Description
Remote sensing of vegetation condition and snow extent provides information essential to under-standing and managing change at broad scales by describing important aspects of ecological and hydrological processes that have cascading eff ects on other natural resources. The spatial and tem-poral pattern of satellite-derived NDVI (Normalized Diff erence Vegetation Index), or “greenness,” and vegetation is indicative of long-term climate conditions to which vegetation on the Colorado Plateau have adapted. NDVI also responds to short-term changes in weather and cycles annually with seasons. Changes in precipitation and temperature may cause changes in the spatial distribu-tion of vegetation over time, and changes in NDVI may imply a response to changing climate or changing land condition brought about by human activities or natural disturbance.
