The effect of wildfires on vegetation cover and dune activity in Australia’s desert dunes: a multisensor analysis
N. Levin A B , S. Levental A and H. Morag A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Geography, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem 91905, Israel.
B Corresponding author. E-mail: noamlevin@mscc.huji.ac.il
International Journal of Wildland Fire 21(4) 459-475 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF10150
Submitted: 19 December 2010 Accepted: 8 September 2011 Published: 9 March 2012
Abstract
Most of Australia’s desert dune fields are stable; however, wildfires may reduce vegetation and biological soil crust cover so that sand movement may take place until vegetation recovers. In this study, we aimed to study the recovery rate of vegetation cover in spinifex (Triodia)-dominated desert dunes following wildfires using satellite imagery-derived spectral indices to: (1) determine for how long after fire these dunes may be active until critical levels of vegetation cover are attained; (2) determine which spectral index is the most suitable for monitoring vegetation recovery in this area. We have used a combination of MODIS, Landsat, Aster and QuickBird images to analyse vegetation cover following fire at various spatial and temporal scales, in the Great Victoria Desert, WA. The following spectral indices were compared: Brightness Index, Biological Soil Crust Index (BSCI), Crust Index, Enhanced Vegetation Index, Normalised Burn Ratio, Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index and the Stress-related Vegetation Index. The BSCI was found to outperform the other spectral indices in monitoring vegetation cover in this area. Whereas full recovery of vegetation following wildfires in the study area was attained only after 25–30 years, critical thresholds of vegetation cover limiting sand movement were attained after just 1–5 years. The frequency and intensity of wildfires is therefore an important factor controlling dune activity in Australia’s deserts.
Additional keywords: Aster, Landsat, MODIS, QuickBird, remote sensing, spectral indices.
References
Ash JE, Wasson RJ (1983) Vegetation and sand mobility in the Australian desert dunefield. Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie 45, 7–25.Asner GP, Lobell DB (2000) A biogeophysical approach for automated SWIR unmixing of soils and vegetation. Remote Sensing of Environment 74, 99–112.
| A biogeophysical approach for automated SWIR unmixing of soils and vegetation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Belnap J, Gillette DA (1998) Vulnerability of desert biological soil crusts to wind erosion: the influences of crust development, soil texture, and disturbance. Journal of Arid Environments 39, 133–142.
| Vulnerability of desert biological soil crusts to wind erosion: the influences of crust development, soil texture, and disturbance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bliege Bird R, Bird DW, Codding BF, Parker CH, Jones JH (2008) The ‘fire stick farming’ hypothesis: Australian Aboriginal foraging strategies, biodiversity, and anthropogenic fire mosaics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105, 14 796–14 801.
| The ‘fire stick farming’ hypothesis: Australian Aboriginal foraging strategies, biodiversity, and anthropogenic fire mosaics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1cnjsFCrsw%3D%3D&md5=57a426cb7ffea4e74c677f5214c44336CAS |
Bowler JM (1976) Aridity in Australia: age, origins and expression in aeolian landforms and sediments. Earth-Science Reviews 12, 279–310.
| Aridity in Australia: age, origins and expression in aeolian landforms and sediments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Burbidge NT (1943) Ecological succession observed during regeneration of Triodia pungens R.Br. after burning. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 28, 149–156.
Burrows ND, Ward B, Robinson AD (2009) Fuel dynamics and fire spread in spinifex grasslands of the Western Desert. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 115, 69–76.
Carlson TN, Ripley DA (1997) On the relation between NDVI, fractional vegetation cover, and leaf area index. Remote Sensing of Environment 62, 241–252.
| On the relation between NDVI, fractional vegetation cover, and leaf area index.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chen J, Zhang MY, Wang L, Shimazaki H, Tamura M (2005) A new index for mapping lichen-dominated biological soil crusts in desert areas. Remote Sensing of Environment 96, 165–175.
| A new index for mapping lichen-dominated biological soil crusts in desert areas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Eldridge DJ, Greene RSB (1994) Microbiotic soil crusts: a review of their roles in soil and biological processes in the rangelands of Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research 32, 389–415.
| Microbiotic soil crusts: a review of their roles in soil and biological processes in the rangelands of Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Everitt JH, Escobar DE, Alaniz MA, Davis MR (1987) Using airborne middle-infrared (145–20 µm) video imagery for distinguishing plant species and soil conditions. Remote Sensing of Environment 22, 423–428.
| Using airborne middle-infrared (145–20 µm) video imagery for distinguishing plant species and soil conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fitzsimmons KE, Rhodes EJ, Magee JW, Barrows TT (2007) The timing of linear dune activity in the Strzelecki and Tirari Deserts, Australia. Quaternary Science Reviews 26, 2598–2616.
