, Erik