Total cover of perennial and annual vegetation are important measures of a number of processes in the Mojave Desert, including soil-moisture availability, stability of biological soil crusts, and the ability of disturbed areas to recover. Perennial vegetation was derived using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data coupled with pre-existing field transect data and applying step-wise linear regression techniques. Potential annual vegetation was derived using data mining and exploration techniques to reveal appropriate multi-image calculations applied to MODIS-EVI data that correlate with field data collected 2003 and 2005 at 50 plots. These maps are being used in the Mojave Desert tortoise habitat models and in Mojave Desert dust emissions studies. In addition, elevation derivatives and topographic roughness metrics were derived from an existing 30m roughness grid for use in the tortoise habitat model. more...

Using GIS and land use change research, erosion and sediment delivery prediction models are being applied in this binational watershed to develop predictions of potential dispersion downstream meant to assist city planning through the identification of areas of least minimum impact for land development. Models used in this research include the USLE, SEDMOD, SLEUTH, and AGWA.more...