| The timing of linear dune activity in the Strzelecki and Tirari Deserts, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fryberger SG, Dean G (1979) Dune forms and wind regime. In ‘A Study of Global Sand Seas’. (Ed. ED McKee) Geological Survey Professional Paper 1052, pp. 137–169. (Geological Survey: Washington, DC)
Gardner BR (1983) Techniques for remotely monitoring canopy development and estimating grain yield of moisture-stressed corn. Center for Agricultural Meteorology and Climatology, The Institute for Agricultural and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, CAMAC Progress Report 83–9. (Lincoln, NE)
Gill TK, Phinn SR, Armston JD, Pailthorpe BA (2009) Estimating tree-cover change in Australia: challenges of using the MODIS vegetation index product. International Journal of Remote Sensing 30, 1547–1565.
| Estimating tree-cover change in Australia: challenges of using the MODIS vegetation index product.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Greene RSB, Charters CJ, Hodgkinson KC (1990) The effects of fire on the soil in a degraded semi-arid woodland. I. Cryptogram cover and physical and micromorphological properties. Australian Journal of Soil Research 28, 755–777.
| The effects of fire on the soil in a degraded semi-arid woodland. I. Cryptogram cover and physical and micromorphological properties.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haydon DT, Friar JK, Pianka ER (2000) Fire-driven dynamic mosaics in the Great Victoria Desert, Australia. Landscape Ecology 15, 373–381.
| Fire-driven dynamic mosaics in the Great Victoria Desert, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hesse PP, Simpson L (2006) Variable vegetation cover and episodic sand movement on longitudinal desert sand dunes. Geomorphology 81, 276–291.
| Variable vegetation cover and episodic sand movement on longitudinal desert sand dunes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hesse PP, Magee JW, van der Kaars S (2004) Late Quaternary climates of the Australian arid zone: a review. Quaternary International 118–119, 87–102.
| Late Quaternary climates of the Australian arid zone: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hill J, Udelhoven T, Jarmer T, Yair A (2008) Land cover in the Nizzana sandy arid ecosystem. Mapping surface properties with multispectral remote sensing data. (Eds S-W Breckle, A Yair, M Veste) Arid Dune Ecosystems. Ecological Studies 200. pp. 157–172. (Springer: Berlin)
Huete AR (1988) A soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI). Remote Sensing of Environment 25, 295–309.
| A soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Huete A, Didan K, Miura T, Rodriguez EP, Gao X, Ferreira LG (2002) Overview of the radiometric and biophysical performance of the MODIS vegetation indices. Remote Sensing of Environment 83, 195–213.
| Overview of the radiometric and biophysical performance of the MODIS vegetation indices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jensen JR (2005) ‘Introductory Digital Image Processing: a Remote Sensing Perspective.’ (Pearson Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ)
Karnieli A (1997) Development and implementation of spectral crust index over dune sand. International Journal of Remote Sensing 18, 1207–1220.
| Development and implementation of spectral crust index over dune sand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Karnieli A (2003) Natural vegetation phenology assessment by ground spectral measurements in two semi-arid environments. International Journal of Biometeorology 47, 179–187.
| Natural vegetation phenology assessment by ground spectral measurements in two semi-arid environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Key CH, Benson NC (1999) Measuring and remote sensing of burn severity: the CBI and NBR. In ‘Proceedings Joint Fire Science Conference and Workshop’, 15–17 June 1999, Boise, ID. (Eds LF Neuenschwander, KC Ryan). Vol II. (University of Idaho and International Association of Wildland Fire: Moscow, ID)
Lancaster N, Baas A (1998) Influence of vegetation cover on sand transport by wind: field studies at Owens Lake, California. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 23, 69–82.
| Influence of vegetation cover on sand transport by wind: field studies at Owens Lake, California.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Levin N (2011) Climate-driven changes in tropical cyclone intensity shape dune activity on Earth’s largest sand island. Geomorphology 125, 239–252.
| Climate-driven changes in tropical cyclone intensity shape dune activity on Earth’s largest sand island.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Levin N, Ben-Dor E, Kidron GJ, Yaakov Y (2008) Prediction of surface roughness (z0) over a stabilizing coastal dune field based on vegetation and topography. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 33, 1520–1541.
| Prediction of surface roughness (z0) over a stabilizing coastal dune field based on vegetation and topography.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lu H, Raupach MR, McVicar TR, Barrett DJ (2003) Decomposition of vegetation cover into woody and herbaceous components using AVHRR NDVI time series. Remote Sensing of Environment 86, 1–18.
| Decomposition of vegetation cover into woody and herbaceous components using AVHRR NDVI time series.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mathieu R, Pouget M, Cervelle B, Escadafal R (1998) Relationships between satellite-based radiometric indices simulated using laboratory reflectance data and typic soil color of an arid environment. Remote Sensing of Environment 66, 17–28.
