Lidar derived models and NDVI trends indicate vegetation threshold response to hydroclimatic drivers across the Peace Athabasca Delta

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dc.contributor.authorAslami, Farnoosh
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorHopkinson, Christopher
dc.date.accessioned2024-03-21T17:25:05Z
dc.date.available2024-03-21T17:25:05Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.degree.levelMasters
dc.description.abstractIn northeastern Alberta, Canada, the Peace Athabasca Delta (PAD) is a Ramsar and UNESCO World Heritage-designated wetland complex vital for biodiversity and well-being of the Indigenous communities residing there. In this study, remote sensing techniques were used to understand the changes that have occurred within the PAD over the past four decades. Initially, lidar data was used to quantify vegetation height changes and better understand NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) trends across lidar survey sample areas. These findings were then utilized to interpret Landsat-derived vegetation and surface water trends across the entire PAD. Between 1984 and 2022, NDVI trend analysis indicated greening along ecotones surrounding perched basins (shrubification), accompanied by noticeable drying patterns in the surface water trends. Further, a significant drying event spanning 1999 to 2003, appears to have been initiated by the strong 1998 El Niño event. The overall average greening rates pre and post 1999-2003 were 2.1 m/yr. and 3.1 m/yr., respectively. The severe drying during that short interval appears to have altered the rate and patter of vegetation processes across the delta post-2003. The more recent period of 2018 to 2022 was also notable for the observed high levels of inundation. If the PAD’s open water and vegetation cover trends continue, surface moisture is generally expected to decrease, with commensurate increases in shrub cover. Meanwhile, certain areas like the southern region around Mamawi Lake, could become wetter due to localised changes in surface drainage. While flooding events are expected to continue to be a regular feature of this landscape, the extent to which the PAD can return to its historically large areas of persistent inundation remains uncertain.
dc.embargoNo
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/6723
dc.language.isoen
dc.proquest.subject0366
dc.proquest.subject0368
dc.proquest.subject0799
dc.proquestyesYes
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Geography and Environment
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Geography and Environment
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Science
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)
dc.subjectremote sensing
dc.subjectlidar
dc.subjectLandsat
dc.subjectPeace Athabasca Delta
dc.subjectclimate change
dc.subjecttrend analysis
dc.subject.lcshPeace-Athabasca Delta (Alta.)--Remote sensing
dc.subject.lcshOptical radar--Alberta--Peace-Athabasca Delta--Mathematical models
dc.subject.lcshOptical radar--Alberta--Peace-Athabasca Delta--Data processing
dc.subject.lcshLandsat satellites
dc.subject.lcshClimatic changes
dc.subject.lcshTrend surface analysis
dc.subject.lcshVegetation monitoring--Alberta--Peace-Athabasca Delta
dc.subject.lcshWetlands--Monitoring--Alberta--Peace-Athabasca Delta
dc.subject.lcshVegetation mapping--Alberta--Peace-Athabasca Delta--Remote sensing--Data processing
dc.subject.lcshWetland mapping--Alberta--Peace-Athabasca Delta--Remote sensing--Data processing
dc.subject.lcshDissertations, Academic
dc.titleLidar derived models and NDVI trends indicate vegetation threshold response to hydroclimatic drivers across the Peace Athabasca Delta
dc.typeThesis
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