Abstract

Metabolism and phenology of Amazon rainforests significantly influence global dynamics of climate, carbon and water, but remain poorly understood. We analyzed Amazon vegetation phenology at multiple scales with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite measurements from 2000 to 2005. MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI, an index of canopy photosynthetic capacity) increased by 25% with sunlight during the dry season across Amazon forests, opposite to ecosystem model predictions that water limitation should cause dry season declines in forest canopy photosynthesis. In contrast to intact forests, areas converted to pasture showed dry‐season declines in EVI‐derived photosynthetic capacity, presumably because removal of deep‐rooted forest trees reduced access to deep soil water. Local canopy photosynthesis measured from eddy flux towers in both a rainforest and forest conversion site confirm our interpretation of satellite data, and suggest that basin‐wide carbon fluxes can be constrained by integrating remote sensing and local flux measurements.

Keywords

Environmental scienceRainforestDry seasonModerate-resolution imaging spectroradiometerCanopyAmazon rainforestLeaf area indexEddy covarianceVegetation (pathology)Atmospheric sciencesTree canopyEcosystemCarbon cyclePhenologyEnhanced vegetation indexBiometeorologyHydrology (agriculture)Normalized Difference Vegetation IndexEcologySatelliteGeologyBiologyVegetation Index

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Publication Info

Year
2006
Type
article
Volume
33
Issue
6
Citations
825
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Alfredo Huete, Kamel Didan, Yosio Edemir Shimabukuro et al. (2006). Amazon rainforests green‐up with sunlight in dry season. Geophysical Research Letters , 33 (6) . https://doi.org/10.1029/2005gl025583

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DOI
10.1029/2005gl025583