Setup of a phenocam network on some key Australian ecosystems

Start year: 2014

Summary: Phenology is the study of the timing of recurring climate-driven biological events, the causes of their periodicity and their relationship with biotic (e.g. fruit availability) and abiotic (e.g. rain) drivers. Regional and continental scale phenology are often characterised with the use of different Remote Sensing vegetation indices obtained from the MODIS satellite. My goal is to use tower mounted phenocam imagery of canopy and understory vegetation to evaluate the phenology captured by satellite and eddy flux data. My hypothesis is that all methods (satellite, micrometeorology and in-situ camera) should provide a similar start of green-up, peak and end of growing season. However, cameras will indicate the timing of the different ecosystem components. The proposed research aligns with UTS practical innovation commitment. I will be testing new sensors and developing measurement protocols that will be later applied to a set of scientific questions. We will contribute to UTS-C3 goal of advancement of a mechanistic understanding of surface-atmosphere gas exchange processes and the variables that drive these interactions.

Publications:

Barraza, V, Restrepo-Coupe, N, Huete, A, Grings, F, Beringer, J, Cleverly, J & Eamus, D 2017, 'Estimation of latent heat flux over savannah vegetation across the North Australian Tropical Transect from multiple sensors and global meteorological data', AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY, vol. 232, pp. 689-703.
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Beringer, J, Hutley, LB, McHugh, I, Arndt, SK, Campbell, D, Cleugh, HA, Cleverly, J, Resco de Dios, V, Eamus, D, Evans, B, Ewenz, C, Grace, P, Griebel, A, Haverd, V, Hinko-Najera, N, Huete, A, Isaac, P, Kanniah, K, Leuning, R, Liddell, MJ, Macfarlane, C, Meyer, W, Moore, C, Pendall, E, Phillips, A, Phillips, RL, Prober, S, Restrepo-Coupe, N, Rutledge, S, Schroder, I, Silberstein, R, Southall, P, Sun, M, Tapper, NJ, van Gorsel, E, Vote, C, Walker, J & Wardlaw, T 2016, 'An introduction to the Australian and New Zealand flux tower network – OzFlux', Biogeosciences Discussions, vol. 13, pp. 5895-5916.
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Beringer, J, Hutley, LB, McHugh, I, Arndt, SK, Campbell, D, Cleugh, HA, Cleverly, J, Resco de Dios, V, Eamus, D, Evans, B, Ewenz, C, Grace, P, Griebel, A, Haverd, V, Hinko-Najera, N, Huete, A, Isaac, P, Kanniah, K, Leuning, R, Liddell, MJ, Macfarlane, C, Meyer, W, Moore, C, Pendall, E, Phillips, A, Phillips, RL, Prober, SM, Restrepo-Coupe, N, Rutledge, S, Schroder, I, Silberstein, R, Southall, P, Yee, MS, Tapper, NJ, van Gorsel, E, Vote, C, Walker, J & Wardlaw, T 2016, 'An introduction to the Australian and New Zealand flux tower network - OzFlux', BIOGEOSCIENCES, vol. 13, no. 21, pp. 5895-5916.
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Moore, CE, Brown, T, Keenan, TF, Duursma, RA, van Dijk, AIJM, Beringer, J, Culvenor, D, Evans, B, Huete, A, Hutley, LB, Maier, S, Restrepo-Coupe, N, Sonnentag, O, Specht, A, Taylor, JR, van Gorsel, E & Liddell, MJ 2016, 'Reviews and syntheses: Australian vegetation phenology: new insights from satellite remote sensingand digital repeat photography', Biogeosciences, vol. 13, no. 17, pp. 5085-5102.
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Keywords: ecosystem phenology, vegetation dynamics, Australia

FOR Codes: Ecological Applications, Ecosystem Assessment and Management at Regional or Larger Scales, Ecological Impacts of Climate Change, Ecosystem Adaptation to Climate Change, Ecological impacts of climate change and ecological adaptation, Assessment and management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystems

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.