The use of vegetation indices in the evaluation of vegetation phenology based on MERIS data: the Czech Republic case study

Abstract

This article focuses on utilization of vegetation indices for vegetation phenology analysis based on multitemporal MERIS data. The model data set contained imagery acquired during the vegetation season of the year 2009 and it covered most of the area of the Czech Republic. Databases LPIS and GlobCover were used for spatial delimitation of the observed vegetation types. Firstly, a methodology of processing multitemporal MERIS data for atmospheric and geometric corrections is presented. The main part deals with the evaluation of spectral characteristic of the forest species and agricultural crops by means of vegetation indices. Results showed that the MTCI index is well related to the changes of chlorophyll concentration and it is a suitable measure for chlorophyll estimation from MERIS data. Indices fCover and LAI are very sensitive to the quantity of vegetation cover (biomass). Perspectives of the research regarding the planned missions of the satellites Sentinel 2 and Sentinel 3 are given in conclusion.