Comparing two sensor data to perceive landscape phenology dynamics at Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat, India

Periodic observations of landscape phenology are critical for assessing growth cyclicals of forest covers. The present study attempts to discern the phenology dynamics of dry deciduous forest cover using ground- and satellite-based sensors and to examine their complementarity. Modelled phenophases coming from the data of both sensors reflected dynamics of landscape phenology matching with the pattern of deciduous cover. Phenophases derived from the data of PhenoCam coincided with the observed rainfall dynamics of the region, while satellite-based phenophases could not, largely because of a mismatch in data availability owing to cloud cover hindrance. A correlation was seen between the measured indices of both sensors. The modelled length of the season of deciduous cover obtained from the data of both sensors was similar. The study tries to fill in the existing wide gap in the studies on phenophases of Indian tropical covers and highlights how it can assist better in gauging the ecological dynamics of protected areas.