Applications of NOAA/AVHRR data on grassland monitoring

With rapidly growing populations and a dwindling resource base, monitoring grassland resource appears more important for decision-making and sustainable development in pasture. In the paper, methods of applying NOAA/AVHRR data to monitor grassland yield and carrying capacity were discussed in detail. To eliminate errors of the grassland yields at different time, average vegetation index images were erected, and a new rectified formula to calculate the Average Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (ANDVI) was constructed according to the characteristics of both NOAA/AVHRR data and grasslands in China. Based on ANDVI images, grassland yield gradation was defined, a general grassland yield forecast model was regressed out by analyzing relevant contribution of different landscapes to ANDVI, and a complete set of methods and procedures to monitor grassland yield and seasonal grassland carrying capacity was finally made. Results of the study indicated that NOAA/AVHRR data could be used in grassland classification, mapping, yield estimation and decision-making in large areas in China.