| Relationships between satellite-based radiometric indices simulated using laboratory reflectance data and typic soil color of an arid environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Miller JD, Thode AE (2007) Quantifying burn severity in a heterogeneous landscape with a relative version of the delta Normalised Burn Ratio (dNBR). Remote Sensing of Environment 109, 66–80.
| Quantifying burn severity in a heterogeneous landscape with a relative version of the delta Normalised Burn Ratio (dNBR).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Musick HB, Pelletier RE (1988) Response to soil moisture of spectral indexes derived from bidirectional reflectance in Thematic Mapper wavebands. Remote Sensing of Environment 25, 167–184.
| Response to soil moisture of spectral indexes derived from bidirectional reflectance in Thematic Mapper wavebands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pell SD, Chivas AR, Williams IS (1999) Great Victoria Desert: development and sand provenance. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 46, 289–299.
| Great Victoria Desert: development and sand provenance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXislCjs78%3D&md5=9bb40751369c535b8a07b581b4d63fa8CAS |
Richard Y, Poccard I (1998) A statistical study of NDVI sensitivity to seasonal and interannual rainfall variations in southern Africa. International Journal of Remote Sensing 19, 2907–2920.
| A statistical study of NDVI sensitivity to seasonal and interannual rainfall variations in southern Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schmidt H, Karnieli A (2002) Analysis of the temporal and spatial vegetation patterns in a semi-arid environment observed by NOAA AVHRR imagery and spectral ground measurements. International Journal of Remote Sensing 23, 3971–3990.
| Analysis of the temporal and spatial vegetation patterns in a semi-arid environment observed by NOAA AVHRR imagery and spectral ground measurements.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Strong CL, Bullard JE, Dubois C, McTainsh GH, Baddock MC (2010) Impact of wildfire on interdune ecology and sediments: an example from the Simpson Desert, Australia. Journal of Arid Environments 74, 1577–1581.
| Impact of wildfire on interdune ecology and sediments: an example from the Simpson Desert, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thome K, Biggar S, Takashima T (1999) Algorithm theoretical basis document for ASTER Level 2B1 – Surface Radiance and ASTER Level 2B5 – Surface Reflectance Remote Sensing Group of the Optical Sciences Center (University of Arizona: Tucson, AZ) Available at http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/for_scientists/atbd/docs/ASTER/atbd-ast-04.pdf [Verified 5 January 2012]
Tsoar H (2005) Sand dunes mobility and stability in relation to climate. Physica A 357, 50–56.
| Sand dunes mobility and stability in relation to climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tsoar H, Blumberg DG, Stoler Y (2004) Elongation and migration of sand dunes. Geomorphology 57, 293–302.
| Elongation and migration of sand dunes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tucker CJ (1979) Red and photographic infrared linear combinations for monitoring vegetation. Remote Sensing of Environment 8, 127–150.
| Red and photographic infrared linear combinations for monitoring vegetation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tueller PT (1987) Remote sensing science applications in arid environments. Remote Sensing of Environment 23, 143–154.
| Remote sensing science applications in arid environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van Leeuwen WJD, Casady GM, Neary DG, Bautista S, Alloza JA, Carmel Y, Wittenberg L, Malkinson D, Orr BJ (2010) Monitoring post-wildfire vegetation response with remotely sensed time-series data in Spain, USA and Israel. International Journal of Wildland Fire 19, 75–93.
| Monitoring post-wildfire vegetation response with remotely sensed time-series data in Spain, USA and Israel.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vermeesch P, Drake N (2008) Remotely sensed dune celerity and sand flux measurements of the world’s fastest barchans (Bodélé, Chad). Geophysical Research Letters 35, L24404
| Remotely sensed dune celerity and sand flux measurements of the world’s fastest barchans (Bodélé, Chad).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wasson RJ, Nanninga PM (1986) Estimating wind transport of sand on vegetated surfaces. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 11, 505–514.
| Estimating wind transport of sand on vegetated surfaces.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wiggs GFS, Thomas DSG, Bullard JE, Livingstone I (1995) Dune mobility and vegetation cover in the south-east Kalahari Desert. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 20, 515–529.
| Dune mobility and vegetation cover in the south-east Kalahari Desert.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wolfe RE, Roy DP, Vermote E (1998) MODIS land data storage, gridding, and compositing methodology: level 2 grid. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing 36, 1324–1338.
| MODIS land data storage, gridding, and compositing methodology: level 2 grid.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wopfner H, Twidale CR (2001) Australian desert dunes: wind rift or depositional origin? Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 48, 239–244.
| Australian desert dunes: wind rift or depositional origin?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wright BR, Clarke PJ (2007) Fire regime (recency, interval and season) changes the composition of spinifex (Triodia spp)-dominated desert dunes. Australian Journal of Botany 55, 709–724.
| Fire regime (recency, interval and season) changes the composition of spinifex (Triodia spp)-dominated desert dunes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
