Satellite‐observed vegetation responses to intraseasonal precipitation variability

Harris, Bethan L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0166-6256; Taylor, Christopher M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0120-3198; Weedon, Graham P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1262-9984; Talib, Joshua ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4183-1973; Dorigo, Wouter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8054-7572; van der Schalie, Robin. 2022 Satellite‐observed vegetation responses to intraseasonal precipitation variability. Geophysical Research Letters, 49 (15), e2022GL099635. 11, pp. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099635

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099635

Abstract/Summary

There is limited understanding of how vegetation responds to intraseasonal modes of rainfall variability despite their importance in many tropical regions. We use observations of precipitation and X-band Vegetation Optical Depth (VOD) from 2000 to 2018 to assess the relationships between rainfall and vegetation water content on 25–60-day timescales. Cross-spectral analysis identifies coherent intraseasonal relationships between precipitation and VOD, mostly in arid or semi-arid regions where vegetation is water-limited. Changes in VOD tend to lag anomalous rainfall, usually within 7 days. The fastest vegetation response is observed in sparsely vegetated areas (median 3 days). Following strong intraseasonal wet events, anomalously high VOD can persist for 2 months after the rainfall peak. This vegetation response can feed back onto the atmosphere, so improved representation of vegetation responses in models has the potential to improve subseasonal-to-seasonal forecasts.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099635
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Hydro-climate Risks (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0094-8276
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences Ecology and Environment Hydrology Meteorology and Climatology
Date made live:	26 Aug 2022 11:15 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/533057

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099635

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Hydro-climate Risks (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0094-8276

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

NORA Subject Terms:

Earth Sciences
Ecology and Environment
Hydrology
Meteorology and Climatology