25 Feb 2009 16:00
Unit:
Wageningen University
Location:
Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation:
Wageningen University
Promotor:
prof.dr. M.E. Schaepman (Geo-information Science (Remote Sensing))
Co Promotor:
Dr.ir. J.G.P.W. Clevers, Prof.dr. Z. Su (ITC, Enschede)
A methodology for large scale quantitative assessment of the eco-environmental changes in arid area.
The study integrated remote sensing method with ecohydrology to quantifying the relationship between the water resources and the vegetation from large scale in the Heihe River basin, northwest China. The main contribution of this work is the development of the new methods for (i) quantitatively assessment of the spatial distribution of the vegetation and its impact factors in the mountainous area; (ii) accuracy estimation of the regional evapotraspiration and the validation of the evapotranspiration from water budget; (iii) quantifying understanding the important effects of surface water and groundwater on the vegetation growth. Furthermore, a new particularly useful framework for evaluating the eco-environmental changes from large scale in arid area was presented in this work.