remote sensing, will contribute to broader LSP validation efforts synergizing
observations from different sources. Surface datasets from network volunteer
observations, high resolution observations at intensive study sites, and the digital
camera records are meant to be used to complement one another in order to
achieve a more complete understanding of LSP and the corresponding surface
processes. Overall, the validation efforts to date have significantly increased our
confidence in using satellite-based LSP for deriving relatively accurate biospheric
information for global change studies. Additional efforts may be directed towards
validating new LSP products and investigating LSP performance within diversely
vegetated environments, as well as for the autumn season.
4.5 Current and Future Research Directions
This section will describe some of the research findings that have emerged from
the study of LSP as well as potential directions for future work. As described
above, the community has developed a well-established theoretical basis for LSP
and there have been advances in both methodology and validation. A Google
Scholar search with the string ‘‘Land Surface Phenology’’ returned over 500
papers with an exponential growth pattern over the last 10 years (Fig. 4.4). It is
important to note that there are many publications related to LSP that are not
necessarily labeled as such. However, this query does reveal that the first paper
found using this particular label was by Henebry and Su (1995) and that the term is
becoming more established in the literature. With the large (and growing) body of
LSP literature, it is beyond the scope of this chapter to do a full literature review of
that body of work. Rather, the remainder of this chapter will summarize some of
Fig. 4.4 Number of land surface phenology publications by year [This figure is similar to Fig.
21.1 in Henebry and de Beurs (2013), who also noted the trends in literature pertaining to Land
Surface Phenology.]
4 Land Surface Phenology
115
observations from different sources. Surface datasets from network volunteer
observations, high resolution observations at intensive study sites, and the digital
camera records are meant to be used to complement one another in order to
achieve a more complete understanding of LSP and the corresponding surface
processes. Overall, the validation efforts to date have significantly increased our
confidence in using satellite-based LSP for deriving relatively accurate biospheric
information for global change studies. Additional efforts may be directed towards
validating new LSP products and investigating LSP performance within diversely
vegetated environments, as well as for the autumn season.
4.5 Current and Future Research Directions
This section will describe some of the research findings that have emerged from
the study of LSP as well as potential directions for future work. As described
above, the community has developed a well-established theoretical basis for LSP
and there have been advances in both methodology and validation. A Google
Scholar search with the string ‘‘Land Surface Phenology’’ returned over 500
papers with an exponential growth pattern over the last 10 years (Fig. 4.4). It is
important to note that there are many publications related to LSP that are not
necessarily labeled as such. However, this query does reveal that the first paper
found using this particular label was by Henebry and Su (1995) and that the term is
becoming more established in the literature. With the large (and growing) body of
LSP literature, it is beyond the scope of this chapter to do a full literature review of
that body of work. Rather, the remainder of this chapter will summarize some of
Fig. 4.4 Number of land surface phenology publications by year [This figure is similar to Fig.
21.1 in Henebry and de Beurs (2013), who also noted the trends in literature pertaining to Land
Surface Phenology.]
4 Land Surface Phenology
115