The use of NDVI and its Derivatives for Monitoring Lake Victoria’s Water Level and Drought Conditions
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which is a measure of vegetation vigour, and lake water levels respond variably to precipitation and its deficiency. For a given lake catchment, NDVI may have the ability to depict localized natural variability in water levels in response to weather pat...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Springer
2012
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/28981 |
| _version_ | 1848752681160540160 |
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| author | Omute, Paul Corner, Robert Awange, Joseph |
| author_facet | Omute, Paul Corner, Robert Awange, Joseph |
| author_sort | Omute, Paul |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which is a measure of vegetation vigour, and lake water levels respond variably to precipitation and its deficiency. For a given lake catchment, NDVI may have the ability to depict localized natural variability in water levels in response to weather patterns. This information may be used to decipher natural from unnatural variations of a given lake’s surface. This study evaluates the potential of using NDVI and its associated derivatives (VCI (vegetation condition index), SVI (standardised vegetation index), AINDVI (annually integrated NDVI), green vegetation function (F g ), and NDVIA (NDVI anomaly)) to depict Lake Victoria’s water levels. Thirty years of monthly mean water levels and a portion of the Global Inventory Modelling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) NDVI datasets were used. Their aggregate data structures and temporal co-variabilities were analysed using GIS/spatial analysis tools. Locally, NDVI was found to be more sensitive to drought (i.e., responded more strongly to reduced precipitation) than to water levels. It showed a good ability to depict water levels one-month in advance, especially in moderate to low precipitation years. SVI and SWL (standardized water levels) used in association with AINDVI and AMWLA (annual mean water levels anomaly) readily identified high precipitation years, which are also when NDVI has a low ability to depict water levels. NDVI also appears to be able to highlight unnatural variations in water levels. We propose an iterative approach for the better use of NDVI, which may be useful in developing an early warning mechanisms for the management of lake Victoria and other Lakes with similar characteristics. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:12:29Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-28981 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:12:29Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | Springer |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-289812017-09-13T16:07:21Z The use of NDVI and its Derivatives for Monitoring Lake Victoria’s Water Level and Drought Conditions Omute, Paul Corner, Robert Awange, Joseph Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which is a measure of vegetation vigour, and lake water levels respond variably to precipitation and its deficiency. For a given lake catchment, NDVI may have the ability to depict localized natural variability in water levels in response to weather patterns. This information may be used to decipher natural from unnatural variations of a given lake’s surface. This study evaluates the potential of using NDVI and its associated derivatives (VCI (vegetation condition index), SVI (standardised vegetation index), AINDVI (annually integrated NDVI), green vegetation function (F g ), and NDVIA (NDVI anomaly)) to depict Lake Victoria’s water levels. Thirty years of monthly mean water levels and a portion of the Global Inventory Modelling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) NDVI datasets were used. Their aggregate data structures and temporal co-variabilities were analysed using GIS/spatial analysis tools. Locally, NDVI was found to be more sensitive to drought (i.e., responded more strongly to reduced precipitation) than to water levels. It showed a good ability to depict water levels one-month in advance, especially in moderate to low precipitation years. SVI and SWL (standardized water levels) used in association with AINDVI and AMWLA (annual mean water levels anomaly) readily identified high precipitation years, which are also when NDVI has a low ability to depict water levels. NDVI also appears to be able to highlight unnatural variations in water levels. We propose an iterative approach for the better use of NDVI, which may be useful in developing an early warning mechanisms for the management of lake Victoria and other Lakes with similar characteristics. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/28981 10.1007/s11269-011-9974-z Springer fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Omute, Paul Corner, Robert Awange, Joseph The use of NDVI and its Derivatives for Monitoring Lake Victoria’s Water Level and Drought Conditions |
| title | The use of NDVI and its Derivatives for Monitoring Lake Victoria’s Water Level and Drought Conditions |
| title_full | The use of NDVI and its Derivatives for Monitoring Lake Victoria’s Water Level and Drought Conditions |
| title_fullStr | The use of NDVI and its Derivatives for Monitoring Lake Victoria’s Water Level and Drought Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | The use of NDVI and its Derivatives for Monitoring Lake Victoria’s Water Level and Drought Conditions |
| title_short | The use of NDVI and its Derivatives for Monitoring Lake Victoria’s Water Level and Drought Conditions |
| title_sort | use of ndvi and its derivatives for monitoring lake victoria’s water level and drought conditions |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/28981 |