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Background:
Crop
yield forecasting techniques based on surface information have
major disadvantages when applied regionally. The input data is
often of limited precision and spatial resolution. Producers of
the data do not always allow for a spatial assessment of a phenomenon
(e.g. rainfall) and some input data itself consists of estimates
(e.g.solar radiation from cloud cover or sunshine hours). Meteorological
satellites can provide information which has a relatively direct
relation to crop growth and in addition is of a synoptic nature.
Objectives:
The
prime objective of the present project is to investigate the contribution
of meteorological satellite data to more timely, objective, efficient
and accurate crop yield assessment in Europe and the Mediterranean
basin. In this way the project may contribute to the project `Monitoring
Agricultural Statistics with Remote Sensing' (MARS) of the EC
Joint Research Centre and the needs of DG VI and the European
Statistical Office (EUROSTAT) Problem. Two approaches may be used,
based on NOAA and METEOSAT respectively.
The
NDV derived from the NGAA satellite is a measure of crop coverage
and biomass. The yearly course of the NDVI may be related to the
onset of growth and crop development. NDVI curves have been used
for crop-yield estimation in the UK and elsewhere. A second approach
to crop growth makes use of METEOSAT and is based on the proportionality
between actual evapo-transpiration and C02 assimilation. Methods
have been developed to monitor actual evapo-transpiration on the
regional and continental scale using METEOSAT. Such information
has been coupled to simple growth models to estimate savannah
biomass and cereal production in Africa.
Description:
In
this project we will investigate the potential of NOAA-NDVI and
METEOSAT-derived radiation and actual evapo-transpiration data,
in combination with appropriate crop growth models, for crop yield
estimation in Europe and the Mediterranean basin during the period
1993-1997. The synergy of the combination of the two approaches
will also be analyzed with a focus on the Iberian peninsula. Results
will be validated with existing meteorological and crop yield
data. Finally, the utility of the results for incorporation in
operational crop forecasting schemes will be evaluated.
Methods
are developed to map and monitor crop growth conditions in Europe
and the Mediterranean basin. There is a need for this kind of
information in the European Community and at the national level.
Potential users are DG VI 'Agriculture and Fisheries', the European
Statistical Office (EUROSTAT), corresponding national authorities,
and the MARS project. Some of the (potential) benefits of this
project are as follows: METEOSAT and NOAA data are synoptic and
allow for a yield assessment that is compatible with all countries.
The
data and methodology proposed are objective. The methodology is
based on monitoring and this means that up-to-date information
is available at any moment of the growing season. The timeliness
of yield estimates based on meteorological satellite data can
be very high, i.e.within a few days. The approach has the potential
of being economic since relatively low manpower is involved. Crop
yield estimates are not restricted to EC but may in the same fast
and economic way be obtained for other countries.
Coordinator
Andries
ROSEMA
Ingenieursbureau
voor Environmental Analysisand Remote Sensing B.V.
Kanaalweg
1
P.O. BOX 449
NL-2628
EB Delft
Tel.:
+31 15 56 24 04
Fax:
+31 15 62 38 57
Partners
- Paul VOSSEN
Joint Research Centre of the EC
Via Enrico Fermi 1
P.O. Box 440
I-21020 Ispra (Varese)
Tel.: +39 332 178 98 09
Fax: +39 332 178 99 36
E-mail: paul.vossen@jrc.it
- John TAYLOR
Cranfield University
Silsoe College
UK-MK45 4DT Silsoe-Bedford
Tel.: +44 1525 86 30 57
Fax: +44 1525 86 30 99
E-mail: g.thomas@cranfield.ac.uk
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