Using MODIS-based vegetation and moisture indices for oasis landscape monitoring in an arid environment

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) were compared for an oasis ecosystem in an arid environment. Both indices were computed from 500 m spatial resolution Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) reflectance data (8-day composite from 193 to 200) for the period from 2001 to 2008. NDMI were positively correlated with NDVI. R
²
values ranging between 0.80 to 0.92. The results indicated that the vegetation dynamics have highly correlated with land surface moisture in an arid environment.