The effect of bark beetle Ips typographus (L.) outbreaks on land surface temperature and net primary productivity in a mixed temperate forest.
• A suitable candidate would be interested in thermal infrared remote sensing and quantification of the ECVs (Essential climate variables)
• Fieldwork is not necessary; however, the supervisor can discuss a possible field visit if the student is interested.
Suggested elective courses:
Thermal infrared remote sensing: from theory to applications (Q5)
Quantitative remote sensing of vegetation parameters (Q5)
Thermal remote sensing is a type of passive remote sensing that detects naturally emitted radiation. Recent studies have shown the potential for remote sensing thermal data to understand the response of the natural ecosystem to bark beetle outbreaks. The current study aims to investigate the change in LST retrieve using thermal data and NPP estimated by optical data over the course of 20 years on a monthly basis and understand the link between potential changes and bark beetle outbreaks in the Bavarian Forest National park (BFNP) located in the south-eastern border of Germany alongside the Czech Republic. Bark beetle outbreaks begin in the late eighties in BFNP, and till now, there have always been local infestations in the park.
This study aims to investigate the relationship between land surface temperature (LST), net primary productivity (NPP) and bark beetle outbreaks using medium resolution satellite imagery over the past 20 years in a mixed temperate forest in Germany. The satellite data will be obtained from Landsat collection. The student will utilize available land cover maps and in situ data relevant to the location of the bark beetle outbreaks. There are diverse methods to calculate LST using remote sensing data; the most common are single-channel and split-window algorithms. Various methods, such as multivariate models and machine learning approaches, will be investigated to understand better the relationship between LST and the bark beetle outbreak.
Lausch, A., Fahse, L., & Heurich, M. (2011). Factors affecting the spatio-temporal dispersion of Ips typographus (L.) in Bavarian Forest National Park: A long-term quantitative landscape-level analysis. Forest Ecology and management, 261(2), 233-245.
Hais, M., & Kučera, T. (2008). Surface temperature change of spruce forest as a result of bark beetle attack: remote sensing and GIS approach. European Journal of Forest Research, 127(4), 327-336.