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Case study in observing the vegetation-albedo feedback during climate change in the Sahel

Kirk, Daniel John LU (2024) In Student thesis series INES NGEK01 20241
Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
Abstract
Due to drying trends in the tropical and subtropical areas there is a potential for significant vegetation loss. As this occurs previous literature has predicted significant increases in desert area, further exacerbated by vegetation-albedo feedback with radiation in climate change. This study analyses this phenomenon at a smaller local scale over an area of 100 x 100 km in the middle of Chad. The aim is to provide a method for examining climate feedbacks at these small spatial scales. Using NDVI and albedo data in addition to climate variables, an overall decrease in fractional vegetation area is observed within the study area from 0.083 to 0.068 over 20 years from 2001 to 2023. This implies a relatively strong local vegetation-albedo... (More)
Due to drying trends in the tropical and subtropical areas there is a potential for significant vegetation loss. As this occurs previous literature has predicted significant increases in desert area, further exacerbated by vegetation-albedo feedback with radiation in climate change. This study analyses this phenomenon at a smaller local scale over an area of 100 x 100 km in the middle of Chad. The aim is to provide a method for examining climate feedbacks at these small spatial scales. Using NDVI and albedo data in addition to climate variables, an overall decrease in fractional vegetation area is observed within the study area from 0.083 to 0.068 over 20 years from 2001 to 2023. This implies a relatively strong local vegetation-albedo radiation feedback of Y = 1.24 ± 0.25 W/m^2/K, representing a negative feedback loop in the climate system. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Kirk, Daniel John LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Case study in the effects of climate change on vegetation-albedo feedback in the Sahel
Case study of the effects of climate change on vegetation-albedo feedback in desert climates
course
NGEK01 20241
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Desert, Sahel, Vegetation, "Radiative Feedback", Feedback, "Vegetation-Albedo Feedback", "Remote sensing", Climate
publication/series
Student thesis series INES
report number
681
language
English
id
9173241
date added to LUP
2024-09-04 14:50:22
date last changed
2024-09-04 14:50:22
@misc{9173241,
  abstract     = {{Due to drying trends in the tropical and subtropical areas there is a potential for significant vegetation loss. As this occurs previous literature has predicted significant increases in desert area, further exacerbated by vegetation-albedo feedback with radiation in climate change. This study analyses this phenomenon at a smaller local scale over an area of 100 x 100 km in the middle of Chad. The aim is to provide a method for examining climate feedbacks at these small spatial scales. Using NDVI and albedo data in addition to climate variables, an overall decrease in fractional vegetation area is observed within the study area from 0.083 to 0.068 over 20 years from 2001 to 2023. This implies a relatively strong local vegetation-albedo radiation feedback of Y = 1.24 ± 0.25 W/m^2/K, representing a negative feedback loop in the climate system.}},
  author       = {{Kirk, Daniel John}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Student thesis series INES}},
  title        = {{Case study in observing the vegetation-albedo feedback during climate change in the Sahel}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}