Home: TRD: Resource utilisation: AGRI-OUTLOOK: NDVI FOR December 2009
Two approaches are used i.e. NDVI (plant activity) and PASG (accumulated seasonal greenness). It is expected that above normal rains of the current season should result in above normal conditions for plant activity. In general, all three images indicate at least similar to above normal plant activity or greenness, compared to last year and the long term. Interestingly, more plant activity was recorded in the east, which was ascribable to the nature of plants being more summer rainfall oriented. The western side of the province obviously had less plant activity or greenness due to the remarkably less acreage of actively growing or developing crops this time of the year. The green spots could probably be matched with eg. vineyards, orchards, potatoes (Sandveld), summer crops under irrigation, ect.
The current drought experienced in the mid Central Karoo is clearly pointed out in all three images. The fact remains that the drought is certainly abnormal, thus emphasising the appropriate aid to those producers in the affected area.
Other below normal situations (red) can also be seen, although being much smaller areas and isolated. These will be verified and if necessary carefully monitored and during the following months.
20 – 31 December 2009
NDVI values reflect the vegetation activity with higher values over the coastal and mountainous areas.
21-31 December 2009 compared compared to 21-30 December 2008
Vegetation activity is higher than the long-term average the western parts of the province but below average over the areas in the southeast.
21 – 30 December 2009 compared with the long-term mean
Vegetation activity is higher than the long-term average the western parts of the province but below average over the areas in the southeast.
Percentage of Average Seasonal Greenness (PASG): July - December 2009 compared with the long-term mean
Percentage of Average Seasonal Greenness (PASG) for this period is above-normal over most of the province except the southern and southeastern parts where drought conditions have been reported.
