Abstract
In this work we present measurements of vegetation cover over parabolic
dunes with different degrees of activation along the north-eastern
Brazilian coast. We extend the local values of the vegetation cover
density to the whole dune by correlating measurements with the relative
brightness index C of high resolution QuickBird panchromatic satellite
images of the dune held. We then introduce the vegetation data into a
continuous model for vegetated dunes, coupling sand erosion and
vegetation growth, and perform simulations of the evolution of the
morphology and vegetation cover of parabolic dunes. Finally, from the
comparison of both, the measurements and the simulation results, we show
that the model is able to predict the dune shape and the vegetation
distribution of real parabolic dunes as result of the evolution of a
blow-out. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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