Desertification assessment and trend analysis using modis data

摘要

Desertification is a severe issue that has received increasing attention currently. This paper aims at the desertification degree assessment and trend analysis between 2000 and 2014. Firstly, based on the negative correlation between albedo and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), desertification difference index (DDI) products are completed, which are applied to assess desertification degree. For the purpose of monitoring the tendency of global desertification, the time-series data from MODIS are applied to work out the normalized yearly albedo and NDVI. Then, based on DDI products and the trend analysis approach, the global desertification tendency products are produced. Preliminary analysis showed that the ranking of global desertification seriousness relates to the temperature zone. Desertification trended to be aggravated in central North America, eastern Asia, the Pacific Rim, and central Australia. The results above may promote the scientific decision, and help prevent and control the desertification.