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Bimodal Seasonal Cycle of Vegetation

Greenness in the Southwest US

Collaborators: Zhengyu Liu, Robert Gallimore, Jack Williams, Dave Gutzler, Scott Collins

Funding: DOE NICCR, NOAA CPPA

Publications:
Notaro, M., Z. Liu, R. G. Gallimore, J. W. Williams, D. Gutzler, and S. Collins, 2010: The complex
ecohydrology seasonal cycle of the Southwest United States. Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeoscience,
115, G04034, doi: 10.1029/2010JG001382.

Methods: Using extensive observations (including remote-sensing data) and the Lund-Potsdam-Jena dynamic global vegetation model, the seasonal cycles of vegetation greenness, climate, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration fluxes are analyzed. In particular, the bimodal seasonal cycle of NDVI over portions of Arizona and New Mexico, found in both remote-sensing data and LPJ simulations, is investigated.

Key finding: The bimodal seasonal cycle of vegetation greenness is primarily moisture-driven and not purely related to the preferred photosynthetic temperatures for C3 versus C4 plants.

Proposed mechanism for the bimodal seasonal cycle of NDVI (vegetation greenness) over portions of Arizona and New Mexico, based on observations and LPJ simulations.