Applications of VEGETATION data to resource management in arid and semi-arid rangelands. Final report, September 2000

In this contribution, VEGETATION based surface reflectances in RED, NIR and SWIR were successfully validated against ground data during contrasting growing seasons in Mexico. VEGETATION based vegetation indices were related to surface biophysical parameters such as green biomass, Leaf Area Index and also dry biomass which could not be done in AVHRR. Results in Niger show that new methodologies (stratification of the area, BRDF compositing ... ) could be applied in a short term. Despite poor meteorological and biophysical parameters available at ground level, models could be validate and quickly help to improve operational alert systems. One of the main advantages of VEGETATION data relies in its high geometric and radiometric quality and its capability to maintain nearly constant space resolution in the field of view. This makes VEGETATION sensor a reliable tool for monitoring surface biophysical parameters, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where surface heterogeneity is the rule. (Résumé d'auteur