The use of NOAA AVHRR data as a tool for operational agroclimatic assessment in Asia*
Gary E. Johnson and V. Rao Achutuni
NOAA/NESDIS Climate Applications Branch and
University of Missouri,
Co-operative Institute for
Applied Meteorology,
Columbia, Missouri, USA
Jan B. Orsini
U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific,
Agriculture and Rural Development Division Bangkok, Thailand
Abstract
National oceanic and atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and University of Missouri Scientists began operational drought early warning activities in 1979. Data from the Advanced very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensor abroad the NOAA polar-orbiting satellites were introduced into the process in 1982. The integration of AVHRR data in the agrocilmatic assessment process in Asia began with a training course for professionals from Malaysia and Thailand in 1985. Current activities in Asia focus in enhancing existing agroclimatic assessment programs with composited imagery and NDVI products derived from NOAA satellite data.
Introduction
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with the logistical support of the United Nations / Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN/ESCAP), is conducting Phase-II of a drought early warning program for South and South East Asia. This Agro-Climatic Assessment Project, begun with phase-I in 984 has the long-term objective of establishing a stand - alone crop monitoring tool to be used on a real time basis by food security decision makers in each country.
Technology transfer during Phase-I focused on the utilization of cumulative rainfall indices and statistical climate crop yield models to (1) monitor drought, (2) Assess the impact on crop production, and (3) produce and disseminated in operational crop assessment early warning bulletin within each participating country. The agencies in the program generally included the National Meteorological Department, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the agency responsible for national food security. Bangladesh, India, Indonesia Malaysia, Nepal Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lank, and Thailand participated. Many drought early warning units within their governmental framework which still continue to produce and disseminate crop assessment bulletins. Users report that this rainfall analysis technology proved especially effective during the severe drought of 1987.
The Phase- II project utilizes NOAA polar orbiting satellite imagery and vegetative index analysis to enhance the Phase-I analysis. Although relatively coarse in resolution.
The data enable a continuous real time analysis of the technology of vegetation provided that clouds can be removed by selection of the cloud free areas of a sequence of superimposed images. This low cost technology, developed and refined by the climate Applications Branch (CB) of BOAA and the co-operative institute for Applied Meteorological (CIAM) for use on personal computers, was tested extensively in the Sahelian countries of Africa. The data can be received twice daily by any country with the appropriate antenna and data reception and analysis system.
Two Phase II activities are completed. A national workshop mission was conducted in each country at the outset to : introduce the new technology; liaise directly with each participating agency. Help clarify the inter agency relationships; facilitate the selection of trainees; and assess computer software and hardware needs. A regional training workshop for sixteen trainees from four countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand) was held at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok for four weeks in June and July. A follow ups in country technical training mission is currently being conducted to assure that the technology is in place and operational. A regional evaluation seminar will follow at the conclusion of the project to: assess the usefulness of the technology; identify countries wishing to join the Phase- III replication program; and assess possible sources and future funding support.
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*
presented at the 10th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 23-29, 1989
