Drying conditions in Switzerland – indication from a 35-year Landsat time-series analysis of vegetation water content estimates to support SDGs

Exacerbated by climate change, Europe has experienced series of hot and dry summer since the beginning 21st century. The importance land conditions became an international concern with a dedicated sustainable development goal (SDG), SDG 15. It calls for developing finding innovative solutions to follow evaluate impacts changing induced various driving forces. In Switzerland, drought risk will significantly increase in coming decades severe consequences on agriculture, energy production vegetation. this paper, we used 35-year satellite-derived annual seasonal times-series normalized difference water index (NDWI) vegetation content evolution at different spatial temporal scales across Switzerland related them temperature precipitation investigate possible responses climatic conditions. Results indicate that there is small slow drying tendency country scale NDWI mean decreasing slope −0.22%/year 23% significant pixels Switzerland. This mostly visible below 2000 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.) all biogeographical regions. Southern Alps regions appear be more responsive slight negative trend (−0.39%/year) over last 35 years. Moreover, values are function elevations tree line rather than precipitation. Findings suggest multi-annual can valuable indicator monitor scales, but other components such as cover type evapotranspiration should considered better characterize variability. Satellite Earth Observations data provide complementary observations national statistics ecological state support 15 affected