Effects of Human-induced Vegetation Cover Change on Sediment Flow Using Satellite Observations and Terrestrial Ecosystem Model

Abstract

Sediment load can provide very important perspective on erosion of river basin. The changes of human-induced vegetation cover, such as deforestation or afforestation, affect sediment yield process of a catchment. In this study, a new sediment rating curve considering vegetation cover was developed to evaluate the impact of vegetation cover changes on sediment yield in Da River Basin. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and leaf area index (LAI) can be used to analyze the status of the vegetation cover well. Thus long time series NDVI from satellite was applied to represent vegetation cover in the past years. Potential LAI from ecosystem model (Biome-BGC) was used to explain the vegetation cover without human activities. Finally, standardized NDVI and LAI were inputted into the new sediment rating curve to evaluate human-induced vegetation cover change effect on sediment load.