Evaluating the Relationship between Drought and Vegetation Greenness in Chyulu- Amboseli Rangeland, Kenya
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Date
2020
Authors
Nyangena, J.
Onywere, S.
Shisanya, C.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AJOL
Abstract
Remote sensing techniques have been widely used to monitor moisture-related vegetation conditions.
Vegetation vigour response to drought however is complex and has not been adequately studied using satellite sensor data.
This paper investigated the time lag response of vegetation to drought in Kenya’s Chyulu-Amboseli ecosystem based on
Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) derived from monthly precipitation data for the period January 2000-October 2016
downloaded from the Climate Hazards group InfraRed Precipitation with Stations and Normalized Difference Vegetation
Index (NDVI) computed from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) pre-processed images
downloaded from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) database. Statistical analysis showed
that drought severity increased over the study period while corresponding vegetation conditions degenerated. Results
further revealed that the relationship between drought and vegetation greenness was significant (R2 = 0.6) with 2 months
optimal lag. This calls for policy makers and programme managers to integrate the lag effect in measures to cope with
drought in the rangelands.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Drought, Vegetation greenness, Chyulu-Amboseli, Statistical Analysis, Rangeland
Citation
J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. Vol. 24 (1) 65-71 January 2020