Using PlanetScope NDVI time series to detect the phenology of individual trees in the Sahel

New advancements in satellite technology enable more accurate observation of woody population dynamics, providing greater insights into the underlying processes that influence their change. In this study, we evaluate the use of PlanetScope NDVI time series to track the phenology of individual trees in the Sahel, where ground-based environmental surveys are scarce. Five-year NDVI time series were produced for 398 trees with known species recorded in Mali, Senegal, and Niger. Clouds and high aerosol contamination were filtered using MODIS products and focused on the dry season to minimize the influence of background NDVI directly (through crown influence) or indirectly (through adjacency effects). Each NDVI time series profile was fitted with a spline model to obtain the minimum NDVI day of year during the dry season. PlanetScope NDVI time series accurately captured the photosynthetic phenology of individual tree crowns in the Sahel, with discernable differences between individuals and species. When species were grouped based on four phenology types, deciduous and inverse deciduous species exhibited a relatively consistent phenological pattern across all sites. The phenology of semi-evergreen species and evergreen species, which include species with few leaves, was more heterogeneous. Intra-species variation was relatively modest between sites, and most species maintained a similar NDVI profile, with shifts in leaf phenology events correlating with the timing of the wet season in each site. Overlap between the different phenology groups indicates that transitions between phenology types and species are not clear-cut, and even individuals of the same species can demonstrate plasticity. Furthermore, NDVI profiles were extracted for 500 randomly selected tree samples within eight 10 km2 clip boxes distributed along the West African rainfall gradient from 9.9° to 16.6° latitude at −1.6° longitude. This analysis showed a strong relationship between the phenology of woody plants and the timing and distribution of rainfall at each latitude. Green-up of woody vegetation before herbaceous vegetation was marked in the more southern Sahelo-Sudanian latitudes. Additionally, despite the prolonged dry season in the more northern semi-arid latitudes, trees retained their greenness remarkably late into the dry season. Increased air temperature and dryness as a result of climate change could impact tree function in this region and needs individual-based monitoring.