1. U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Using Advanced Satellite Products to Better Understand I&M Data within the Context of the Larger Ecoregion Jeff Morisette, USGS Fort Collins Science Center Kevin James, NPS I&M Heartland Network w/ Colin Talbert, USGS Fort and Pete Ma, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

2. Background…  “Parks are part of larger ecological systems and must be managed in that context” (Fancy, Gross, & Carter, 2008).  Worked funded through the USGS/NPS National Park Monitoring Project. Currently just starting year 2 of 3.  Primary objective: help park managers use cutting edge moderate- (250m) and high- (30m) resolution remote sensing products to place I&M observations within the context of the larger ecosystem.

3. MODIS land surface phenology data

4. Modified TIMESAT Parameters Phenology Product User Guide, Tan et al http://accweb.nascom.nasa.gov/project/docs/User_guide_PHN.pdf. 1.Beginning of season 2.End of season 3.Length of season 4.Base value 5.Peak time 6.Peak value 7.Amplitude 8.Left derivative 9.Right derivative 10.Integral over season - absolute 11.Integral over season - scaled 12.Maximum value 13.Minimum value 14.Mean value 15.Root Mean Square Error

5. WELD Monthly composites…

6. Objectives:  Characterize phenology across the Southern Plains, Heartland, and Northern Great Plains Networks from 2000 on.  Building on the remote sensed vegetation indices and available Network data, identify appropriate sampling periods and locations that maximize information content for vegetation vital signs monitoring.  Evaluate the impact of management actions in light of intra- and inter-annual vegetation and climate variability.

7. Initial parks: selection criteria  Proposal focused on three networks: Southern Plains, Northern Great Plains, and Heartland Network  We wanted at least one park per network  Fairly large in spatial extent  Existing data from either I&M, veg map, or fire monitoring  Fairly native grassland

8. Initial parks

9. Live demo…