Big data processing to monitor plant phenology, snow cover and fires at global scale by remote sensing

Remote sensing provides precise information about ecosystem dynamics at global scale. In this study, we present ready to use information derived from the full archive of MODIS and SPOT-VGT products. First, a global data set has been produced in the frame of the ESA land cover CCI project in order to provide information about plant phenology (greenness), snow cover and fires. Statistics extracted from the time series are available at a weekly temporal resolution. Typical mean and standard deviations have been computed based on 15 years of observation. It allows us to build temporal profile of the ecosystem dynamics. In the frame of Lifewatch, our goal is to provide information about biodiversity to researchers. The previous data sets have been further processed to derive metrics and near real time anomalies in Europe and Northern Africa. The records of anomalies highlight exceptional climatic events which happened during the last few years. Those events had a strong impact on plant phenology and on animal behavior, and they have been linked to changes in geographical distribution of animal species over time. Some papers claim that such events will be more frequent in the future. Remote sensing data are therefore significant to understand effects on animal populations.