Assessing Ecological Quality Based on Remote Sensing Images in Wugong Mountain

Abstract

Abstract This study takes multitemporal Landsat images as data source to explore the changes of Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC) and ecological quality (EQ) of the Wugong Mountain (WGM). The regression model obtained from MODIS NDVI data was used to correct the temporal difference of Landsat normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data in 2019, and the Remote Sensing based Ecological Index (RSEI) was calculated to assess the change of FVC and EQ in WGM. Results showed that, in the past 25 yr, the mean value of FVC has increased from 0.795 in 1994 to 0.890 in 2019, which consequently improved EQ from 0.746 to 0.773 respectively. The relationship among topographic factors, FVC and EQ was analyzed by using elevation, slope, and aspect. The effect of topographic factor on FVC and EQ in WGM was in the order of slope, aspect, and elevation. The value of FVC and RSEI increased first and then decreased with increment of elevation and slope. In detail, the favorable terrain of FVC and EQ was the area with an elevation of 500–1,400 m and a slope of 8°–35°. The value of FVC and RSEI in semi‐sunny and sunny slopes were higher than that of shady slopes. The unfavorable terrain of FVC and EQ was the area of the meadow with an elevation greater than 1,700 m. This work highlights the importance of FVC and EQ which can provide scientific decision‐making for the sustainability of WGM, and coordinate development of ecological environment protection and economic construction.