Spatio-Temporal Changes in Vegetation Greenness Across Continental
Ecuador, 1982 - 2010
Abstract
We analyze changes in vegetation greenness across the coastal, Andean,
and Amazonian regions of continental Ecuador, 1982-2010. Using
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) anomalies derived from the
Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on monthly and annual
bases, we identify: i) long-term changes in annual NDVI, ii) seasonal
shifts in greenness patterns, and iii) spatial patterns of change in
vegetation greenness. Results indicate overall significant greening, or
NDVI increase, after the mid-1990s, with distinct seasonal and regional
variations. In the Amazon changes occur between September and February,
resulting in a prolonged growing season during the later period.
Significant increases are witnessed in coastal regions between February
and May, but with no change in growing season. Fluctuations in NDVI in
the Andes mimic the coast in the western slopes and the Amazon in the
eastern slopes but exclude major changes in NDVI. The research
investigates the possible effects of precipitation and CO2, and
contributes to the understanding of tropical vegetation change in a
rapidly changing environment.