Classification of homogeneous regions of vegetation cover in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and its temporal dynamics, using AVHRR GIMMS and MODIS data sets

Abstract This study aimed to classify the homogeneous regions of vegetation cover, which occur in Rio Grande do Sul, formed by clustering of pixels with same pattern of temporal variability of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of AVHRR GIMMS and MODIS series and to compare their temporal dynamics. We use K means cluster analysis for defining homogeneous regions, based on the temporal variability of GIMMS (8 km spatial resolution) and MODIS (1 km spatial resolution) NDVI data sets, using monthly images mean from 2000 to 2008 (overlapping period); and we analyzed the annual pattern of NDVI. Accuracy assessment was done with Landsat images. The results show that the temporal variability of GIMMS and MODIS NDVI allows to delimit similar homogeneous regions in order to mapping the main vegetation cover. MODIS series shows a greater detail in the definition of the regions, but with compatibility with those generated by GIMMS. The temporal dynamics show a typical seasonal pattern, with variations of NDVI amplitude between the groups, that allow to monitor phenological changes. The deviations from calibration between times series are linear, which would facilitate a correction in order to construct a long synthetic time series for studies of land cover change.