Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Oberle, Brad

Area of Concentration

Biology

Abstract

The photosynthetic rate and its regional proxy, the normal vegetative index (NDVI), drop in response to flooding. In this study, a regional approach was used to assess the impact of precipitation driven flooding caused by Tropical Storm Fay (2008) on NDVI in the Middle St. Johns River Basin. To assess this event, weekly NDVI maximum value composites in and around the storm interval were analyzed for changes in NDVI as it relates to geographic distribution, elevation, and land cover. The geographic distribution of NDVI values in the Middle St. Johns River Basin was found to shift toward low NDVI values, less than 0.5, during and immediately following the storm interval before recovery to pre-storm levels. During the storm interval, high NDVI values, greater than 0.5, were found to occur at higher elevations. All land cover types displayed a relatively uniform drop in NDVI in response to Fay with no land covers standing out as flood tolerant.

Download

Share

COinS