Land cover change due to 2008 ice storms in southern China

Abstract

In this study, the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) generated by using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) MOD13A1 product at 500-m spatial and 16-day temporal resolutions is used to analyse the land cover changes due to the 2008 great ice storm event occurred in South China on vegetation. From a series of the 16-day EVI maps in the 2008 vegetation growing season, the damage to vegetation due to the event is explored. It is found that the severe vegetation-impacted areas are mostly located in the middle mountainous areas. The analysis reveals that the ice storm influence on land cover can last for several months and the influenced biomass may recover mostly in half a year. Conclusively, the study indicates that the impacts of the ice storms on vegetation are observable by using MODIS remote sensing data. Especially, in one of the impacted areas, the Nanling Mountain, the severe vegetation-impacted areas are generally with high EVI, indicting high density of vegetated lands, where are mostly covered by mixed forest.