%0 Journal Article
%T Factors Affecting the Health Condition of Spruce Forests in Central European Mountains-Study Based on MultitemporalRapidEye Satellite Images
%A Agnieszka Kami里ska
%A Katarzyna Osi里ska-Skotak
%A Radomir Baˋazy
%A Tomasz Hycza
%J Forests | An Open Access Journal from MDPI
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.3390/f10110943
%X Spruce stands in the mountains of Central Europe are particularly valuable, not only because of their natural and scenic values but also because of their role in the protection of watersheds and soil. Over the past decades, these stands were frequently exposed to massive deforestation caused by various biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic factors. The current health condition of spruce stands in the Eastern Sudetes shows that the next phase of deterioration of these stands has begun. Bearing in mind past experiences and the current situation in these mountain areas, it is particularly important to understand the processes and factors that may short-term (2012每2016) spruce health analyses based on the normalized difference red-edge index and RapidEye satellite imagery, which is being delivered annually. Aided by remote sensing data and Boosted Regression Trees, it was possible to determine the topographic and tree stand features having the greatest impact on the vitality of spruce in all analyzed areas during 2012每2016. As the results show, the highest impact on the value of the normalized difference red-edge index indicator comes from a height above sea level, age of stands, terrain slopes, and exposure. In various areas, these factors may affect the vitality of spruce to varying degrees but not always in the same way. Our models accurately explained 74每81% of the randomly selected input data (predicted 72每80% of the excluded data) for site A, 50每58% for site B (48每57% for tested data) and 54每70% for site C (52每69% for excluded data). View Full-Tex
%U https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/10/11/943