Selective logging changes forest phenology in the Brazilian Amazon: Evidence from MODIS image time series analysis

Alexander Koltunov; Susan L. Ustin; Gregory P. Asner; Inez Fung

doi:10.1016/j.rse.2009.07.005

Selective logging changes forest phenology in the Brazilian Amazon: Evidence from MODIS image time series analysis

Alexander Koltunov, Susan L. Ustin, Gregory P. Asner, Inez Fung

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present a large-scale study of the relationships between selective logging and forest phenology in the Brazilian Amazon. Time-series analysis of MODIS satellite data of selectively logged forests in Mato Grosso, Brazil, shows that relatively low levels (5-10%) of canopy damage cause significant and long-lasting (more than 3 years) changes in forest phenology. Partial clearing slows forest green-up in the dry season, progressively dries the canopy, and induces overall seasonal deficits in canopy moisture and greenness. Given large and increasing geographic extent of selective logging throughout Amazonia, this phenological disturbance has a potential to impact carbon and water fluxes, nutrient dynamics, and other functional processes in these forests.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	2431-2440
Number of pages	10
Journal	Remote Sensing of Environment
Volume	113
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2009.07.005
State	Published - Nov 16 2009
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Brazil
MODIS
Remote sensing
Selective harvesting
Tropical forest disturbance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Soil Science
Geology
Computers in Earth Sciences

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10.1016/j.rse.2009.07.005

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title = "Selective logging changes forest phenology in the Brazilian Amazon: Evidence from MODIS image time series analysis",

abstract = "We present a large-scale study of the relationships between selective logging and forest phenology in the Brazilian Amazon. Time-series analysis of MODIS satellite data of selectively logged forests in Mato Grosso, Brazil, shows that relatively low levels (5-10%) of canopy damage cause significant and long-lasting (more than 3 years) changes in forest phenology. Partial clearing slows forest green-up in the dry season, progressively dries the canopy, and induces overall seasonal deficits in canopy moisture and greenness. Given large and increasing geographic extent of selective logging throughout Amazonia, this phenological disturbance has a potential to impact carbon and water fluxes, nutrient dynamics, and other functional processes in these forests.",

keywords = "Brazil, MODIS, Remote sensing, Selective harvesting, Tropical forest disturbance",

author = "Alexander Koltunov and Ustin, {Susan L.} and Asner, {Gregory P.} and Inez Fung",

note = "Funding Information: We wish to acknowledge NASA support under grant #NNG04GK34G, “Studies of biosphere–atmosphere interactions with a GCM with MODIS Spectral Resolution” and NASA LBA grant NNG06GE32A. We thank the anonymous reviewers whose constructive comments substantially improved the manuscript. Thanks also go to Dr. Michael Keller from University of New Hampshire for his helpful comments on an earlier version of the paper. We especially thank Mr. George Scheer and Mr. Lawrence Ross for systems administration and other computation support that enabled us to analyze these data. ",

year = "2009",

month = nov,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1016/j.rse.2009.07.005",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "113",

pages = "2431--2440",

journal = "Remote Sensing of Environment",

issn = "0034-4257",

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T1 - Selective logging changes forest phenology in the Brazilian Amazon

T2 - Evidence from MODIS image time series analysis

AU - Koltunov, Alexander

AU - Ustin, Susan L.

AU - Asner, Gregory P.

AU - Fung, Inez

N1 - Funding Information: We wish to acknowledge NASA support under grant #NNG04GK34G, “Studies of biosphere–atmosphere interactions with a GCM with MODIS Spectral Resolution” and NASA LBA grant NNG06GE32A. We thank the anonymous reviewers whose constructive comments substantially improved the manuscript. Thanks also go to Dr. Michael Keller from University of New Hampshire for his helpful comments on an earlier version of the paper. We especially thank Mr. George Scheer and Mr. Lawrence Ross for systems administration and other computation support that enabled us to analyze these data.

PY - 2009/11/16

Y1 - 2009/11/16

N2 - We present a large-scale study of the relationships between selective logging and forest phenology in the Brazilian Amazon. Time-series analysis of MODIS satellite data of selectively logged forests in Mato Grosso, Brazil, shows that relatively low levels (5-10%) of canopy damage cause significant and long-lasting (more than 3 years) changes in forest phenology. Partial clearing slows forest green-up in the dry season, progressively dries the canopy, and induces overall seasonal deficits in canopy moisture and greenness. Given large and increasing geographic extent of selective logging throughout Amazonia, this phenological disturbance has a potential to impact carbon and water fluxes, nutrient dynamics, and other functional processes in these forests.

AB - We present a large-scale study of the relationships between selective logging and forest phenology in the Brazilian Amazon. Time-series analysis of MODIS satellite data of selectively logged forests in Mato Grosso, Brazil, shows that relatively low levels (5-10%) of canopy damage cause significant and long-lasting (more than 3 years) changes in forest phenology. Partial clearing slows forest green-up in the dry season, progressively dries the canopy, and induces overall seasonal deficits in canopy moisture and greenness. Given large and increasing geographic extent of selective logging throughout Amazonia, this phenological disturbance has a potential to impact carbon and water fluxes, nutrient dynamics, and other functional processes in these forests.

KW - Brazil

KW - MODIS

KW - Remote sensing

KW - Selective harvesting

KW - Tropical forest disturbance

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JO - Remote Sensing of Environment

JF - Remote Sensing of Environment

IS - 11

ER -

Selective logging changes forest phenology in the Brazilian Amazon: Evidence from MODIS image time series analysis

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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