518 Pages 83 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    518 Pages 83 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    A balanced review of differing approaches based on remote sensing tools and methods to assess and monitor biodiversity, carbon and water cycles, and the energy balance of terrestrial ecosystem. Earth Observation of Ecosystem Services highlights the advantages Earth observation technologies offer for quantifying and monitoring multiple ecosystem functions and services. It provides a multidisciplinary reference that expressly covers the use of remote sensing for quantifying and monitoring multiple ecosystem services.

    Rather than exhaustively cover all possible ecosystem services, this book takes a global look at the most relevant remote sensing approaches to estimate key ecosystem services from satellite data. Structured in four main sections, it covers carbon cycle, biodiversity, water cycle, and energy balance. Each section contains a review of conceptual and empirical methods, techniques, and case studies linking remotely sensed data to the biophysical variables and ecosystem functions associated with key ecosystem services.

    The book identifies relevant issues and challenges of assessment, presents cutting-edge sensing techniques, uses globally implemented tools to quantify ecosystem functions, and presents examples of successful monitoring programs. Covering recent developments undertaken on the global and national stage from Earth observation satellite data, it includes valuable lessons and recommendations and novel ways to improve current global monitoring systems. The book delineates the use of Earth observation data so that it can be used to quantify, map, value, and manage the valuable goods and services that ecosystems provide to societies around the world.

    Earth Observation of Ecosystem Services: A Global Vision for Monitoring Ecosystem Services with Satellite
    Sensors
    General Overview on Remote Sensing of Ecosystem Services
    Overview of Book Sections and Chapters

    Ecosystem Services Related to C Dynamics: Its Evaluation Using Remote Sensing Techniques
    Introduction
    The C Cycle: Key Processes
    Conceptual Frameworks to Connect C Dynamics and ES
    Scale Issues in the Evaluation of C Related ES
    Which Intermediate Services Should Be Monitored?
    Concluding Remarks

    Recent Advances in the Estimation of Photosynthetic Stress for Terrestrial Ecosystems Services Related to Carbon Uptake
    Introduction
    Alternative Ways to Remotely Estimate Photosynthetic Stress of Terrestrial Vegetation
    Final Considerations

    Earth Observation of Carbon-Cycling Pools and Processes in Northern High-Latitude Systems
    Introduction to Remote Sensing of Carbon Cycling Processes at Northern High Latitudes
    Remote Sensing of Vegetation Biomass and Primary Production in Arctic Tundra
    Remote Sensing of Vegetation Biomass and Primary Production in Boreal Forests
    Remote Sensing of Land-Atmosphere Exchange of Carbon in Arctic Tundra and Boreal Forests
    Remote Sensing of Soil Carbon Processes (Soil Respiration, Decomposition, Methane Production) and Stocks in Arctic Tundra and Boreal Forests
    Remote Sensing of Carbon Emissions from Fire
    Summary and Conclusions

    Monitoring the Ecosystem Service of Forage Production
    Introduction
    ANPP Estimation through Successive Biomass Harvests
    ANPP Estimation through Remote Sensing
    Radiation Use Efficiency Estimation through ANPP and APAR
    Forage Monitoring System Based on Remote Sensing
    Other Uses of Remote Sensing for Livestock Systems
    Conclusions

    Missing Gaps in the Estimation of the Carbon Gains Service from Light Use Efficiency Models
    Introduction
    Material and Methods
    Results
    Conclusions

    Biomass Burning Emission Estimation in Amazon Tropical Forest
    Introduction
    Methods for Estimation of Biomass Burning Emission
    Biomass Distribution in Amazon Tropical Forest
    Materials and Methods
    Results and Discussion
    Conclusions

    Earth Observation for Species Diversity Assessment and Monitoring
    Introduction
    Finding Species from Space
    Earth Observation Of Land Cover And Species Niches
    Measuring Ecosystem Functioning In Animal Ecology And Conservation
    Concluding Remarks

    Ecosystem Services Assessment of National Parks Networks for Functional Diversity and Carbon Conservation Strategies Using Remote Sensing
    Introduction
    Methodology
    Results
    Discussion
    Conclusions

    Catchment Scale Analysis of the Influence of Riparian Vegetation on River Ecological Integrity Using Earth Observation Data
    Introduction
    Study Area
    Datasets and Method
    Results
    Discussion
    Conclusion

    Evaluation of Hydrological Ecosystem Services through Remote Sensing
    Society and Hydrological Services
    Hydrological Services and the Water Cycle
    Remote Sensing of Ecosystem Functioning for Hydrological Services Provision
    Remote Sensing of Drivers and Pressures of Hydrological Services
    Integrating Remote Sensing Data with Hydrological Modelling
    Conclusions and Perspectives

