Changes in Meadow Vegetation Cover in Yosemite National Park (California) Based on Three Decades of Landsat Image Analysis

A three-decade analysis of Landsat imagery reveals significant changes in meadow vegetation cover within Yosemite National Park, with wet years showing lower normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values compared to dry years. This suggests higher surface water levels are detectable during wet periods. Additionally, a trend of increasing green plant cover in consistently dry years indicates encroachment by woody vegetation, particularly at sub-alpine elevations, since the early 1990s. The study utilized high-resolution satellite data to track NDVI changes across all meadow units, providing insights into climate change impacts on Sierra Nevada ecosystems.

Potter, C. (2015). Changes in Meadow Vegetation Cover in Yosemite National Park (California) Based on Three Decades of Landsat Image Analysis. Journal of Biodiversity Management & Forestry, 04(03). https://doi.org/10.4172/2327-4417.1000146