Correlation between the dynamics and spatial configuration of the circumarctic latitudinal forest-tundra ecotone ...

• Main Authors: Guo, W, Rees, G
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Informa UK Limited 2021
• Subjects: 37 Earth Sciences; 3704 Geoinformatics; Tundra
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17863/cam.58781; https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/311691

This study uses the MOderate Resolution Image Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Vegetation Continuous Fields (VCF) data to investigate the relationship between the dynamics of the circumarctic latitudinal forest-tundra ecotones (FTEs) and its spatial configuration. This study also explores the extent to which the Google Earth Engine (GEE) can enable efficient, large-scale and multi-temporal examination of the circumarctic FTE. FTE dynamics is represented by latitudinal interface movement over the 2000 to 2015 period. To represent spatial configuration of the latitudinal FTEs, we propose a continuous measurement of fragmentation derived from window spectral analysis, which builds on the theory of FTE ‘forms’ – a discrete categorisation of altitudinal FTEs primarily based on vegetation fragmentation. Additionally, continentality of the FTEs is calculated to investigate the impact of water variability. Statistical relationship between these variables are analysed in evenly divided longitudinal bands in the circumarctic ...