Exploring Short-Term Climate Change Effects on Rangelands and Broad-Leaved Forests by Free Satellite Data in Aosta Valley (Northwest Italy)

Satellite remote sensing is a power tool for the long-term monitoring of vegetation. This work, with reference to regional case study, investigates potentialities describing annual phenology rangelands and broad-leaved forests at landscape level aim detecting eventual effects climate change in Alpine region Aosta Valley (Northwest (NW) Italy). A first analysis was aimed estimating phenological metrics (PMs) from satellite images time series testing presence trends along time. further investigation concerned evapotranspiration vegetation (ET) its variation years. Additionally, both cases following meteorological patterns were considered: air temperature anomalies, precipitation timing yearly seasonal snow melt. The based on (TS) different MODIS collections datasets together Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation Station data (CHIRPS) collection obtained through Google Earth Engine. Ground weather stations Centro Funzionale VdA ranging 2000 2019 used. In particular, MOD13Q1 v.6, MOD16A2 MOD10A1 v.6 used derive PMs, ET cover maps. SRTM (shuttle radar topography mission) DTM (digital terrain model) also describe local while Coordination Information Environment (CORINE) land map adopted investigate use classes. Averagely area, showed that length season getting longer, general advance SOS (start season) delay EOS (end season). With ET, significant increasing generally observed. water requirement appeared have averagely risen about 0.05 Kg·m−2 (about 0.5%) per year period 2000–2019, total increase 1 20 years (corresponding percentage difference 8%). aspect can be particularly relevant bottom central valley, where precipitations shown statistically decreasing trend 2000–2019 (conversely, no found whole territory). snowpack persistence reduction trend. PMs as well melting, proved significantly changed their values last years, continuous progressive results encourage adoption monitor alpine vegetation, particular focus relationship between other abiotic factors permitting an effective technological transfer.