Analysis of Vegetation Changes Using Satellite Data

Chichester

1992

S. 303-310

10 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

200076357

A critical study of the actual capabilities of satellites for the monitoring of tropical vegetation reveals that these tools are not yet operational. Monitoring capabilities are improving thanks to a combination of conventional tools and satellite data (NOAA, LANDSAT, SPOT). Present vegetation mapping techniques have a scale of time incompatible with the scale of events to be monitored. The probable annual rate of deforestation in the tropics is of about 200,000 Quadratkilometer. Out of the remaining 8 million Quadratkilometer of humid forests, 30 to 50% are already more or less deeply transformed by man.