Background

Advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) satellite data were acquired and composited into twice a month periods from 1 May 1991 to 15 October 1991 to map vegetation characteristics over the Alaskan landscape. Unique spatial and temporal qualities of the AVHRR data provide information that leads to a better understanding of regional biophysical characteristics of vegetation communities and patterns. These data provided synoptic views of the landscape and depicted phenological diversity, temporal vegetation phenology (green-up, peak of green, and senescence), photosynthetic activity, and regional landscape patterns. Products generated from the data included a phenological class map, phenological composite maps (onset, peak, and duration), and photosynthetic activity maps (mean and maximum greenness).

For more detailed information about vegetation characteristics in Alaska using AVHRR time-series data, please refer to the publications listed in the References below, or contact the EROS Alaska Field Office, 4230 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508-4664, U.S.A., Phone: (907) 786-7023, Fax: (907) 786-7036, Email: markon@usgs.gov.

References:
Markon, C.J., Fleming, M.D., Binnian, E.F., 1995. Charcteristics of Vegetation Phenology of the Alaskan Landscape Using AVHRR-Time Series Data. Polar Record 31(177):179-190.
Loveland, T.R., J.W. Merchant, D.O. Ohlen, and J.F. Brown, 1991. Development of a land-cover characteristics database for the conterminous U.S. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 57 (11): 1453-1463.