Article Type:
Research Article

A Comparison of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Rainfall for the Amazon and Northeastern Brazil

Pablo Santos Department of Meteorology, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida

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Andrew J. Negri NASA/GSFC Laboratory for Atmospheres, Greenbelt, Maryland

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Print Publication:
01 Jul 1997
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1997)036<0958:ACOTND>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
958–965
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Abstract

This paper presents a comparison of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and rainfall for the Amazon and northeastern Brazil for the time period of 1988–90. The analysis shows that the NDVI and rainfall are uncorrelated in the Amazon, except in the northernmost part, where the rainfall regime is drier and a savanna type of vegetation is present. In the drier region of northeastern Brazil, the relationship is exponential, with the NDVI showing sensitivity to rainfall within a regime of less than approximately 100 mm per month of rainfall.

* Current affiliation: NOAA/NWS, Jacksonville, Florida.

Corresponding author address: Andrew J. Negri, Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA/GSFC, Code 912, Greenbelt, MD 20771.

Abstract

This paper presents a comparison of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and rainfall for the Amazon and northeastern Brazil for the time period of 1988–90. The analysis shows that the NDVI and rainfall are uncorrelated in the Amazon, except in the northernmost part, where the rainfall regime is drier and a savanna type of vegetation is present. In the drier region of northeastern Brazil, the relationship is exponential, with the NDVI showing sensitivity to rainfall within a regime of less than approximately 100 mm per month of rainfall.

* Current affiliation: NOAA/NWS, Jacksonville, Florida.

Corresponding author address: Andrew J. Negri, Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA/GSFC, Code 912, Greenbelt, MD 20771.

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Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

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