Drones and satellites to track tundra ecosystems

Satellite-based earth observation platforms provide amazing insights into large scale changes occurring on regional and global scales. One very important example of this is the observation of widespread and significant changes in the ‘green-ness’ of arctic and sub-arctic tundra regions since the 1980s.

However, while satellites are invaluable for identifying such trends and mapping their significance on a global scale, they offer only limited information about what exactly is happening on the ground to produce these observable changes. One of the main reasons for this is the relatively coarse spatial resolution (i.e. the large individual pixel size) of satellite data, which is typically about 10 m or more per pixel. At this resolution it is very difficult to identify exactly what type of vegetation, for example, the satellite is actually seeing.

SENSE PhD student Calum Hoad is therefore using ultra-high resolution drone imagery over selected tundra sites in the Canadian Yukon and Greenland in conjunction with wider area satellite data to better understand the ecology behind the changes observed by satellites. The drone imagery provides vital information about what is going inside the satellite pixels in terms of species distribution, vegetation health and the extent of snow cover. With some careful data processing, Calum intends to scale this understanding up, helping to build a better understanding of what satellites are observing across tundra landscapes.

Calum's drone fieldwork has used ARI's 4-channel DJI Mavic Multispectral drone system alongside a 9-channel Maia S-2 multispectral sensor and DJI M210 platform on loan from NERC FSF. We have also been very happy to provide initial training, some support with regulatory compliance, and workstation support. Calum has also been kind enough to assist us as an expert demonstrator on a number of taught field courses.

Find out more about Calums's work in tundra ecosystems