    Assimilation of Remotely Sensed Data into Hydrologic Modeling for Ecosystem Services Assessment
    Introduction
    Hydrologic Modeling and Ecosystem Services Quantification
    Hydrologic Modeling and Remote Sensing
    Water Quality Monitoring and Remote Sensing
    Conclusions

    Detecting Ecosystem Reliance on Groundwater Based on Satellite-Derived Greenness Anomalies and Temporal Dynamics
    Introduction
    Methods
    Results and Discussion
    Conclusions

    Surface Soil Moisture Monitoring by Remote Sensing: Applications to Ecosystem Processes and Scale Effects
    Introduction
    Soil Moisture Monitoring By Remote Sensing Sources
    Assimilation of Remote Sensing Data into Hydrological Modeling
    Estimating ET as an Indirect Valuation for Soil Moisture Stress on Vegetation
    Final Remarks/Conclusions

    Snowpack as a Key Element In Mountain Ecosystem Services: Some Clues to Design Useful Monitoring Programs
    Introduction: From Monitoring Snow Cover to Quantify Ecosystem Services
    Design and Implementation of Methodologies to Monitor the Services Provided by Snow Cover
    Final Services Provided By Snow in Mountain Areas
    A Case Study of Monitoring Snow Cover to Quantify Ecosystem Services: Sierra Nevada Biosphere Reserve (Spain)
    Conclusion

    Characterizing and Monitoring Climate Regulation Services
    Introduction
    Identification of Ecosystem Functional Types
    Biophysical Properties from Ecosystem Functional Types
    Climate Regulation Services in Regional Modeling
    Discussion and Conclusions

    Ecosystem Services Related to Energy Balance. A Case Study of Wetlands Reflected Energy
    Introduction
    Wetlands Reflected Energy
    Conclusions

    Energy Balance and Evapotranspiration: A Remote Sensing Approach to Assess Ecosystem Services
    Ecosystem Services, Energy Balance and Evapotranspiration
    Relating ET and Energy Balance to Ecosystem Services
    The Use of Remote Sensing to Estimate Evapotranspiration and Its Relationship with Ecosystem Services
    Evapotranspiration, Albedo, Land Surface Temperature and Their Relation with Ecosystem Services
    A Case Study: The Impact of Large-Scale Deforestation on Dry Forests Of Central Argentina: Changes in Evapotranspiration, Surface Temperature and Albedo At Landscape Scale
    Conclusions

    Urban Heat Island Effect
    Introduction
    Evaluation of the Urban Heat Island Effect
    Requirements of A Suitable Remote Sensing Sensor to Analyze the Urban Heat Island Effect
    Assessment of Different Procedures to Retrieve the Land Surface Emissivity over Urban Areas
    Conclusions

    Multidimensional Approaches in Ecosystem Services Assessment
    The Need of a Multidimensional and Interdisciplinary Framework for Ecosystem Service Assessment
    The Supply Side of Ecosystem Services
    The Demand Side of Ecosystem Services
    Discussion and Future Steps: Towards Hybrid Methodologies And New Concepts
    Conclusions


    Biography

    Carlos Marcelo Di Bella, Domingo Alcaraz-Segura, Julieta Veronica Straschnoy

    "… a valuable compendium of information… should serve as an impetus driving greater awareness of remote sensing technologies and their adoption in ecosystem service assessments."
    —African Journal of Range & Forage Science 2015, 32(1)

    "Monitoring and mapping ecosystem services is critical to their effective management. This book covers the latest remote sensing techniques for doing that. A must read for anyone concerned with ecosystem services."
    —Robert Costanza, The Australian National University

    "… a broad and valuable introduction to the use of remotely sensed data sets in assessing and monitoring key ecosystem services. … relevant to students and researchers interested in using earth observations in advancing their methods of inquiry. The subject matter is impressive, ranging from the carbon cycle to urban heat island effects. As humankind brings increasingly greater pressure to bear on natural systems, an improved understanding of their function in the context of change is critical. … an important contribution in explaining the utility of remotely sensed data in meeting this challenge."
    —Matthew C. Hansen, University of Maryland

    "… synthesizes the state of the art of how remote sensing can contribute to get the pulse of the planet, specifically on how our ecosystems are changing and what key benefits they provide to societies. … Timely, systematic, reliable, and easily accessible information on the flow of services to society from ecosystems is urgently needed: this book contributes one great leap forward. A massive effort from all nations will be needed to achieve full implementation of the suggested approach."
    —Patricia Balvanera, Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

    "… offers a great overview of how earth observation systems are being used, can be used in the near future and what the caveats and pitfalls are at present. … It is one of the objectives of GEO BON to provide this overview and develop capacity building programmes for the whole community. This book is a good step into that direction."
    —Rob H.G. Jongman, Alterra, Wageningen UR, Steering Committee GEO BON