Publications

Madzen, AA; Choy, LK (2017). Vegetation Phenology Response towards Rainfall Distribution using MODIS-Aqua Vegetation Satellite Index Data. SAINS MALAYSIANA, 46(3), 421-428.

Abstract
Vegetation phenology describes the plant life cycle or activity and it is important to understand it's interactions with climate. This study was conducted to identify plant phenological responses to average monthly rainfall and to extract the phenology metrics for dipterocarp forest, oil palms and rubber trees by using EVI vegetation indices from MODIS-Aqua (product MYD13Q1) and an average of monthly rainfall for 2007 and 2009. Rainfall patterns in 2007 showed normal rainfall distribution whilst in 2009 experienced less rain in a period of eleven years (2000-2010). The result showed that the EVI of the dipterocarp forest is varied in 2009 with EVI value ranges 0.39-0.64 compared to the more consistent EVI values of 0.33-0.57 in 2007. The phenological trends of oil palms fluctuate in 2007 compared to 2009 with EVI at 0.45-0.71 and 0.5-0.74, respectively. Phenological patterns of rubber trees in both years showed similar trend and the EVI range of 2009 was smaller than in 2007 with value of 0.39-0.62 and 0.30-0.73, respectively. The effect of lag period on vegetations' greenness was detected, especially after heavy rain period in both years which affects the correlation values between the average rainfall and EVI. The start and end of growing season of the dipterocarp forest for both years occurred in February and December. There is no clear difference between the lengths of season for oil palms in both years, which is 32 days longer in 2007 compared to 2009. Length of season for rubber tree is longer in 2007 and significantly shorter in 2009 at 176 and 113 days, respectively.

DOI:
10.17576/jsm-2017-4603-09

ISSN:
0126-6039