Influence of topographic shadows on remote sensing vegetation indices: A case study in Tara NP, Serbia.

Jaramaz, Darko and Marina Stević, Irina and Jovanović Todorović, Marijana and Jakšić, Darko and Petrović, Mladen and Čakmak, Dragan (2025) Influence of topographic shadows on remote sensing vegetation indices: A case study in Tara NP, Serbia. In: 4th International and 16th National Congress of the Serbian Society of Soil Science, The Soil Re-Union: Science for Healthy Soils: book of abstracts. Serbian Society of Soil Science, Belgrade, pp. 141-142. ISBN 978-86-80417-99-8

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Abstract

Vegetation indices obtained from optical satellite images enable assessments and monitoring of vegetation cover through an efficient and economically viable approach. Optical satellite images are based on capturing reflected solar radiation that can be blocked by surface topographic characteristics; an object can face away from the sun because of its own slope and aspect (self-shadowing), or one object can block the sunlight of another object (cast shadowing). The topographic shadows can cause reduced values of remote sensing vegetation indices on high-relief terrains and their surroundings, which impacts the accuracy of the vegetation indices results within the affected areas. This study evaluates the influences of topographic shadows calculated from a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), in conjunction with sun azimuth and altitude data, on remote sensing vegetation indices: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI). The Copernicus DEM, as well as the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission data from March 2025, are employed for research purposes. The research suggests excluding certain parts of the results obtained for vegetation indices due to the influence of topographic shadows within the study area (Tara National Park, Serbia).

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