Vegetation dataset (seasonal dynamics of herbaceous vegetation), within the Hombori site (2500 km2), Mali

Quantification of seasonal dynamics of herbaceous vegetation and tree foliage on sites for which the long term dynamics is also monitored (see CL.VegHerb_G). The main objectives are to analyze the different processes that control primary production and degradation of vegetation and to test models (e.g, STEP). This dataset is part of the AMMA-CATCH eco-hydrological observatory over West Africa Aboveground herbaceous mass, vegetation cover fraction, LAI are monitored in sites located within the Hombori super-site and representatives of the 3 main components of the landscape: sand dunes (Agoufou, Hombori Hondo, Tara and Timbadior), erosion surface (Eguerit), seasonally inundated clay soils (Kelma plain) and millet (Bilantao). For mass estimation, the herbaceous layer is monitored using a stratified random technique. Measurements are performed at least every month during the rainy season, from June to mid-October and twice during the dry season. LAI is estimated using hemispherical photographs. For the Kelma forest, hemispherical photographs are also used to derive the Plant Area Index (PAI). Hiernaux P., Mougin E., Diarra L. Soumaguel N., Lavenu F., Tracol Y., Diawara M., 2009: Sahelian rangeland response to changes in rainfall over two decades in the Gourma region, Mali. Journal of Hydrology, 375, 114-127, doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.11.005. Mougin, E., Hiernaux, P., Ada, L., Grippa, M., de Rosnay, P., Timouk, F., Le Dantec, V., Demarez, V., Lavenu, F., Arjounin, M., Lebel, T., Soumaguel, N., Ceschia, E., Mougenot, B., Baup, F., Frappart, F., Frison, PL., Gardelle, J., Gruhier, C., Jarlan, L., Mangiarotti, S., Sanou, B., Tracol, Y., Guichard, F., Trichon, V., Diarra, L., Soumare, A., Koite, M., Dembele, F., Lloyd, C., Hanan, NP., Damesin, C., Delon, C., Serca, D., Galy-Lacaux, C., Seghieri, J., Becerra, S., Dia, H., Gangneron, F., Mazzega, P., 2009: The AMMA-CATCH Gourma observatory site in Mali: Relating climatic variations to changes in vegetation, surface hydrology, fluxes and natural resources. Journal of Hydrology, 375, 14-33, doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.06.045. Mougin, E., Demarez, V., Diawara, M., Hiernaux, P., Soumaguel, N., Berg, A., 2014: Estimation of LAI fAPAR and fCover of Sahel rangelands (Gourma Mali). Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 198-199, 155-167, doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2014.08.006.