Hurricane disturbance mapping using MODIS EVI data in the southeastern Yucatán, Mexico

This letter evaluated the use of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 250 mEnhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) standard product data (MOD/ MYD13Q1 C5) to map the damage caused by Hurricane Dean (August 2007) to the forests in the Yucata´n Peninsula of Mexico using a two-step vetting procedure. Sequences of MODIS EVI 16-day composite products captured before and after the hurricane were compared against 93 field damage plots to select an appropriate set of pre- and post-damage data. Aqua pairwise combinations produced the highest damage detection overall accuracy compared with Terra (82.4% vs. 73.8%, respectively) because of advantageous timing of the Aqua EVI compositing, relative to the hurricane event. The most accurate EVI damage map (91.4% overall) revealed highest damage detection in Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale zone 5 (i.e. wind speed .248 km h-1, i.e. 95%), followed by 93% in zone 4 (210-249 km h-1) and 87% in zone 3 (178-209 km h-1). Results indicate that MODIS EVI products provide timely and accurate maps of hurricane damage in subtropical forests.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Schneider, Laura C., Rogan, John Doctor 22528, Christman, Zachary John autor/a 14771, Millones, Marco autor/a 13181, Lawrence, Deborah Doctora autor/a 22578, Schmook, Birgit Inge Doctora autor/a 8472
Format: Texto biblioteca
Language:eng
Subjects:Huracán Dean, 2007, Evaluación del paisaje, Evaluación del impacto ambiental, Indicadores ambientales, Artfrosur,
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