Narrow Results

The role of vegetation cover within the processes that link land and atmosphere is of stringent interest for the correct modeling of Climate dynamics. Temporal and spatial correlation of the terrestrial coverage varies according to Climate and acts as a major forcing on it through changes in surface energy and water balance as well as in the carbon cycle. Recent studies have enhanced the actual and potential impact of this forcing on the radiative balance thus evidencing effects that are at least comparable to that due to all the anthropogenic greenhouse gases together. At now, observational studies on land cover dynamics are strongly in progress thanks to satellite data. The availability of continuous observations of the land surface can allow us to understand the correlation structure, both in time and in space, that characterizes the land cover activity. Satellites provide time series of photosynthetic activity measures that can be regarded as a succession of observations of a two-dimensional scalar field. We exploited the paradigm of fluctuating surfaces as a mechanic analogue for our problem. To capture vegetation cover characteristic time-scales, persistence properties were evaluated by analysing annual maps of NDVI-AVHRR time series and persistence probability was estimated by using the sing-time distribution methodology. The analysis performed for ecoregions of Italian and Greek territories evidenced signatures of short range persistence with characteristic time scales that depend on land cover, climate, and anthropic activities. Our results confirm that such an approach can provide a useful parameterisation for including vegetation into climate models as a dynamical component.

The effect of four different cyclones making land fall on four different coastal regions is studied viz., Nisha (2008, Tamil Nadu), Laila (2010, Andhra Pradesh), Sidr (2007, Bangladesh) and land depression BOB 03 (2008, Orissa). Remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) technique are used to detect change in Land use and Land cover (LU/LC). Change in vegetation cover by Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) is also investigated. Further, preparation of slope map, processing of buffer zoning map is exercised. These parameters are analyzed to find the impression of cyclones after hitting the coastal boundaries by considering the images before and after the cyclone has passed. Change detection assessment of LU/LC features provides information for monitoring the trend of change in an area. In almost every considered region, it is found that dense vegetation is changed to sparse vegetation. Also, decrease in the irrigated cropland due to heavy rainfall caused by cyclone is noted. Risk zone is created by buffer ring of cyclone track to spot the area under risk zone. The area calculation suggests the effect of cyclone at the distance of 20–50km from the cyclone path which is validated from the slope effect on LU/LC, also. Some of the common features such as dense vegetation, show decrease in the area by 71%, 17%, 67% and 60%, or settlement area also shows decrease by 38%, 15%, 57% and 17% due to Laila, BOB 03, Nisha and Sidr cyclones, respectively. Increase in shrubland mix with rangeland by 18%, 113% and 98% is also seen due to Laila, Nisha and Sidr cyclones. Other LU/LC shows changes such as, water bodies increasing by 6%, 189% due to BOB 03 and Nisha cyclones. Changes are also seen in sparsed vegetation, which is decreased in Orissa and Tamil Nadu and increased in Andhra Pradesh and Bangladesh. It is demonstrated that by preparing risk zonation map, risk assessment can be done.