Topete-Pozas et al. (2026) Land Surface Phenology Reveals Region-Specific Hurricane Impacts Across the North Atlantic Basin (2001–2022)

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Forests
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-03-27
• Authors: Carlos Topete-Pozas, Steven P. Norman
• DOI: 10.3390/f17040419

Research Groups

Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Short Summary

This study analyzed pre- and post-hurricane land surface phenology using the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) for 44 hurricanes over 22 years across the North Atlantic Basin to characterize subregional forest impacts. It found significant subregional variability in forest responses, influenced by climate, land cover, and ecological factors like drought sensitivity and rapid refoliation, which complicate optical remote sensing assessments.

Objective

• To characterize and understand subregional differences in forest damage from hurricanes across the North Atlantic Basin by analyzing pre- and post-hurricane land surface phenology (LSP) using the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI).
• To compare subregional impacts with wind speed and land cover, accounting for long-term climate attributes.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: North Atlantic Basin, encompassing six distinct subregions (e.g., Southeast U.S., Central America).
• Temporal Scale: 22 years (long-term analysis), focusing on immediate post-storm periods (first winter, first year, subsequent growing season).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
• Data sources: Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) derived from optical remote sensing, forest mask.

Main Results

• Significant subregional differences in EVI responses were observed after accounting for wind speed.
• The Southeast U.S. showed EVI declines in the first winter and first year post-storm, a response weak or absent elsewhere.
• The Central America region experienced EVI decline in the first winter but not in the subsequent growing season.
• Four other regions showed no increased impact with wind speed in either season.
• In dry areas, drought-sensitive vegetation explained weak EVI responses, while in humid tropics, rapid refoliation or sprouting was common.
• Optical remote sensing assessments are complicated by these factors: rapid evaluations can mistake defoliation for substantial damage, and delayed assessments can confuse EVI recovery with structural recovery.

Contributions

• Highlights the significant subregional variability in forest responses to hurricane damage across the North Atlantic Basin.
• Identifies key ecological factors (e.g., drought sensitivity, rapid refoliation) that influence observed vegetation index responses and complicate remote sensing assessments.
• Underscores the critical need for ecologically tailored monitoring approaches to accurately assess hurricane impacts on forests.

Funding

Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{TopetePozas2026Land,
  author = {Topete-Pozas, Carlos and Norman, Steven P.},
  title = {Land Surface Phenology Reveals Region-Specific Hurricane Impacts Across the North Atlantic Basin (2001–2022)},
  journal = {Forests},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.3390/f17040419},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/f17040419}
}