Earth ID: 3598

Monitoring Agricultural Production from Space

Visualizations by Lori Perkins Released on June 24, 2009

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) maps allow comparisons of the spatial and temporal variability in the amount and condition of vegetation. The time series satellite derived NDVI was used to monitor and analyze changes in vegetation patterns in the major wheat production domain area in Australia. The NDVI comparison was done during the growing season, April through November, for 2002, 2005, and 2006 and it found that significant differences in vegetation growth production. These data and utilities are fundamental for crop yield forecasts and can serve as an early warning system for regions suffering from crop loss and food shortages. Wheat is Australia's most important crop, with a seasonal gross value approaching 3 billion Australian dollars. Australia contributes between and 8 and 15% of world's wheat trade, making it the fourth largest exporter after the United States, Canada and the European Union. Severe drought in Australia not only decimating crops, but it also curtails exports and causes major price and trade impacts on global markets. In 2006, wheat exports dropped by a third from the year before which caused worldwide prices to soar to the highest levels in a decade.

The NDVI for the wheat producing region during the growing season in a normal year. This image is from Oct 18, 2005.

The NDVI for the wheat producing region during the growing season in 2002's drought year. This image is from Oct 18, 2002.

The final image shows the NDVI in the wheat producing region correlated with the annual wheat production. This image is from November 30, 2006 and the annual 2006 wheat production is 10,822,000 metric tons.

The image shows the NDVI in the wheat producing region correlated with the annual wheat production during a normal year. This image is from November 30, 2005 and the annual 2005 wheat production is 25,173,000 metric tons.

The image shows the NDVI in the wheat producing region correlated with the annual wheat production. This image is from November 30, 2002 and the annual 2002 wheat production is 10,132,000 metric tons.

Visualization Credits

Lori Perkins (NASA/GSFC): Lead Animator
Cindy Starr (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Visualizer
Chris Justice (University of Maryland): Scientist
Inbal Becker Reshef (University of Maryland): Scientist

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3598

Mission:
Terra

Data Used:

Terra and Aqua/MODIS/Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) also referred to as: NDVI

NASA

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This item is part of these series:
NASA and Agriculture - Animations
Agriculture Animations - Global Agricultural Monitoring

Keywords:
DLESE >> Atmospheric science
SVS >> Biscuit
DLESE >> Forestry
SVS >> HDTV
DLESE >> Natural hazards
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Agriculture
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Biosphere >> Ecological Dynamics >> Fire Occurrence
GCMD >> Location >> Australia
SVS >> Copenhagen
SVS >> For Educators
SVS >> Wheat Production
SVS >> Drought Effect
SVS >> Growing Season
NASA Science >> Earth

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0