REMOTE SENSING-BASED DETECTION AND SPATIAL PATTERN ANALYSIS FOR GEO-ECOLOGICAL NICHE MODELING OF TILLANDSIA SPP. IN THE ATACAMA, CHILE

In our study, we included bioturbation into a soil erosion model and ran the model for several years under two conditions: with and without bioturbation. We validated the model using several sediment fences in the field. We estimated the modeled sediment redistribution and surface runoff and the impact of bioturbation on these along a climate gradient. Lastly, we identified environmental parameters determining the positive or negative impact of bioturbation on sediment redistribution.

In our study, we developed, tested, and applied a cost-effective time-of-flight camera to autonomously monitor rainfall-driven and animal-driven sediment redistribution in areas affected by burrowing animals with high temporal (four times a day) and spatial (6 mm) resolution. We estimated the sediment redistribution rates on a burrow scale and then upscaled the redistribution rates to entire hillslopes. Our findings can be implemented into long-term soil erosion models.

Marine stratocumulus clouds of the eastern Pacific play an essential role in the Earth's climate. These clouds form the major source of water to parts of the extreme dry Atacama Desert at the northern coast of Chile. For the first time these clouds are observed over a whole year with three remote sensing instruments. It is shown how these clouds are influenced by the land–sea wind system and the distribution of ocean temperatures.