Time-domain based feature space at FLUXNET sites for vegetation patterns identification

Monitoring the flux transfer of mass and energy occurring within the soil-plant-Atmosphere continuum is a pivotal key for understanding hydrological and vegetation relationships. Average daily values of the Priestley-Taylor (PT) parameter were calculated for 4 eddy covariance (EC) flux tower sites from FLUXNET network, characterized by different vegetation features, over the 2010-12 reference period. Site-by-site feature spaces (built by difference in diurnal and night-Time land surface temperature versus enhanced vegetation index, ΔLST-EVI) were obtained by combining satellite data (MODIS) and observed PT parameter (φ) retrieved by FLUXNET surface energy balance (SEB) fluxes. The results revealed the capability of satellite time-series data to monitor seasonal changes in φ. This preliminary observation offers a promising tool for exploring the feature spaces in respect to the time, helping to retrieve useful information for environmental monitoring.